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RETURN TO THE DREAM is an alternative acoustic band that draws on folk, pop, rock, blues and bluegrass influences to create their original music. Tight vocal harmonies and a tasty array of acoustic instruments give RETURN TO THE DREAM their unique sound.
Coverlaydown.com "The two married couples who comprise the aptly-named Return to the Dream came together after years in the business found them each losing sight of the dreams and inspiration that had first led them to music. The result of this reexamined life: a quartet that produces gentle, uncomplicated folk steeped in the earnest, spiritual optimism of the folk school of Peter Mayer or Kallet, Epstein and Cicone, with a light touch on the acoustic guitar-driven instrumentation, honest male voices alongside female lead and harmony vocals that recall the best vibrato-laden tunes from a mid-career Judy Collins or Maria Muldaur, and lyrics which primarily deal with quiet themes of deep understanding and deep connection to love, community, and the world at large. Their choices of covers on the album fit neatly within this worldview, most especially their light-handed treatment of Blind Faith classic 'Can’t Find My Way Home,' which finds new life here as an honest reflection on the journey that brought their well-penned inspirational originals and rediscovery of the core of folk music to life. Their self-titled and self-released debut Return to the Dream ... comes highly recommended" www.coverlaydown.com Dave Fields, Big City Rhythm and Blues Magazine "This is a beautiful CD. Great arrangements, great songs, wonderfully recorded, sung, performed. The quintessential Modern Folk CD." John Platt, WFUV Radio "Martha Trachtenberg and Tom Griffith are longtime Long Island favorites. By teaming up with Diane Garisto and Andy Huenerberg to form RETURN TO THE DREAM, they've doubled their pleasure...and yours, especially if you like good songs with great harmonies." WPRB, From "Music You Can't Hear on the Radio" "...like a great letter from a friend. Perceptive and gentle songs that create enduring images and feelings. And top-notch musical friends who provide richly varied yet understated accompaniment."  Artist Information
Each member of RETURN TO THE DREAM is a seasoned performer in his or her own right, but have come together to create a cohesive and unique "Eclectic Acoustic" sound with their original music.  Diane Garisto
In a much varied career, Diane Garisto has toured as a vocalist with major recording artists such as Steely Dan and Laura Nyro and was fortunate to sing on Paul Simon's multi-platinum award-winning album, Graceland, and Billy Joel's evocative River of Dreams. She's appeared on The Today Show, Late Night with David Letterman, and Saturday Night Live, and shared the mike with such musical legends as Patti Labelle, Al Jarreau, Carly Simon, and George Benson. Tom Griffith Tom Griffith has worked with artists such as Marc Cohn, Ry Cooder, Fats Domino, and Dave Edmunds, and won several Clio and Cannes Silver Lion awards. Recently he's produced and written songs for International Blues Challenge Award winner Toby Walker. BIG NEWS on 1/3/08!!! Tom's solo album, 40 Years Later, was chosen as Newsday's #1 Local CD of 2007!!!!  Martha Trachtenberg Martha Trachtenberg was a founding member of the Buffalo Gals, the first all-woman bluegrass band. She has gone on to appear in the IBMA Songwriter Showcase twice and perform with artists such as David Bromberg, Lucy Kaplansky, Livingston Taylor, and Steve Forbert. Her songs have been recorded by several nationally-known artists, including Little Toby Walker, Tony Trischka and Skyline, and Missy Raines and Jim Hurst. Her CD, It's About Time, won straight As from Newsday and enjoys radio airplay both in the States and abroad. Her unique voice can frequently be heard on AcousticLongIsland.com, the#1 acoustic music podcast on iTunes.
 Andy Huenerberg Andy Huenerberg is a much in demand bass player who has been in the biz one way or another since the age of 11. He has worked as a banjo and guitar player, recording engineer and professional choral singer in addition to his work on the bass. He has recently had the good fortune to record and perform with blues legend Hubert Sumlin and work with award-winning blues artist Dave Fields.
 Instrumentation
Diane Garisto - lead and background vocals, guitar, dulcimer, strumstick.
Tom Griffith - lead and background vocals, lead guitar, slide guitar, strumstick, dulcimer. Martha Trachtenberg - lead and background vocals, guitar, mandolin. Andy Huenerberg - lead and background vocals, acoustic bass guitar, banjo. |
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