is Mick O'Connor going to go and get himself recorded....as a proper full Length, with the odd guests here and there,full-length solo album, for God's sake?
You have to do it Mick. Your gift may be God-given but you also owe it to the London Irish community and far beyond, who woud love to hear you recorded.
And let's face it, there are many who are good who have recorded, but few who are *great*, these days who have not. Please don't join the latter category.
I second that motion wholeheartedly, Alf.
There´s some thing unique about Mick O´Connor and those who know him will know what I´m talking about.
It´s unlikely that he´ll read this so, Mick Bailey of Wraggle Taggle who posts here from time to time and is probably the person who sees Mick most often, please bring this to Mick´s attention.
Mick was asked to do a track for Wooden Flute Obsession 4, and agreed to do so if he's happy with the quality of the recording (of course - final approval to the artist). Where it is, I don't yet know. If only I could catch up on phone calls.
Kevin Krell
International Traditional Music Society, Inc.
kkrell I think the topic refers back to the london based banjo player Mick O'Connnor, not the Dublin based flute player and music collector.
The late Mick O'Connor is fairly well documented - the albums with Paddy Carty, the /thatch ceili band and various other bits and pieces (guest tracks with people like Mick Mulchahy), there's a good collection of him available. Also lots of clips of him on youtube.
If Mick wants to do a solo recording at some stage, I'm sure he will. Don't really think it's anyone else's place to say he has to do it.
Don't get me wrong - Mick is one of the best banjo players ever, and I'd love to hear a new recording of him, but who are you to tell him he has to do it? I'd hazzard a guess he knows a little bit more about music than you do, so maybe leave him to make his own decisions.
Skip Canlon, your guess is correct - he surely does know more about the music than me. But that's about the only thing you're correct in. And who are *you* to get so defensive on Mick's behalf? As for making his on decisions of course he's capable, and none of what I said above was in any way coercive, merely an appeal from an old friend, which others here seem to agree with You seem to have picked up the spirit of this thread wrongly, which may have been deliberate on your part, going by what else you have "contributed" to this board.
I don't think his work has been documented sufficiently up to his ability, to be honest. The Thatch Ceili band is a great recording but doesn't necessarily highlight Mick. The Paddy Carty recording I don't think shows Mick at his best, and there are only a handful of You Tube vids. Yes these are good but there are just a few of them.
I was lucky enough to attend one of Mick's sessions in London a couple of months back with the lovely Barbara Hackett on accordion; I was made to feel very welcome, despite having spent most of the evening open-mouthed and wishing I had known a few (dozen) more tunes...
Having the good fortune to have seen Mick play on many occasions, I'm firmly with 'The Toff of the Track' on this one. Being several hundred miles away I can't do this myself, but might someone put a word in the ears of either Dermot Kearney (of Bow Hand Records) or Reg Hall?
yes, would be wonderful to have a solo cd of mick, but do you really think starting a discussion topic on the subject is likely to prove fruitful? I doubt it. If he's an old friend, keep hassling him in person. If you manage to convince him to do it, I and the rest of the community of people who listen and have an interest in trad would be eternally indebted to you, but this isn't the way to go about it.
"And let's face it, there are many who are good who have recorded, but few who are *great*, these days who have not."
If you're based in 'the smoke' you should know this statement is false - there is a large number of amazing players who haven't been recorded yet for commercial release.
Best of luck with convincing him, I really do hope you are successful, but I don't think thesession.org is gonna help you in your efforts.
"...you(...)owe it to the London Irish community and far beyond, who woud love to hear you recorded."
Steady on, Alf. Let's not make the poor man feel guilty. A CD would indeed be nice - no doubt he'll make one when he feels the time is right. In the meantime, let's not forget this one with Paddy Carty: http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/339
It was made a long time ago (1974) and Mick's role is primarily that of backer (on tenor banjo!), but he does play a handful of tunes as well.
I was fortunate enough to be born and raised in West London, and went to Mick's sessions regularly during my formative years as a traditional musician (my mid-20s). Now in my mid-30s, I consider him to be one of the biggest single influences on my playing (not that my playing comes anywhere close). I've since moved to a more peaceful part of the world, beautiful but sadly lacking in Irish music. However, I'll be back in The Smoke from Christmas Eve to 5th Jan and hope to catch one of Mick's sessions during that time.
Yes, Rick - A warmer, more welcoming pair of musicians than Mick O'Connor and Barbara Hackett you could hardly hope to meet (and Barbara's a great player too).
I love Mick's playing. But I've heard before (not from Mick personally) that he has no plans to make a CD. I don't think he wants to, simple as. At least thats the impression I get, maybe its false. But it would make sense if you think of his character.
