Jonathan Whitall Jonathan Whitall has been playing for contra dances for over 15 years and is a founding member of the Cosmic Otters. Originally from Pittsburgh, he grew up studying classical piano and violin. A family friend introduced him to Irish music in the mid-1990s, and then he became interested in fiddle tunes. He has more recently turned his attention to the distinctive style of Cape Breton music, taking inspiration from many master dance musicians, including Frank Ferrel and Joe Cormier. He currently lives in the Chicago area.