Transatlantic Sessions, new series

Subject: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 15 Mar 12 - 04:52 AM

I find this latest of the Transatlantic Sessions very biased towards the USA, is this a deliberate policy in order to sell the show in the USA ?

And why is Jim Moray there at all ? he just sits there posing with a guitar, very odd.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: evansakes
Date: 15 Mar 12 - 05:03 AM

This must be a new series that I've not yet seen.

It doesn't sound like any of the programmes I've ever seen up till now (the ones that feature the likes of Danny Thompson, John McGoldrick, John McCusker, Aly Bain, Phil Cunningham, Donald Shaw, Eddi Reader, Karen Matheson etc etc)

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: GUEST,Dáithí
Date: 15 Mar 12 - 07:40 AM

I agree Dave - and can't say that I particularly care for it. Don't get me wrong - the American stuff is interesting and well done - it's just not what I tuned in for...so, no,I won't be buying the DVD!
Back to TG4 for me!
D

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: terrier
Date: 15 Mar 12 - 08:32 AM

Maybe it's just me, but I get a feeling of deja vu watching the latest programmes. I'm sure I've seen the items on previous episodes. Is the new series just a compilation of repeats or is it all getting very 'just like every other song/tune'? As for content, it works fine for me, all great music. I think Jim Moray is part of the 'house band' although I sometimes wonder when they are going to give him a solo spot to justify him being there. No reason why I can't watch Trans At Sessions, TG4 and RTE for that matter (and all the other great programmes on ALBA).

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 15 Mar 12 - 08:49 AM

Don't get me wrong I love most of the American stuff, but there is very little else on, the great fiddle player Nollaig Casey is very under used [ as is Sam Bush ], even Ali Bain and Phil Cunningham are not getting much of a look in. It's all getting very contemporary too.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: GUEST,loki
Date: 15 Mar 12 - 10:12 AM

you hit the nail on the head Dave

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: GUEST,cardboard cutout
Date: 15 Mar 12 - 01:55 PM

"And why is Jim Moray there at all ? he just sits there posing with a guitar, very odd."

No, Dave, not Jim MORAY, Jim MURRAY is the one who is there, I believe.

Completely different people., Although they are roughly the same age, I would have thought. I had never heard of Jim MURRAY before.

Believe me. I can tell the difference!

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 15 Mar 12 - 04:01 PM

You may be right.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: GUEST,loki
Date: 15 Mar 12 - 06:26 PM

On the BBC website: "4/6 With Sharon Shannon, Jim Murray, Mike McGoldrick, Danny Thompson and Eddi Reader."

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: Zen
Date: 15 Mar 12 - 08:39 PM

I used to enjoy it but it seems to be the same formula and people over and over again these days.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Mar 12 - 05:50 AM

The DVD is well worth it for the brilliant contributions from Muireann Nic Ambhlaoidh, Michael McGoldrick, and Kathleen McInnes alone!(IMHO)
Bela Fleck and Russ Barenberg very under used, and Alison Krauss was (again IMHO)a complete waste of space!

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: Jim Moray
Date: 16 Mar 12 - 08:30 AM

Yes - not me. English people aren't generally allowed on The Transatlantic Sessions... ;) (I suppose they make the exception for Danny Thompson)

Jim Murray is the Irish guitarist who plays with Sharon Shannon. Our paths don't cross that often, although I was once booked to do a workshop in "Irish Session Guitar" at a foreign festival. I explained at the beginning that I don't really play Irish music, but I could explain how the English guitar style came about. It wasn't until half way through that I realised what had happened, and why my attempts at demonstrating Martin Carthy and Nic Jones songs, some morris tunes and altered tunings was falling slightly flat.

I'm enjoying this series though. I've not seen the last few - I last watched regularly when Paul Brady and John Martyn were guests.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 16 Mar 12 - 11:13 AM

My apologies Jim.

Jim Murray then, just sits posing with his guitar, why ?

Dave H

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: Rain Dog
Date: 16 Mar 12 - 12:25 PM

Perhaps they booked him in error. Mistook him for the other fella

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: Morris-ey
Date: 16 Mar 12 - 12:40 PM

Jim Murray is a fine guitarist. Listen to Ragairne with Seamus Begley.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 16 Mar 12 - 03:17 PM

Perhaps he's pretending to be an un-played octave mandolin, Dave!