Of what is recorded of him, he is mostly a contributor as opposed to a soloist (i.e backing Paddy Carty, member of Free McGuinness, member of Thatch Ceili Band.) From what I've gathered of his solo work, he doesn't preempt much in terms of variation and lets them come out naturally. He works with the tunes very cleverly and sometimes it may go wrong, but it doesn't sound bad. He has a great element of surprise about him.
Not sure if a CD is an essential part of what builds him a musician. I've also heard from a few people that Dympna O'Sullivan's recent release is something she wants to keep as confined as she can!
[something she wants to keep as confined as she can!]
interesting....any clue why she or a musico might feel this way? i understand why one might not want to become a fame-seeking monster, but i'm just musing as to why folks might want to "confine".....interesting.
>Not sure if a CD is an essential part of what builds him a musician.
Very valid point, Paddy, and taken on board.
I'm just thinking in terms of Joe Cooley whose legacy is just one album, made shortly before he departed. Does no-one else feel they would have liked to have heard more?
"Does no-one else feel they would have liked to have heard more?"
I do, Alf,
along with many other reputedly great musicians I only hear about. I do wish therer were hours of the playing of the Dohertys, Clancys, etc. who passed amongst us. Myself, I wish my own teacher had recorded more, if only for his friends and students.
In the end, it makes hearing certain artists work that much more precious, I suppose, that we only have their gift with us for a short time.
Maybe there is an upbeat lesson here somewhere, but damned if I can find it.
Yes there are many great musicians who have their own "take" on the music who "ought" (?) to be recorded.
Maybe it is a bigger project than I'm envisaging, sat here in front of a computer. And if so, I take it all back. But I would have thought the benefits outweigh the snags. I am yet to be convinced that starting a discussion on such a subject on this "humble" website is a bad idea. It is after all, among other other things, a forum for thoughts and ideas. If Mick or his band colleagues were to read this I doubt if they'd be aggrieved...mildly bemused at worst is my guess. Maybe they'd want to throw their shoes at me.......
''m just thinking in terms of Joe Cooley whose legacy is just one album, made shortly before he departed. Does no-one else feel they would have liked to have heard more'
Ofcourse, like with many musicians, there is ofcourse a lot more. Not commercially available maybe but in existence and circulating among musicians.
I think you underestimate the amount of recordings that are 'doing the rounds'.
"I'm just thinking in terms of Joe Cooley whose legacy is just one album, made shortly before he departed. Does no-one else feel they would have liked to have heard more?"
It depends what you're getting at here. The recordings of Joe Cooley were all amateur and recorded during sessions and the like (if I'm mistaken here, ignore the rest of this comment. I believe its true though.)
So, in that sense, its still possible that an album of Mick's music could be made using a series of any unpublished recording floating about (assuming there is some.)
As an example, John Doherty's "The Floating Bow" was mostly amateur tracks recorded by Alan Carr (think thats his name.) John didn't want them to be released or put into circulation. Carr had told him that he wouldn't release them but just couldn't hold Doherty's magical music from the ears of keen listeners. So its possible, then, that the same could happen with Mick. Who knows?
Hi Just to let you all know, I play fiddle in the ceili band with Mick, and will pass a copy of your comments on to him. Hopefully I can post his views on the subject on here in a few days. Cheers
Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
is Mick O'Connor going to go and get himself recorded....as a proper full Length, with the odd guests here and there,full-length solo album, for God's sake?
You have to do it Mick. Your gift may be God-given but you also owe it to the London Irish community and far beyond, who woud love to hear you recorded.
And let's face it, there are many who are good who have recorded, but few who are *great*, these days who have not. Please don't join the latter category.
# Posted on December 14th 2008 by Rudall the time
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
I second that motion wholeheartedly, Alf.
There´s some thing unique about Mick O´Connor and those who know him will know what I´m talking about.
It´s unlikely that he´ll read this so, Mick Bailey of Wraggle Taggle who posts here from time to time and is probably the person who sees Mick most often, please bring this to Mick´s attention.
# Posted on December 14th 2008 by murfbox
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
Mick was asked to do a track for Wooden Flute Obsession 4, and agreed to do so if he's happy with the quality of the recording (of course - final approval to the artist). Where it is, I don't yet know. If only I could catch up on phone calls.
Kevin Krell
International Traditional Music Society, Inc.
# Posted on December 14th 2008 by kkrell
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
kkrell I think the topic refers back to the london based banjo player Mick O'Connnor, not the Dublin based flute player and music collector.
The late Mick O'Connor is fairly well documented - the albums with Paddy Carty, the /thatch ceili band and various other bits and pieces (guest tracks with people like Mick Mulchahy), there's a good collection of him available. Also lots of clips of him on youtube.
