Transatlantic Sessions - New Series

Subject: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 15 Feb 12 - 06:28 PM

...... well almost; its already been broadcast in Scotland!

It seems to have gone largely un-noticed that the latest series of the Transatlantic Sessions is to be broadcast in England (and possibly elsewhere?) starting this Friday 17th Feb 2012 - BBC 4 - 20.30-21.00 Hrs and repeated Saturday Morning 01.00-01.30 Hrs.

Get'cher recorders warmed up!

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Feb 12 - 06:56 PM

And very enjoyable it is /was too

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: The Barden of England
Date: 16 Feb 12 - 10:35 AM

Thanks for that - I've set up to record the series
John Barden

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 16 Feb 12 - 11:32 AM

I have it on my Sky+box from the BBC Scotland transmissions, and I've just bought the DVD.

Very good it is too - especially the pregnant blonde Irish lady (whose name is unpronounceable, but I guess equates to 'Maureen Somebody'), Sharon Shannon, the young American girl Sarah Jarosz, the great Sam Bush, and the wonderful Amos Lee.

Alison Krauss is great too, but you'd expect her to be.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: Rog Peek
Date: 16 Feb 12 - 03:41 PM

Thanks Ray.

Rog

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: michaelr
Date: 16 Feb 12 - 07:28 PM

"Maureen Somebody" is Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, a wonderful singer from Kerry and member of Danu. If you said "Maureen Macauley" that might be close enough.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: CET
Date: 16 Feb 12 - 07:54 PM

Have any of these series been made available for North American audiences? On DVD perhaps?

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: michaelr
Date: 16 Feb 12 - 09:36 PM

DVDs are available from MusicScotland; however they're not coded for US players so you can only play them on your computer, if equipped, or on universal DVD players.

A lot of the music has been posted on Youtube, or check out these links:
http://www.ragamuffin.biz/transatlantic5episode1.wmv
http://ragamuffin.biz/transatlanticsession5-2.wmv
http://ragamuffin.biz/transatlanticsessions5-3.wmv
http://ragamuffin.biz/transatlanticsessions5-4.wmv
http://ragamuffin.biz/transatlanticsessions5-5.wmv

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: GUEST,Susie
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 03:43 AM

know Johnny Ramsey's done the sound for some of em and Phil Cunningham played on at least one - thanks for posting - will play on iPlayer!

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 03:54 AM

"Maureen Somebody" is Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, a wonderful singer from Kerry and member of Danu. If you said "Maureen Macauley" that might be close enough.

Thanks michaelr, that's been bugging me!
Not acquainted with Danu, but Muireann is indeed a fine, fine singer, 'magnificent' isn't too strong a word IMHO - I'll have to investigate Danu's CDs.
Cheers.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: bradfordian
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 05:32 AM

Transatlantic Sessions is indeed due to air on BBC4 8.30 to 9.00 pm GMT today Friday 17th Feb & for the next 6 weeks

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: Peter C
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 05:36 AM

And very good it is too - the advantage of the DVD is you can skip the few out of place tracks, and just the view the ones that are up to the normal Transatlantic Sessions standard!

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: Mick Tems
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 04:25 PM

Wow - just switched on the first series of TS (in Wales) with Alison Krauss (spine-shiveringly good!), Dirk Powell, Eddi Reader, Phil Cunningham, Donald Shaw, John McCusker, Mike McGoldrick, Donal Lunny, Jerry Douglas and many more. Half an hour of sheer heaven!

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: foggers
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 05:15 PM

Yep just caught it. Half an hour of heaven! Dirk Powell and Sam Bush doing Boats up the River was sublime!

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: Spot
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 05:38 PM

Allo everybody..

Oh my....   Now, that was good music...   :-)

Regards to all...Spot

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 10:15 PM

I think they should have Show of Hands on the Transatlantic sessions. Its not a bad series, but its like one of those doughnuts with a soggy centre. Somewhere along the like - everything turns into an Aly Blain tune.

Of course its 'good' music, Aly Blain is a genius. It not that I want him to be self effacing. But good accompaniment - well its more subtle than that. What songs mean should be thought about, and what's wrong with telling people what a gaelic song is about. Do they know they themselves? Or do they just do jolly jiggy sounds and smirk at each other, and go up and down the minor scale and look sad when things slow down a bit. I think we should be told.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 03:25 AM

I'm not particularly a fan of Eric Bibb, but he was superb on The Transatlantic Sessions last night.

Mind you it was all good.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 04:44 AM

It gets better................

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: doc.tom
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 05:13 AM

Yep! Fantastic as (nearly) always. And hooray they've moved series 5 to a less obscure channel. Interesting that we ended up with Eddie Reader being a country singer and Alison Krauss being a folksinger.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: Brian May
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 05:37 AM

Watched it last night on iPlayer - excellent.

Eric Bibb and Alison Krauss were just a bonus, it's so hard to pick anyone special out really as they all are.

What an excellent programme.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: GRex
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 06:03 AM

Watched it on BBC4 last night and I agree, an excellent program.

Not one thing on the show that I disliked, which is most unusual.

      GRex

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 09:11 AM

Is the guitarist with the hat John Doyle?

