Transatlantic Sessions London 6 Feb

Subject: Transatlantic Sessions London 6 Feb
From: Will Fly
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 07:40 PM

Well, it's a quarter to one on Tuesday (UK time) and I'm having a cup of tea - just back from the Transatlantic Sessions at the Festival Hall in London. Sold out evening.

A very enjoyable show on the whole. Some of the songs didn't appeal to me, frankly, but I'm more of a tunes man anyway, and the tunes were fantastic. The musicianship was superb, and it was good to see some heroes like Michael McGoldrick, Tim O'Brien, Russ Barenberg and Bruce Molsky in the flesh. Any other 'Catters there?

Towards the end of the evening, Aly Bain announced that the latest Transatlantic sessions series starts on BBC4, England, on Feb 17th - something to look forward to.

The only disappointing part of the evening was coming home on the Gatwick Express. The recorded announcement on the train said that if we had any questions we should ask a member of staff. But no member of staff came down the train.

So I never found out who won the Derby in 1938.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions London 6 Feb
From: michaelr
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 12:10 AM

No mention of Jerry Douglas?

I'm jealous. The Transatlantic Sessions feature the very best musicians in the trade, and I'd give (something) to see them live. Who else was there, Will?

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions London 6 Feb
From: Peter C
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 05:09 AM

I am going to Symphony Hall, Birmingham tomorrow night (Wednesday) - really looking forward to it!

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions London 6 Feb
From: evansakes
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 05:25 AM

It was a great evening as ever with some of the world's finest musicians. Eddi Reader calls it 'God's Band' and you know what she means. I was also a little disappointed by some of the song choices from Eddi Reader and even Tim O'Brien (did we really need another take on 'This Land Is Your Land')...and Declan O'Rourke though a nice enough lad and decent voice doesn't come over as a top drawer writer. Raul Malo gave the evening something different...I enjoyed the Nat King Cole croon on 'Around The World' and the Orbison-esque take on JD Souther's You're Only Lonely. Karen Matheson was the vocal star for me....a vastly underrated singer if ever there was one.

Much as I love Jerry Douglas and the dobro I could really have done without the now traditional extended solo interlude. After 7 minutes of pyromaniacs I don't think I was alone in muttering 'Enough already!'. Douglas is the one who always says about TS 'Everyone checks their ego at the door' but he always seems to grant himself exemption to this rule. Everyone acknowledges he's the best in the business but TS is all supposed to be about collaboration and not being show-offy.

The unsung (and sometimes uncredited) guys were often the real heroes on the night for me. Danny Thompson cool and composed as ever, James Mackintosh the definition of restrained and subtle percussion and John Doyle on guitar never took a solo or got to sing a song but as ever he was the glue in the rhythm section. John McCusker was more in the shadows than in previous years and though you don't often notice him Donald shaw is also an essential part of the bedrock. I think this year I enjoyed the instrumentals and tune-sets more than the songs. The ones composed and led by Phil Cunningham and Russ Barenburg were strong and melodious. Meanwhile Mike McGoldrick can do no wrong. His understated accompaniment on whistle and flute was always a highlight and the slow air he led on the uilleann pipes was for me the most beautifully moving music played all night.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions London 6 Feb
From: Will Fly
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 05:26 AM

Jerry, of course, and Aly - I took these as said in my original post! Actually, Jerry did a solo Dobro spot at the start of the 2nd half that was very fast and flashy - showboating, I suppose - that didn't impress me at all. (I thought, at that moment, how much more subtle the Dobro work of Mike Auldridge can be). However, Jerry excelled in the ensemble playing, underpinning everything beautifully. The band also had Danny Thompson on bass, John Doyle (guitar), John McCusker (fiddle) the ever-so-subtle Donald Shaw (keyboards), Phil Cunningham (accordion), Phil Mackintosh (drums), and the others mentioned above. The singers were Eddie Reeder,the wonderful Karen Matheson, Ruby Moody, Declan O'Rourke and Raoul Malo (ex-Mavericks).

I found some of the songs to be a bit mumsy, MOR - and I will not singalongalong nor be all happy-clappy at these occasions. It's frankly boring, but Karen Matheson was superb and Raoul Malo's voice was excellent. Ruby Moody - breathy girl with some banjo thrown in - did not appeal to me - and, unfortunately, I find Eddie Reeder irritating beyond measure for some inexplicable reason.

