The Transatlantic Sessions - Favourite?

Subject: The Transatlantic Sessions - Favourite?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 21 Nov 09 - 12:38 PM

So, which is yours?

THE TRANSATLANTIC SESSIONS - YOUTUBE

I love the one with Dougie Maclean and Kathy Mattea..

Subject: RE: The Transatlantic Sessions - Favourite?
From: GUEST,Chris Murray
Date: 21 Nov 09 - 01:06 PM

I've watched and enjoyed all four series and have the CDs and DVDs. I also have a ticket to go and see The Transatlantic Sessions on stage.

Subject: RE: The Transatlantic Sessions - Favourite?
From: michaelr
Date: 21 Nov 09 - 01:13 PM

On stage where?

Subject: RE: The Transatlantic Sessions - Favourite?
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 21 Nov 09 - 01:28 PM



I assume that Chris is referring to Celtic Connections.

Subject: RE: The Transatlantic Sessions - Favourite?
From: michaelr
Date: 21 Nov 09 - 01:39 PM

Ah, thanks Ed.

It's weird that seasons 1, 3 and 4 are available on DVD, but season 2 is not. Anyone know why?

Subject: RE: The Transatlantic Sessions - Favourite?
From: GUEST,Chris Murray
Date: 21 Nov 09 - 06:26 PM

Chris wasn't referring to Celtic Connections. The Transatlantic Sessions is playing at Birmingham Symphony Hall on Friday 5th February and I've got my ticket. I know it's linked with Celtic Connections. It's a bit vague about who is actually playing - there's a suggestion that we won't get the full line up. Does anyone know who is actually playing?

http://www.thsh.co.uk/view/transatlantic-sessions

If the blue clicky doesn't work, you can find it by going onto the Symphony Hall site.

Subject: RE: The Transatlantic Sessions - Favourite?
From: Commander Crabbe
Date: 21 Nov 09 - 08:25 PM

Emily Smith et al performing "Silver Tassie"

CC

Subject: RE: The Transatlantic Sessions - Favourite?
From: Will Fly
Date: 22 Nov 09 - 04:36 AM

The Transatlantic Sessions occasional series is fascinating on several levels. At it's most obvious, it gives the viewer, not only the opportunity to see many top class musicians from the "folk-ish" world, but also the opportunity to see them playing in various combinations. As such, I wouldn't miss it for the world.

The reality is that they're not sessions in the sense of people getting together informally and spontaneously to make music. The music is carefully put together, tightly (and very quickly) rehearsed, in carefully chosen settings with a huge technical crew and production infrastructure, and complex editing & post-production work. So they're concerts without a live audience. As far as I'm aware, apart from bassist Danny Thompson (who showed a flash of irritation in Series 4), there are no English performers and little obviously English material performed. Which is a great shame. I would, for example, have loved to see someone like John Kirkpatrick and others of his ilk sitting in with the crew. But there you go - nothing in this world is perfect.

As far as the series have progressed - if that's the word - my feeling is that they've be come slightly less gutsy and more slightly more glitzy from series to series. Series 4, in particular, I thought bland in places. Just my personal reaction to it all. In contrast, I was so impressed by most of Series 3 that I bought the DVD.

I think one of the treasures of the series is Russ Barenberg - an unassuming and consummate musician - and his "The Drummers Of England" is a total joy.

Subject: RE: The Transatlantic Sessions - Favourite?
From: evansakes
Date: 22 Nov 09 - 05:50 AM

After the Celtic Connections finale on Jan 31st in Glasgow they're going on tour for a week which (off the top of my head) includes gigs in Gateshead, Birmingham, Manchester and end at the Royal Festival Hall on Sat 6th Feb. Got my tickets for that one....

The South Bank website says

"Long established as one of the jewels in the crown of Glasgow's Celtic Connections festival, Transatlantic Sessions makes its London debut, revisiting shared roots and forging new common ground between today's finest Celtic and Americana musicians.

Outstanding singers performing include Nickel Creek vocalist/fiddler Sara Watkins; O Brother Where Art Thou? soundtrack star Dan Tyminski (aka the voice of George Clooney) on guitar and mandolin; Bruce Molsky (fiddle) and Tim O'Brien with another of Americana's great interpreters, his sister Mollie O'Brien.

Also gracing the song department are three sublime female voices - Scotland's Eddi Reader and Karen Matheson (Capercaillie) alongside Ireland's Cara Dillon.

On the instrumental side, bravura solos, jaw-dropping ensemble medleys and gorgeous song accompaniment are provided by the house band, which includes Danny Thompson, Darrell Scott, John Doyle, Russ Barenberg, Phil Cunningham MBE, Donald Shaw, Michael McGoldrick and James Mackintosh, plus joint musical directors Aly Bain MBE and dobro legend Jerry Douglas"

Subject: RE: The Transatlantic Sessions - Favourite?
From: Will Fly
Date: 22 Nov 09 - 06:53 AM

Darrell Scott was, unfortunately, not in Series 4 - shame, because his "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" was (for me) one of the highlights of Series 3. Mmm... must try and get a ticket for the Festival Hall...

Subject: RE: The Transatlantic Sessions - Favourite?
From: alex s
Date: 22 Nov 09 - 09:53 AM

I agree with Will re English perfprmers and I would also like to see some of the great "celtic" guitarists - John Renbourne, Stefan Grossman etc. Russ Barenberg is OK, but hardly world class.