Not noticed if he has sung backup but Alison Krauss did the same on one of Sarah Jarosz's songs a couple of weeks ago nursing her fiddle. Gives them something to do with their hands - shows that they're not only there as backing singers.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 16 Mar 12 - 05:31 PM

Nice to see Bela Fleck & Eric Bibb, however briefly (but then I prefer US folk to UK folk).

RtS

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 16 Mar 12 - 05:41 PM

I turned it on tonight, but a few seconds was too much. Something nasty has happened to it. I was sorry for the musicians.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 16 Mar 12 - 06:06 PM

It became required switching off material about 2 years ago, when they decided that lap steel went with every bloody song.
Then again Jerry Douglas is credited at the beginning, and it is aimed at selling loads of copies of the CD's. Then there's the fact that there are more Americans than Brits to sell to. Somewhere in there you'll find the answer.
I mean, when I listen to American folk radio, I hear very little that I would consider as folk, and TS fits that bill, and judging by last week's selection, Mike Harding's programme is heading the same way.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: bradfordian
Date: 16 Mar 12 - 09:00 PM

I've just watched TS5.4 (last weeks). There was one item which stood out for me, and that was the voice of Declan O'Rourke. I have not seen/heard him before though I understand he has been around for 7 years or so and doing quite well for himself.
Otherwise, the program seems to suffer from instrumentation overkill.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 17 Mar 12 - 05:17 AM

Jim Murray has played on quite a few tracks in this series. He's a simply wonderful musician, and with Tim Edey, one of very few at the top of the game who uses a classical nylon-strung guitar. Musicians in T-AS often sit for part of a track without playing or singing, but I have never seen anyone in shot who has made no contribution at all. The fewer people on stage the better, from a directors point of view. If you saw a shot of Jim not playing, and then did not see him playing later on or ealier, it was probably because the camera did not happen to pick him out. (If you listen carefully you will probably hear his guitar at some point).

Sometimes an instrument will be left on a stand or in the hand from one track to another because it's better to keep them in the very warm conditions under the TV lights then take them out to a cooler place.

Personally I find the split between songs and instrumentals, and between West and East Atlantic, to be almost religiously 50/50. And I love hearing, say, Mike McG adding left-handed flute to a cajun song, or Jerry adding dobro to a Scottish lament. That's the whole point for me: Experimentation of the most sophisticated kind, and extremely illuminating in terms of helping to understand the flow of styles over the centuries around and across that wide ocean.

Series 1 was absolutely the reason I returned to folk music (I was told about it by the original cameraman Martin Singleton while working with him in Scotland), and I still love the show. Occasionally a track fails to float my boat, but some of the most sublime TV I have ever witnessed has been on this programme:

Jay Ungar and Ali doing Ashokan Farewell in Series 1, Darrell Scott singing You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive in Series 4, and last night Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh singing an utterly brilliant Leaving Limerick - accompanied by beautifully restrained melodeon from Sharon Shannan and - yup he was actually playing - deft nylon guitar from one Jim Murray.

TB

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: Will Fly
Date: 17 Mar 12 - 05:33 AM

As we've said before, in many other threads about the Sessions, it's all about personal taste. I'm glad the programme appears every year or so, and I enjoyed about 2/3 of the live show at the Festival Hall recently.

My only comment would be that it seems to have lost a little of its original grit. Tom mentions Darrell Scott's "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" (TS3 I think by the way, Tom), which was indeed superb, and that same series had Russ Barenberg doing "The Drummers Of England" and some great, sharp-edged stuff by Iris Dement and Bruce Molsky. There's been great playing in other series, but I wish there was more splitting up into small groups. At the end of the DVD of Series 3, there's a duet which didn't get into the televised series - Bruce Molsky playing banjo with a Uillean piper (whose name escapes me) - just sitting in a little kitchen/utility room, playing the most wonderful set. Almost caught impromptu - or giving that impression - and I'd like to see more of that.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 Mar 12 - 05:53 AM

I caught a little of it because I wanted to watch something else (not even sure it was on the same channel) scheduled for after it. The standard of playing and (mostly) singing seemed very high, but there was nothing I liked.

Anent Jim Moray's comment above, I once went to a workshop at Broadstairs that was billed as "Traditional guitar accompaniment" and was very disappointed to find that it was for Irish music only - and was therefore of no interest to me at all. I had expected it to be accompaniment on guitar for traditional English song.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 17 Mar 12 - 07:14 AM

"Sometimes an instrument will be left on a stand or in the hand from one track to another because it's better to keep them in the very warm conditions under the TV lights then take them out to a cooler place."

