Ptarmigan was formed in Vancouver B.C. in 1970 by Michael Bieling, James Lithgow and Glen Dias. The band performed in coffee houses and small venues around the Vancouver Island and Victoria areas and attracted the attention of world renowned American flautist Paul Horn who had just moved to B.C. They began writing songs with Bieling accompanying on congas & soon added Dennis Lelonde on alto sax, piano & vocals; Monte Nordstrom on 12 string guitar & vocals with a second percussionist, Shawn Mullins. The sextet performed on Vancouver lsland & eventually came to the attention of the renowned flautist Paul Horn who had moved to Victoria, BC to escape the rigours of life in Los Angeles. He was impressed with the group's unorthodox style & encouraged the band to stay in touch. When the group fragmented with Lithgow & Bieling departing Peter Wheeler, an American percussionist, joined the band. Ptarmigan's music creates passages of flowing dreamy progressive almost psychedelic folk. Glen Dias : lead vocal, alto, tenor & bass recorder, incidental percussion, Monte Nordstrom : vocals, 12 string guitar (lead vocals on "A great northern Lake"), Kat Hendrikse : drums, Dave Field : acoustic bass, Richard Mayer : electric bass (on "The Island") and Peter Wheeler : hand drums. 01 - Rise 02 - Go Dancing 03 - The Island-Intro 04 - The Island-Preamble 05 - The Island-Main Theme 06 - Vancouver-Reflections 07 - Vancouver-The City 08 - Night Of The Gulls-On The Water 09 - A Hymn Tio The Ocean & A Great Nothern Lake-Ocean Song 10 - A Hymn Tio The Ocean & A Great Nothern Lake-Afternoon Rain 11 - Coquihalla 12 - Chimborazo(Bonus Track) 13 - Chimborazo-Studio Tag(Bonus Track) LINK