If Mick wants to do a solo recording at some stage, I'm sure he will. Don't really think it's anyone else's place to say he has to do it.
Don't get me wrong - Mick is one of the best banjo players ever, and I'd love to hear a new recording of him, but who are you to tell him he has to do it? I'd hazzard a guess he knows a little bit more about music than you do, so maybe leave him to make his own decisions.
# Posted on December 14th 2008 by skip canlon
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
Whoops - well, solo albums have been desired for both, then.
# Posted on December 14th 2008 by kkrell
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
As well as being a top class banjo player he is also a top class bloke as I remember from my London days.
Sign me up for a copy of that album
# Posted on December 14th 2008 by bazouki dave
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
Skip Canlon, your guess is correct - he surely does know more about the music than me. But that's about the only thing you're correct in. And who are *you* to get so defensive on Mick's behalf? As for making his on decisions of course he's capable, and none of what I said above was in any way coercive, merely an appeal from an old friend, which others here seem to agree with
You seem to have picked up the spirit of this thread wrongly, which may have been deliberate on your part, going by what else you have "contributed" to this board.
I don't think his work has been documented sufficiently up to his ability, to be honest. The Thatch Ceili band is a great recording but doesn't necessarily highlight Mick. The Paddy Carty recording I don't think shows Mick at his best, and there are only a handful of You Tube vids. Yes these are good but there are just a few of them.
# Posted on December 14th 2008 by Rudall the time
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
And yes of course I meant the London-based Banjo player, as was implicit in my remark regarding the London Irish community.
# Posted on December 14th 2008 by Rudall the time
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
Session with Mick O’Connor and Oliver Divinney:
http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_230_1_session_with_mick_oconnor_and_oliver_divinney/
Great!
Love the old man playing air banjo at 2:15
# Posted on December 14th 2008 by Ramiro
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
Another recent one for the list:
http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_277_6_session_with_mick_oconnor
Also (of dubious pedigree)
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5i1qr_mick-oconnor-bob-n-along-banjo-guit_music
http://www.vimeo.com/1383611
I was lucky enough to attend one of Mick's sessions in London a couple of months back with the lovely Barbara Hackett on accordion; I was made to feel very welcome, despite having spent most of the evening open-mouthed and wishing I had known a few (dozen) more tunes...
# Posted on December 14th 2008 by Rick Payman
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
Having the good fortune to have seen Mick play on many occasions, I'm firmly with 'The Toff of the Track' on this one. Being several hundred miles away I can't do this myself, but might someone put a word in the ears of either Dermot Kearney (of Bow Hand Records) or Reg Hall?
# Posted on December 14th 2008 by MacCruiskeen
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
yes, would be wonderful to have a solo cd of mick, but do you really think starting a discussion topic on the subject is likely to prove fruitful? I doubt it. If he's an old friend, keep hassling him in person. If you manage to convince him to do it, I and the rest of the community of people who listen and have an interest in trad would be eternally indebted to you, but this isn't the way to go about it.
"And let's face it, there are many who are good who have recorded, but few who are *great*, these days who have not."
If you're based in 'the smoke' you should know this statement is false - there is a large number of amazing players who haven't been recorded yet for commercial release.
Best of luck with convincing him, I really do hope you are successful, but I don't think thesession.org is gonna help you in your efforts.
# Posted on December 14th 2008 by skip canlon
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
"...you(...)owe it to the London Irish community and far beyond, who woud love to hear you recorded."
Steady on, Alf. Let's not make the poor man feel guilty. A CD would indeed be nice - no doubt he'll make one when he feels the time is right. In the meantime, let's not forget this one with Paddy Carty: http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/339
It was made a long time ago (1974) and Mick's role is primarily that of backer (on tenor banjo!), but he does play a handful of tunes as well.
I was fortunate enough to be born and raised in West London, and went to Mick's sessions regularly during my formative years as a traditional musician (my mid-20s). Now in my mid-30s, I consider him to be one of the biggest single influences on my playing (not that my playing comes anywhere close). I've since moved to a more peaceful part of the world, beautiful but sadly lacking in Irish music. However, I'll be back in The Smoke from Christmas Eve to 5th Jan and hope to catch one of Mick's sessions during that time.
Yes, Rick - A warmer, more welcoming pair of musicians than Mick O'Connor and Barbara Hackett you could hardly hope to meet (and Barbara's a great player too).
# Posted on December 14th 2008 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
Alf - Sorry, I posted before reading your discourse with Skip Canlon.
# Posted on December 14th 2008 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
I love Mick's playing. But I've heard before (not from Mick personally) that he has no plans to make a CD. I don't think he wants to, simple as. At least thats the impression I get, maybe its false. But it would make sense if you think of his character.
