Renowned western Massachusetts-based musicians Eveline MacDougall & John Clark performing as Abbracci Libero
(Ah-BRAH-chee LEE-beh-ro = Italian for free hugs).
Eveline MacDougall: violin, accordion, viola, guitar, & vocals
John Clark: French horn, electric bass
A wide variety of genres, including jazz, classical, originals, folk tunes from many traditions (e.g. Celtic, Scandinavian, Quebecois, Greek, Latin American.)
Plus fascinating vignettes from decades of humorous and moving experiences.
Eveline MacDougall
A vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, MacDougall is the founder & choral director of Fiery Hope (formerly known as Amandla). She’s collaborated with South African luminary Nelson Mandela, union organizer Cesar Chavez, education advocate Malala Yousafzai, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, folk singer Pete Seeger, gospel expert Dr. Horace Clarence Boyer, right livelihood heroes Wally and Juanita Nelson, folk singer Fred Small, and poet Martin Espada. MacDougall, who performs with Forest Avenue (string band), appears as a guest artist with The Uncles, and teaches music at Full Circle School in Bernardston, is also a journalist, author, visual artist, and mom.
John Clark
Clark’s illustrious career as composer, performer, and arranger brings him around the world. He’s played with Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Ornette Coleman, Gary Bartz, Johnny Griffin, Jimmy Heath, Leroy Jenkins, Joe Lovano, Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. He worked closely with Gil Evans, McCoy Tyner, and Carla Bley. Outside of jazz, Clark worked with the Aspen Wind Quintet, Ashford and Simpson, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Isaac Hayes, Billy Joel, B. B. King, LL Cool J, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Diana Ross, Carly Simon, Sting, Speculum Musicae, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. He plays electric bass and sings with The Uncles.
Recent Appearances by Abbracci Libero:
October 5, 2024 at Fabric of Life in Shelburne, MA
September 8, 2024 at Lathrop Community in Northampton, MA
“Ashokan Farewell” by Jay Ungar
“Autumn Leaves” – by Joseph Kosma
“Ganglat” – traditional Swedish
“Summertime” – by George Gershwin
“Mona’s” by Lissa Schneckenburger
“Eveline MacDougall and John Clark bring beautiful musical worlds together: the haunting lilt of traditional North Atlantic fiddle-playing and the striving and exploratory sound of jazz. Their arrangements are lyrical and hope-giving. Eveline and John’s music sounds as natural as a river’s steady and certain course.”
-Michael Hoberman, Magpie Farm Concert Series, Shelburne Falls, MA
“Eveline MacDougall and John Clark performed music of many flavors, from duos by Mozart and present-day composers to jazz improvisations and traditional fiddle tunes. They also drew upon lifetimes of intimacy with the French horn, the electric bass, the violin, the viola, and the human voice—all of them singing. We were delighted!”
—Jeff Mitchell, Lathrop Community, Northampton, MA