But before you label me a critical, grumpy old git, I have to say the evening was worth every penny. For me, the highlights were Mike McGoldrick playing a wonderful slow air on the pipes that was jaw-dropping, and dear Bruce Molsky, who just sings and plays directly from the heart.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions London 6 Feb
From: Will Fly
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 05:27 AM

Twickfolk - our posts crossed - glad to see we had the same impressions! :-)

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions London 6 Feb
From: Will Fly
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 05:30 AM

And I forgot to mention a great piece - "Hallowe'een Rehearsal" - by my hero Russ Barenberg, probably one of the greatest unknown guitar greats.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions London 6 Feb
From: Leadfingers
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 05:30 AM

Will - It was Bois Roussel ridden by E C Elliot , trained by Fred Darling .

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions London 6 Feb
From: Will Fly
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 05:33 AM

Excellent, Leadfingers - wish I'd bet on it now!

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions London 6 Feb
From: melodeonboy
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 05:45 AM

Overall, another great evening.

I didn't enjoy Eddi Reader's rendition of the Burns' song; too much pop histrionics!

I could have done with another song or two from Karen Matheson, especially one of her Gaelic ones.

The old-timey stuff at the beginning of the second half was fantastic, as was McGoldrick's air. In fact, as stated above, McGoldrick's playing was a joy all evening.

I actually thought that Raul Malo added something to the evening, cheesy though he is!

I found the second half more enjoyable than the first half.

Generally, at least as good as last year, if not a little better (though I did miss Julie Fowlis!).

My journey back was also rather disappointing, Will. An hour and fifty minutes to get from Waterloo to Sittingbourne (45 miles!).

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions London 6 Feb
From: evansakes
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 05:57 AM

I'm actually a big fan of Ruth Moody, Will but I don't think the songs she did last night were ideal fodder for the TS gang to get their teeth into.

She played for us at the Cabbage Patch with her own band only two weeks ago and I find it difficult to be believe she didn't choose to do this one last night.

Ruth Moody "Glory Bound" at TwickFolk

Forgot to mention Bruce Molsky (another recent guest at TwickFolk)...his old timey quartet songs were also major highlights.

Aly Bain too...stoical as ever but it wouldn't be the same without him. Before the 'Hey Good Lookin' encore he stated that they'd never previously done a Hank Williams song on TS.....I must be going mad, I could've sworn the encore last year was Jambalaya :-)

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions London 6 Feb
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 06:18 AM

Did they play or sing any traditional English material - or was it - like the programmes - all Scottish &/or Irish? TS have nearly all been as though we don't have a folk scene south of the border or east of the Irish Sea.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions London 6 Feb
From: Will Fly
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 06:43 AM

Alas, CJB - and I've aired this irritation before - not an English tune or song all night...

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions London 6 Feb
From: evansakes
Date: 08 Feb 12 - 05:25 AM

Telegraph Review


Guardian review

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions London 6 Feb
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 08 Feb 12 - 06:12 AM

From: Will Fly - PM
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 06:43 AM

"Alas, CJB - and I've aired this irritation before - not an English tune or song all night..."

====

Thought so - FWIW I would opine that its typical ignorance of a thriving folk culture south of the border and east of the Irish Sea but one not deemed worthy enough to acknowledge. That's why I didn't go.

Is this attitude due to the musicians / singers, the producer(s), or an entrenched attitude within the Beeb itself?

Not good.

====

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions London 6 Feb
From: michaelr
Date: 08 Feb 12 - 07:09 PM

Do we have to rehash this complaint every time Transatlantic Sessions is mentioned? As was explained in several previous threads, English folk music just isn't part of TS's purview - it's about the connections between Celtic and American music.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions London 6 Feb
From: GUEST,Twickfolk
Date: 09 Feb 12 - 02:58 AM

Michael, I suppose there'll be always be people out there who go along to a Paul McCartney concert expecting to hear him sing 'Imagine'.....they can stamp their feet and moan but they're likely to be disappointed.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions London 6 Feb
From: Will Fly
Date: 09 Feb 12 - 04:16 AM

I'm not going to repeat what I've said before about the slant of the TS as regards choice of music - and I will repeat that I thoroughly enjoyed most of the evening - but there's growing part of the TS that has less to do with real musical connections between American, Scottish and Irish music than with middle of the road showbiz. This shows up particularly in the choice of songs.

Actually I wouldn't have minded hearing "Imagine" - a song I don't particularly care for - rather than Raoul Malo's cheesy version of "Around The World". What the devil has that song got to do with connections between musical traditions?