The Black Brothers

Subject: The Black Brothers
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 17 Mar 00 - 09:54 PM

Shay Black, whom I have come to know and admire during the last year of hanging out at the Starry Plough Sunday night Irish sessions, and his brothers Michael and Martin performed at the Freight and Salvage (also in Berkeley) last night, and what a concert it was. Another friend from the Plough, Kate Brubeck, opened for the brothers with a half-dozen a capella songs, the final one with the brothers joining her on the chorus. Kate has a lovely, true, bell-like voice, and her set was a real treat. Then Shay and his brothers took over.

Shay and Kate are more responsible than anyone else of convincing me of the beauty of a capella solos, something for which I had no particular appreciation before Pam Swan convinced me to come to the Sunday night Plough sessions. And Shay's brothers both are masters of the art as well, and in harmony they are overwhelming. Their show combined in equal doses unaccompanied and accompanied songs: their accompaniments, Shay on guitar, Michael mostly on banjo, and Martin on fiddle, are rich and orchestral, far more so than I'm accustomed to hearing from the various folk and bluegrass groups I've heard. Their solo vocal styles are all wonderful, all very individualistic...I can't name any solo artists who sing any better than any of the three, nor any vocal groups who can match the richness of their harmonies. They really are that good. (Oh, part of the instrumental mix was Alisa Fisher (?) on piano and pennywhistle.)

I bought two CDs, one of the brothers and one of the Family (with their sisters). I haven't listened to them yet: the souns of their concert are still rin

Subject: RE: The Black Brothers
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 18 Mar 00 - 12:17 PM

oops! Proughfride, kratz. "...the sounds of their concert are still fresh in my mind."

--seed

Subject: RE: The Black Brothers
From: GUEST,Noreen Keene
Date: 18 Mar 00 - 03:59 PM

Hi Charles

Lovely to hear of Shay Black, I have very fond memories of singing with him in Liverpool in my youth! I'd not heard of him or the brothers for years, although Mary has gone on to greater(or more famous) things. I would love more information about his CDs, please.

Regards

Noreen

Subject: RE: The Black Brothers
From: Banjer
Date: 18 Mar 00 - 07:19 PM

It has always been said, and I am a firm believer that blood relations have the best harmonies. Listen to some old Louvin Brothers or The Stanley's and see what I mean. Sounds wonderful Seed. Glad you found something that you can really enjoy! (So much of today's music is just being made for the money, and one can easily tell the difference between performances from the heart and those from the wallet)

Subject: RE: The Black Brothers
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 18 Mar 00 - 10:53 PM

Noreen, The Black Family's "Time for Touching Home" is on a label called Dara, and is marketed by Dolphin Traders, 56 Mudre Street, Dublin. Shay, Michael, and Martin Black's "What a Time" is also by Dara. It's distributed in North America by Blix Street Records, 11715 Blix Street, North Hollywood, Ca., 91607-4004. I bought them at the concert, so I don't know about local availability (but I can, of course, ask Shay--his brothers will also be with him at the Starry Plough this Sunday). Are you still in the UK? I could ask for more info.

--seed

Subject: RE: The Black Brothers
From: GUEST,Noreen Keene
Date: 19 Mar 00 - 07:19 PM

Thanks Charles/Seed(?) for the info. Please remember me to Shay, I was Noreen Hayden then. I am still in the UK but no longer in Liverpool. UK availability for CDs would be useful, or URL for a mail-order company? I would love to have been at that concert, great musicians and lovely people. Showing my ignorance now, whereabouts in the US is Berkeley?

My address is [e-mail] (in case this correspondence is of little interest to others).

Noreen