Personnel: Dan Zanes (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar, tenor banjo, mandolin, harmonica); Donald Saaf (vocals, tenor banjo, mandolin); Basya Schechter (vocals, oud); Sophia Mockler (vocals, fiddle); Cynthia Hopkins (vocals, accordion); Andrew Mockler (vocals, French horn); Cherise King (vocals, tambourine); Sonia De Los Santos, Suzanne Sullivan, Lucas Mockler, Casey McSherry, Louise Sullivan, Anna Zanes (vocals); Rob Friedman (cuatro); Marc Ribot (banjo); Guillermo C rdenas (tamboura, tambourine); George Rush, Dave Hofstra (tuba); John Foti (piano); Saskia Sunshine Lane, Yoshi Waki (upright bass); Colin Brooks (drums); Oona Mockler (tambourine); Jerry Marotta (percussion).
Audio Mixer: Rob Friedman.
Recording information: Festival Five Studios; Little Life Studios; Playbach Studios.
Arrangers: Sonia De Los Santos; Dan Zanes; Wayne "Rankin Don" "Father Goose" Rhoden.
Ex-Del Fuego turned pioneering children's music auteur Dan Zanes' The Welcome Table! Songs of Inspiration, Mystery & Good Times collects 15 new and previously released recordings to benefit "the New Sanctuary Movement," a "coalition of interfaith religious leaders and participating congregations, called by our faith to respond actively and publicly to the suffering of our immigrant brothers and sisters residing in the United States." The message rings true throughout the collection, as Zanes has been a staunch proponent of multicultural musical mayhem throughout his long career, releasing a diverse set of post-Del Fuegos records that celebrated traditional music from all over the world. This time around, he draws from North American gospel traditions, pitching a revival tent filled with a rotating cast of musicians who plow through inspirational standards like "Jesus on the Mainline," "Roll the Chariot," and "By and By" with their typical blend of grace and dexterity. ~ James Christopher Monger