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 09:19 AM

no that's eric bibb - the hat is holding his fingers on.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: Will Fly
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 09:28 AM

The left-handed guitarist with hat is indeed John Doyle.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 25 Feb 12 - 07:47 AM

Excellent series so far, I see Jim Murray was on last nights programme but for the life of me I can't see why, he doesn't really contribute anything.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: GUEST,Mike Rogers
Date: 25 Feb 12 - 10:50 AM

Can you have too much of a good thing?
That's what I've been asking myself about TS5.
It seems to me that for every song they're using the Big Band, including the drummer.
Sometimes more is less. The Genius That Is Sam Bush is getting lost in the mix and seems to be reduced to largely rhythm playing on his mandolin. And although it's almost sacrilegious to say this but I'd be more than happy if the World's Greatest Dobro Player sat out the odd song.
Maybe I'm getting picky and judging everything by the brilliance of series one.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 25 Feb 12 - 11:47 AM

My feelings exactly re the big band treatment. It's almost as if every performer from whatever culture or branch of the music has to be accompanied en masse (sort of Jules Holland syndrome). Last week Eric Bibb did a nice delicate finger picked version of Lonesome Road Blues only to have the addition of Dirk Powell's banjo, a so called Irish Bouzouki and at least one other guitar (two I think). Last night Dirk did a nice song with fiddle with Sam & Jerry joning in on vocals which was fine but again too many accompanists. With pipes, flutes and accordeons, drums and pianos all thrown in it becomes one big melting potof sound. Everything more or less comes out sounding pretty much the same. From a personal point of view I would ditch all the drums and percussion and only bring in a piano on rare occasions. With so many excellent musicians it would be nice to hear them with a more spare backing so that we can hear them. I suppose that as the title is "Sessions" that is what we should expect, but even in our pub sessions we give people a chance to perform without everyone jumping in.

Some years ago Aly Bain did a series of films where he spent time in Shetland with local fiddlers,in various regions of Canada doing the same and then across the States; New England, Kentucky, North Carolina, Texas and Louisiana. In each of these he joined the local musicians. The results were far more interesting. I wonder if Pelicula would consider another series like that.

Doubtful I guess and yes please give Jerry a break and I don't mean a musical one.

Hoot

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: Will Fly
Date: 25 Feb 12 - 11:57 AM

Interestingly, on the TR 3 Series DVD set, there were a couple of duets that weren't shown in the TV shows - and they were excellent. Very refreshing.

The live show in London also had people playing in twos and threes - Bruce Molsky's performance was outstanding, for example (Jerry Douglas's solo less than enthralling), and it made a pleasant interlude from the full band.

It's a great house band, of course, but contrast can be welcome sometimes.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: Hamish
Date: 25 Feb 12 - 12:34 PM

Aw, c'mon, guys: last night's show was excellent. Not heard of Sarah Jarosz before: she's fab. Check out her music here

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: TopcatBanjo
Date: 25 Feb 12 - 06:27 PM

I completely agree with Mike Rogers & Hootenanny above. I also think that the house band/everyone join in thing is getting out of hand and it means that it is hard to discern the guest musicians and appreciate certain instruments. I also think that there is a disproportionate amount of Jerry Douglas in the series.

On the plus side, it is one of the only opportunities to see my favourite genres, bluegrass and old time music, represented in some way on the telly. I've been a fan of Sarah Jarosz for 2 or 3 years and she is a fantastic talent. She's been lucky in getting "the TS invitation" so quickly and I'm sure it will help boost her profile. She is back in the UK touring in late May/early June - check out tour dates at her site (linked by Hamish in the post above mine).

Also very glad to see Alison Krauss performing "Lay My Burden Down" in last week's episode; an original song by the superbly talented Aoife O'Donovan. Glad to think that Aoife will be earning some royalties when that AKUS LP sells in the massive numbers that it undoubtedly will (and has). Here's a clip of Aoife performing the song:
Aoife O'Donovan - Lay My Burden Down

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 02:12 AM

"Not heard of Sarah Jarosz before: she's fab."

Neither had I, Hamish, until I watched the original run of the series on BBC SCotland, and I wholeheartedly agree - Sarah is a fresh and considerable talent. I was sorely disappointed that they didn't have her on the 'Live' tour this year (I was disappointed that Muireann and Alison weren't on the tour either, but hey, can't win 'em all!).

I'll check Sarah's toour dates.

See you 30/3.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: GUEST,loki
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 07:49 AM

I think the cameraman's in love with Mike McGoldrick!
But I'm pleased he is getting to make such a big contribution - he's a great musician and a very pleasant bloke.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 08:05 AM

I fully agree about Mike McGoldrick and its good to see John McCusker as well, he too is a very talented multi instrumentalist.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: evansakes
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 09:34 AM

There's one thing I don't get about the Transatlantic Sessions...

It's always trumped up to be "the greatest back-porch show ever" but whenever I watch the programmes they always seem to be indoors. They never seem to get any further than the kitchen (I don't blame 'em because it looks blumming cold outside most of the time). I suppose that's what you'd expect in the Highlands....

However I feel totally misled by this outrageous misrepresentation in the publicity.

Where do I write to complain?

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - New Series
From: GUEST,grover
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 11:27 AM

"Yes and please give Jerry a break. And I don't mean a musical one."

Producer, "You tell 'im."
Director, "No, you tell'im."

Producer, "Let's BOTH tell 'im."
Director, "Ok."

They exchange looks...crickets. And so it goes.