Of what is recorded of him, he is mostly a contributor as opposed to a soloist (i.e backing Paddy Carty, member of Free McGuinness, member of Thatch Ceili Band.) From what I've gathered of his solo work, he doesn't preempt much in terms of variation and lets them come out naturally. He works with the tunes very cleverly and sometimes it may go wrong, but it doesn't sound bad. He has a great element of surprise about him.
Not sure if a CD is an essential part of what builds him a musician. I've also heard from a few people that Dympna O'Sullivan's recent release is something she wants to keep as confined as she can!
# Posted on December 14th 2008 by 52Paddy
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
[something she wants to keep as confined as she can!]
interesting....any clue why she or a musico might feel this way? i understand why one might not want to become a fame-seeking monster, but i'm just musing as to why folks might want to "confine".....interesting.
# Posted on December 15th 2008 by ceemonster
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
PaddyCmusic just gave 1 valid reason;
"Not sure if a CD is an essential part of what builds him a musician."
# Posted on December 15th 2008 by Ben Steen
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
>Not sure if a CD is an essential part of what builds him a musician.
Very valid point, Paddy, and taken on board.
I'm just thinking in terms of Joe Cooley whose legacy is just one album, made shortly before he departed. Does no-one else feel they would have liked to have heard more?
# Posted on December 15th 2008 by Rudall the time
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
"Does no-one else feel they would have liked to have heard more?"
I do, Alf,
along with many other reputedly great musicians I only hear about. I do wish therer were hours of the playing of the Dohertys, Clancys, etc. who passed amongst us. Myself, I wish my own teacher had recorded more, if only for his friends and students.
In the end, it makes hearing certain artists work that much more precious, I suppose, that we only have their gift with us for a short time.
Maybe there is an upbeat lesson here somewhere, but damned if I can find it.
# Posted on December 15th 2008 by Piece
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
Yes there are many great musicians who have their own "take" on the music who "ought" (?) to be recorded.
Maybe it is a bigger project than I'm envisaging, sat here in front of a computer. And if so, I take it all back. But I would have thought the benefits outweigh the snags. I am yet to be convinced that starting a discussion on such a subject on this "humble" website is a bad idea. It is after all, among other other things, a forum for thoughts and ideas. If Mick or his band colleagues were to read this I doubt if they'd be aggrieved...mildly bemused at worst is my guess. Maybe they'd want to throw their shoes at me.......
# Posted on December 15th 2008 by Rudall the time
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
''m just thinking in terms of Joe Cooley whose legacy is just one album, made shortly before he departed. Does no-one else feel they would have liked to have heard more'
Ofcourse, like with many musicians, there is ofcourse a lot more. Not commercially available maybe but in existence and circulating among musicians.
I think you underestimate the amount of recordings that are 'doing the rounds'.
# Posted on December 15th 2008 by Prof. Prlwytzkofski
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
Oh, I have a fair few of such recordings, including one with said Mick, Jackie Daly, Mairead Ni Mhaoinaigh and Frankie Kennedy. Classic.
# Posted on December 15th 2008 by Rudall the time
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
I meant that more particularly in the context of Cooley, it's a bit naive to think the one recording is all there is.
I'll leave that up for a day or so:
http://www.box.net/shared/sesacm84m9
# Posted on December 15th 2008 by Prof. Prlwytzkofski
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
"I'm just thinking in terms of Joe Cooley whose legacy is just one album, made shortly before he departed. Does no-one else feel they would have liked to have heard more?"
It depends what you're getting at here. The recordings of Joe Cooley were all amateur and recorded during sessions and the like (if I'm mistaken here, ignore the rest of this comment. I believe its true though.)
So, in that sense, its still possible that an album of Mick's music could be made using a series of any unpublished recording floating about (assuming there is some.)
As an example, John Doherty's "The Floating Bow" was mostly amateur tracks recorded by Alan Carr (think thats his name.) John didn't want them to be released or put into circulation. Carr had told him that he wouldn't release them but just couldn't hold Doherty's magical music from the ears of keen listeners. So its possible, then, that the same could happen with Mick. Who knows?
# Posted on December 16th 2008 by 52Paddy
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
Oh, cheers for that Cooley clip kilfarboy! Deeply indebted...
# Posted on December 16th 2008 by 52Paddy
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
yes the 'late' Mick O'Connor is a living legend amongst us all
and the London demi-god of wry dry humourisms
when and if he believes there's milage in the blue underpants he'll act on it and i believe he will in his own time
# Posted on December 31st 2008 by hungry grass
Re: Mick O'Connor, When in God's name
Hi Just to let you all know, I play fiddle in the ceili band with Mick, and will pass a copy of your comments on to him. Hopefully I can post his views on the subject on here in a few days. Cheers
# Posted on January 4th 2009 by Zebb1