I assume that this is in response to my earlier post.

This might make sense if we could believe that all the filming took place at one time and they left the lights on continually - its clearly not that warm in there judging by Danny Thompson wearing a scarf last night! However, the Sobel octave mandolin I was referring to spent the whole of previous series appearing and disappearing from in front of the piano whilst never actually being played. Other than that, I don't think I've seen another instrument left on a stand.

For those who no longer like the programme; don't watch it!

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 17 Mar 12 - 07:19 AM

It was very good last night, you can't fault any of the musicians.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: Will Fly
Date: 17 Mar 12 - 08:37 AM

For those who no longer like the programme; don't watch it!

Well, life's a little less black and white than that. It's perfectly possible to like parts of a programme - enough to make it worth watching - without having a slavish and uncritical devotion to it. All the playing and singing is superb, as it should be given the personnel involved. But we can still make critical, personal judgements on the choice of material, combination of instruments, etc., while still being interested enough to sit through it.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: alex s
Date: 17 Mar 12 - 09:00 AM

Will, was it Ronan Browne? A fine piper we don't hear nearly enough of.(I think he was the very first "Riverdance" piper)

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: Will Fly
Date: 17 Mar 12 - 10:13 AM

Thanks Alex - Ronan Browne - an excellent piper indeed!

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 17 Mar 12 - 10:56 AM

I expect they thought the Sobel just looked nice! They are beautifully made, and I'm not really sure why leaving one in shot should be thought of as naughty anyway. Actually I'm 99.99% sure Phil did in fact play it.

I guess I'm easy to please - in that, for me, the fascination of watching skilled musicians actually playing, thus making it easier to unpick the arrangements, easily trumps any personal preferences in terms of the types of music I'd normally merely listen to. I'll happily watch anything from chamber music to heavy metal - I just love seeing clearly what those nimble fingers are doing.

I'm surprised that the show draws such a lot of flack here though. Certainly I've noticed no major change in terms of editorial policy since day one. The mix is about the same as ever (fewer big country stars than in the early days, of course) and Jerry Douglas - always the epitome of taste - plays about as much as he always has.

Perhaps we mainly remember the tracks we enjoyed, so tend to think that in the old days there was more of whichever type of music it is we prefer?

The location has changed, of course, but the music seems very much the same as ever to me.

Browne and McGoldrick did a stunning mirror-image pipes duet a while back. Sheer class.

TB

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 17 Mar 12 - 02:06 PM

Tom, last nights show was great, the 2 previous weeks were very heavily American contemporary biased, which you would know if you saw them.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 18 Mar 12 - 08:09 AM

"I think he was the very first "Riverdance" piper"

Alex, I think you'll find that the "very first" one was Davy Spilane. I can't for the life of me think why I was watching it but Riverdance first featured as the interval act in the Eurovision Song Fiasco. It started with a solo piper on an empty stage - "That's Davy Spilane!" I exclaimed.

"I'm not really sure why leaving one in shot should be thought of as naughty anyway. Actually I'm 99.99% sure Phil did in fact play it."

I've no objection to Sobels, although they're not particularly my style, it just seemed strange that such a quality instrument should be used so often as a stage prop without ever being picked up and played. If you can find anyone playing it Tom, I'd love to know which episode it was.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: bubblyrat
Date: 18 Mar 12 - 04:03 PM

I just watched it this evening , having recorded it . I thought it was

excellent , and a pleasantly eclectic mix ; Eddi Reader isn't

necessarily one of my favourite artistes , but on this occasion I was

pleasantly surprised , and the song and the accompaniment were

delightful. Sam Bush's song was amazing musician ship all round ,

I felt . But ; are Gerry and Phil getting rather plump of visage

lately , or is it just me (literally) ??

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: Rog Peek
Date: 19 Mar 12 - 07:04 PM

Episode 4, Alison Krauss singing 'Dimming Of the Day':
Great song, Superb musicians, heavenly voice, absolutely brilliant.

Rog

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 20 Mar 12 - 04:43 AM

I'm hoping there'll be some more Bela Fleck (I admit I'm behind on my viewing, they're all on the PVR but I've only just watched the episode with the lovely 'Dimming Of The Day' Rog mentioned) - I'm not usually a huge banjo-picking fan, but Bela Fleck is just something else.

