Hurry Up & Wait

Orphans of professional canasta players and forbidden to play their 11-string keenas until the return of their Master, Jerzy Farouk, the musical Farouksa family pick, strum and sing quaint melodies in the Pontiac Hills folk tradition. Roberta (mandolin, guitar), Charlie (banjo), Hollis (dobro), Richard (guitar), and Alrick (upright bass).

Their parents were professional canasta players who voyaged all over the world to compete - they traveled with them, but kept to themselves, reading every book available. Their parents' sudden and unexpected demise (there were unsubstantiated rumours of strange occult ceremonies), left them stranded in Mongolia. There they met and began to study with the renowned 11-string keena master, Jerzy Farouk. They soon changed their family name to "Farouksa" which means "Breath of Farouk" in the local tribal language. Master Farouk taught them everything they hold dear both spiritually and musically. After many years of study, Master Farouk sent them to Canada, hoping to share with others, the beautiful and healing qualities of the keena. Unfortunately, while aboard an ocean liner bound for Canada, they received an urgent telegram from Master Farouk, advising of a change in his plans - some longstanding tribal conflict had just resumed, forcing the Master to flee in the night, leaving behind his collection of magnificent, hand-carved keenas. He would join them in Canada, as soon as possible, but in the meantime, forbad them from playing, or even displaying, their own keenas. Those were the Master's instructions. They now play banjo, bass, dobro, guitar and mandolin awaiting his return...