“On the Gravel Walk” by E J Ouellette

Global Music Performance

I respectfully submit the track On the Gravel Walk by E J Ouellette for consideration in the Global Music Performance category.

This instrumental work is a recomposition and arrangement of the traditional Irish reel “The Gravel Walks,” rooted in the Donegal fiddle tradition and Ulster-Scots piping culture. While preserving the tune’s cultural and melodic essence, this version expands it through new rhythmic, harmonic, and global folk influences. It reflects a contemporary reimagining of Celtic tradition through a global musical lens.

This recording features a global ensemble: Irish tenor banjo master Enda Scahill (We Banjo 3), legendary British-American drummer Dave Mattacks (Fairport Convention), international pianist Deborah Offenhauser, New England wind instrumentalist Geoff Wadsworth, cittern player Carol Coronis, Crazy Maggy’s saxophonist Steve Baker, and percussionist Kristine Malpica. Together, we create a cross-cultural soundscape grounded in traditional Irish roots yet open to world folk, jazz, and classical influences.

I perform on my AmeriCelt fiddle in this recording, drawing from a long-standing engagement with traditional Celtic music and its North American diasporic expressions. As a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and producer, I lead the band E J Ouellette & Crazy Maggy and serve as CEO of Whole Music Records Studios™, which includes an International Music Division (www.wholemusic.com/wmid). Over the years, I’ve shared the stage with international artists such as Baba Maal and Malouma, and performed both nationally and abroad, always seeking to build bridges between musical traditions.

The result is a vibrant dialogue between Celtic phrasing, modal harmonies, and contemporary global performance aesthetics—all through the AmeriCeltic folk tradition rooted in New England. This transatlantic conversation honors the journey of Celtic music while embracing its evolving global identity. On the Gravel Walk exemplifies the type of culturally anchored yet forward-thinking performance that defines the Global Music Performance category.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, E J Ouellette

Artist, Producer “On the Gravel Walk” CEO of Whole Music Records™