Subject: RE: The Transatlantic Sessions - Favourite?
From: GUEST,Mike Rogers
Date: 22 Nov 09 - 11:11 AM

My favourite, by some distance, was series 1. I felt that the mix of singers and musicians, was outstanding with John Martyn adding some English edge. Emmylou promised Aly that she would return but sadly didn't do so.

Although there have been some great performances in Series 4, notably from Alison Moorer I felt that maybe the whole thing has become a tad too cosy. I would have ditched the drummer in the nearest loch. Nonetheless it remains one of the best programmes on the box.

I beg to differ with the previous poster - I would have no hesitation in calling Russ Barenberg world class.

Subject: RE: The Transatlantic Sessions - Favourite?
From: Will Fly
Date: 22 Nov 09 - 12:08 PM

I don't particularly want to get into debates about the quality or otherwise of musicians on the Transatlantic Sessions - it's all personal taste, after all, but Russ Barenberg is a superb musician with immaculate taste.

Subject: RE: The Transatlantic Sessions - Favourite?
From: evansakes
Date: 22 Nov 09 - 12:57 PM

Agree with Will Fly completely re Russ Barenberg....he is an accompanist par excellence. Most of the time he's playing a tight rhythmic accompaniment and that's what is required of a guitarist in the context of this programme. Good as they are, Grossman and Renbourne are completely different types of players. In my opinion they would be totally unsuitable for the house band on Transatlantic Sessions.

I think I'm right in saying the programme is made and funded by Scottish and Irish companies so it's no great surprise that the Celtic musicians are favoured more than the Anglo ones. I for one am more than happy with the musicians they choose.

Subject: RE: The Transatlantic Sessions - Favourite?
From: Jo Taylor
Date: 22 Nov 09 - 05:07 PM

Series 1 is available on DVD?

Link please?

Loved the young Rufus Wainwright, and Kathy Mattea.

Subject: RE: The Transatlantic Sessions - Favourite?
From: michaelr
Date: 22 Nov 09 - 05:16 PM

Trans 1 on MusicScotland

Subject: RE: The Transatlantic Sessions - Favourite?
From: Jo Taylor
Date: 22 Nov 09 - 05:20 PM

Thank you very much!

Subject: RE: The Transatlantic Sessions - Favourite?
From: GUEST,Chrsi B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 23 Nov 09 - 08:27 AM

Russ Barenberg not world class?

Subject: RE: The Transatlantic Sessions - Favourite?
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 26 Dec 09 - 05:48 PM

Where is SERIES 2 ??
Has it ever been issued, any plans for DVD release?
Thanks, Thomas.

Subject: RE: The Transatlantic Sessions - Favourite?
From: michaelr
Date: 26 Dec 09 - 06:36 PM

From the liner notes to TS4:

...we remain hopeful that, despite copyright issues, the second series (1999) will in due course be brought out... A dedicated website www.transatlanticsessions.com is currently being developed...and will be on-line before the end of 2009.

I checked, and the site is not on-line yet.

I'd like to know who was on TS2 - anyone remember?

Subject: RE: The Transatlantic Sessions - Favourite?
From: Nick
Date: 27 Dec 09 - 06:32 AM

Listing off Amazon for CDs

1. Waiting for the Federals - Aly Bain
2. Simple Life - Ricky Skaggs
3. Blue Train - Maura O'Connell
4. Marriage Made in Hollywood - Paul Brady
5. Tribute to Peadar O'Donnell - Jerry Douglas
6. Hummingbird - Eddi Reader
7. Danse de la Vie - Michael Doucet
8. Bachelor's Walk - Breda Smyth
9. Always Will - Nanci Griffith
10. Nobody Wins - Radney Foster
11. Veuves de la Coulee - Russ Barenberg
12. There's Always Sunday - Karen Matheson
13. Excuse Me Mister - John Martyn
14. 40 Shades of Green - Rosanne Cash

1) Jerry Douglas - Passing the Bar
2) Nanci Griffith - Boots of Spanish Leather
3) Paul Brady - Arthur McBride & the Sergeant
4) Tommy Hayes/Fiona Kennedy/Karen Matheson - Sanseptique
5) Aly Bain - Bonaparte's Retreat
6) Maura O'Connell - Trouble In the Fields
7) Radney Foster - God Knows When
8) Ishbel MacAskill with Iain MacDonald
Piobaireachd Dhomhnaill Dhuibh
9) Ricky Skaggs - My Father's Son
10) Sharon Shannon - Magic Foot
11) John Martyn - He's Got All the Whisky
12) Eddi Reader - Footsteps Fall
13) Michael Doucet - Jolie Blonde
14) Sharon White - Mansion On the Hill
15) James Grant - Evangeline
16) Iain MacDonald - Puirt-a-Beul

Not sure everything is there - I'm sure there's a lovely version of Who Knows Where the Time Goes too but that's most of it.

If you go to YouTube and type in Transatlantic Sessions 2 you'll find most of it including one of my favourites - Breda Smyth on tin whislte

Subject: RE: The Transatlantic Sessions - Favourite?
From: michaelr
Date: 27 Dec 09 - 12:15 PM

Thanks, Nick!

Subject: RE: The Transatlantic Sessions - Favourite?
From: GUEST,watfordkev
Date: 05 Jan 10 - 07:45 AM

The domain names have been registered for www.transatlanticsessions.com and www.transatlanticsessions.co.uk - but by very different registrants...