Like Tom Bliss I'm surprised at the amount of flack the series gets on here, but then again this is Mudcat; no turn unstoned :)

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: Marje
Date: 20 Mar 12 - 05:01 AM

Well, I appreciate the way Mudcatters can pick at the bones of a programme like this and discuss what works and what doesn't work for them. Many of the comments come from people who can speak with some authority about the music or the instrumentation, and I enjoy reading through the comments if I've seen the show or am considering doing so. AS Will says, above,the shows are often of variable quality, both in choice of material and in performance, and it's interesting to know how other people react to the different elements.

Some people feel, "I like what I like and there's no point in discussing taste", in which case further debate is pointless. We're entitled to our opinions, but it's often worth considering why others have different views.

For what it's worth, I didn't enjoy Alison Krauss's version of "Dimming of the Day." I found it too slow, draggy and sentimental, a good song spoiled. The lovely tune had lost its lilt. I normally enjoy her singing, but this arrangement didn't do justice either to the song or to the singer. Or so I thought, anyway.

Marje

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 20 Mar 12 - 05:19 AM

For what it's worth, I didn't enjoy Alison Krauss's version of "Dimming of the Day." I found it too slow, draggy and sentimental, a good song spoiled. The lovely tune had lost its lilt. I normally enjoy her singing, but this arrangement didn't do justice either to the song or to the singer. Or so I thought, anyway.

Whereas I really liked the slower, even-more-world-weary-than-the-original tone, and thought it sat really well on Alison Krauss's voice (which, again IMNSHO, I don't always like so much in the higher faster numbers).

And Michael McGoldrick's understated lightly trilled long low notes were just fantastic, a real atmospheric bed for the performance; it actually reminded me at the time of some of the stuff the aforementioned Jim Moray does elsewhere, in that you almost don't notice it in the overall context, but it would leave a huge atmospheric hole in the arrangement if it *wasn't* there.

Slight disappointment that when it came to the instrumental solos I thought MM was going to get featured but we got the usual 16 bars of lap steel guitar instead, but yet again that's IMNSHO).

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: Will Fly
Date: 20 Mar 12 - 05:30 AM

Steve, for what it's worth, Michael McGoldrick was - for me - the star of the live TS at the Festival Hall. He was the featured performer on one particular instrumental tune, and it brought the house down - rapturous, and well deserved applause. Superb playing

As for "Dimming Of The Day", I'm so fond of the live version by Linda and Richard T that I prefer it to any other version I've heard. But there you are - you can't beat banjo, guitar and harmonium accompaniment to make a song sound really great! :-)

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 20 Mar 12 - 06:40 AM

Will, Michael McGoldrick is - for me - pretty much the star of every show I've ever seen him play, whether with his own bands (which is hardly surprising) but also as an accompanist with Kate Rusby, Capercaillie etc etc. I guess it's partly because I'm such a flute and whistle geek, but I really love that combination of being able to go front and centre or drop back into accompaniment.

In fact that's probably one of the criteria I personally most admire about some of the great musicians - the same's true of Andy Cutting, Rob Harbron, John McCusker and Frederic Paris for example.

And flipping heck what a band that would be: McGoldrick, Cutting, Harbron, McCusker and Paris. Stick Patrick Bouffard in there [who would have to be more front and centre] and they would conquer the world, or at least all right thinking parts of it anyway :)

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: Marje
Date: 20 Mar 12 - 09:45 AM

Ah but would they sound like a great band, or just a selection of brilliant players playing together? Playing in a band is about blending and supporting and accompanying, as well as about displaying great skill on your instrument.

Marje

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: greg stephens
Date: 20 Mar 12 - 10:00 AM

Jim Moray(sic) commented earlier about the ban imposed on English musicians (Danny Thompson excepted). Now, I seem to recall Ian Carr strumming away in his inimitable style on some of the earlier programmes. And I feel there may have been some other examples of the Saxon oppressor slipping under the wire. Anyone remember anyone?

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: greg stephens
Date: 20 Mar 12 - 01:31 PM

Jim Moray(sic) commented earlier about the ban immposed on English musicians, saying Danny Thompson was the only exception. Now, I think I've seen Ian Carr strumming away in his inimitable manner on some earlier ones. I feel there may of other examples of the Saxon oppressor slipping under the wire, but I can't remember any specific instances. Anyone remember anyone?

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions, new series
From: greg stephens
Date: 20 Mar 12 - 01:36 PM

strange echo here