Banjo and pipes...there is just so much music in this video. As well as human interaction---the faces these guys wear remind me of the times I've been playing with a small group (not ITM, but jazz, but still) and something in the song, like a chord change or a riff, makes us laugh just for no reason other than it's nice and it makes us happy...this clip really shows how happy music can be. Wonderful.
(also, we could use a transcription of the second tune *cough*)
nice piping, but what's the dude doing on the 4-and-a-half-string Banjo?
Seriously though, (and sorry for my ignorance, but I've only played in sessions where banjo players play the actual notes of the tune)...is this lad playing along in a kind of 'guitar-accompanyment' style?
didn't really like that, but that's probably just me
thanks,
andy
yeh samiam - I love the interactions between these two - Fred Morrison is so animated - a treat to watch. And the banjo player - Bruce Molsky - I like what he plays - subtle sort of half melody and back up - yeh its not trad irish Andy, but the point of the Transatlantic Sessions was a sort of mix up of American and Scottish/Irish styles.
This is lovely stuff. It looks like Bruce Molsky is using some kind of old-timey clawhammer banjo technique.
Bodatcha is right about the Transatlantic Sessions. The musical directors were Jerry Douglas and Aly Bain. The idea behind the series was for American traditional musicians to meet with and exchange tunes with Irish, Scottish and English musicians in a big old house somewhere in Scotland (hence the title – The Transatlantic Sessions). They learnt tunes and songs from each other, worked out some arrangements and filmed the result. Contibuters included Jerry Douglas, John Martyn, Danny Thompson, Sharon Shannon, Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain (who has featured in every series I think). You can buy DVDs from the shows at http://www.musicscotland.com
I can *never* tire of this video. The first tune is my favorite, with the way Fred plays and Bruce's simple backing to it (from my point of view, at least)....
"(also, we could use a transcription of the second tune *cough*)"
Either that's a general statement, or it's directed at me, being the one who posted Kansas City...
While I appreciate the intent of the Transatlantic Sessions, it's not a sound or idea that I love. We have enough trouble with *unintended* mixing of styles, this kind of thing legitimizes it to a point, and could lead to muddying the waters even more... I think I would be rather annoyed if a 5 string banjo player showed up at my session and tried frailing accompaniment, for instance.
Before you jump on me, I'm not knocking their playing, or their right to have fun, or play whatever they want. I'm just pointing out that it sounds somewhat contrived and stylistically muddy to me.
You have a point Rev, but I think this kind of thing is fun when done well, and it's done very well here.
I think most people who are serious about Irish trad and/or old-time understand the differences well enough. Or if they don't, they will learn soon enough when bringing a 5-string banjo to the local session.
Yeah, I'm not entirely adverse to mixing of styles. A good example might be of Frankie Gavin and Rick Epping doing Baby Please Don't Go into Pol Ha'penny on the Jiggin' the Blues album...
And these guys certainly do it well too. But often times, the mixing of styles makes me cringe.
Over on the CBOM Forum ( citterns, bouzoukis, and octave mandos ) someone has just posted the group playing Waiting for the Federals and asking why it sounds so Scottish ! 'Cause Aly Bain's leading it, that's why.
Lots of good stuff on those sessions. I have no complaints. My fave moment of all was from the first series, Dick Gaughan singing 'Wild Mountain Thyme' with Emmy Lou Harris and the McGarrigles doing harmony choruses....heavenly !
And, Reverend, as a Guernseyman with a dash of celtic, married to an American, and playing ITM, STM, ETM, and ATM ( Americana ? ), I'm too mixed-up to worry anyway.
Sorry, I wasn't insinuating anything when I made my comment about the second tune, Joseph. It was more of a general comment, not directed at anyone in particular. Sorry about that! Thank you for transcrining the first one, I'd been looking for it!
Cool. I know this is heresy, but that's the first thing I've heard Fred Morrison play that was nice to listen to. Plus it's time somebody started an Old Time uilleann piping tradition.
I think it's amazing how Irish and British trad music went to America and evolved into its own forms. The Transatlantic Sessions are like a homecoming all brewed up by brilliant musicians. Maybe it's more of a rejoining of styles, rather than a mixing of styles?
I like the Transatlantic Sessions. All those musicians are well aware that what they are doing isn't pure drop, but they're good enough to pull it off and they look like they're having a fantastic time. What's wrong with that?
If Bruce Molsky showed up at your session I doubt you'd complain that much. I listened to Bruce playing a session with John Doyle and a bunch of other Irish musos in one of the back rooms at the Festival Club of Celtic Connections last year. Sounded brilliant. He has a great deal of sympathy and understanding for the music, so what comes out isn't pure drop Irish (but then again neither is a session) but it sounds *good.*
Just love this
Just love this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7zmd4rYh1o
Banjo and pipes...there is just so much music in this video. As well as human interaction---the faces these guys wear remind me of the times I've been playing with a small group (not ITM, but jazz, but still) and something in the song, like a chord change or a riff, makes us laugh just for no reason other than it's nice and it makes us happy...this clip really shows how happy music can be. Wonderful.
(also, we could use a transcription of the second tune *cough*)
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by samiam590
Re: Just love this
Who's the "we" who could do with a transcription?
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Just love this
Don't you ever get tired of this one item, Michael? ;)
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Henk Bos
Re: Just love this
nice piping, but what's the dude doing on the 4-and-a-half-string Banjo?
Seriously though, (and sorry for my ignorance, but I've only played in sessions where banjo players play the actual notes of the tune)...is this lad playing along in a kind of 'guitar-accompanyment' style?
didn't really like that, but that's probably just me
thanks,
andy
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by andy69
Re: Just love this
yeh samiam - I love the interactions between these two - Fred Morrison is so animated - a treat to watch. And the banjo player - Bruce Molsky - I like what he plays - subtle sort of half melody and back up - yeh its not trad irish Andy, but the point of the Transatlantic Sessions was a sort of mix up of American and Scottish/Irish styles.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by bodatcha
Re: Just love this
This is lovely stuff. It looks like Bruce Molsky is using some kind of old-timey clawhammer banjo technique.
Bodatcha is right about the Transatlantic Sessions. The musical directors were Jerry Douglas and Aly Bain. The idea behind the series was for American traditional musicians to meet with and exchange tunes with Irish, Scottish and English musicians in a big old house somewhere in Scotland (hence the title – The Transatlantic Sessions). They learnt tunes and songs from each other, worked out some arrangements and filmed the result. Contibuters included Jerry Douglas, John Martyn, Danny Thompson, Sharon Shannon, Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain (who has featured in every series I think). You can buy DVDs from the shows at http://www.musicscotland.com
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Joel McDermott
Re: Just love this
Contributers to TA3 also included the wonderful Jenna Reid
D
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by domnull
Re: Just love this
I can *never* tire of this video. The first tune is my favorite, with the way Fred plays and Bruce's simple backing to it (from my point of view, at least)....
"(also, we could use a transcription of the second tune *cough*)"
Either that's a general statement, or it's directed at me, being the one who posted Kansas City...
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by JosephofLSL
Re: Just love this
"is this lad playing along in a kind of 'guitar-accompanyment' style?"
He's playing old-time frailing style. If you listen closely, the melody is in there, if not every single note of it.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Just love this
While I appreciate the intent of the Transatlantic Sessions, it's not a sound or idea that I love. We have enough trouble with *unintended* mixing of styles, this kind of thing legitimizes it to a point, and could lead to muddying the waters even more... I think I would be rather annoyed if a 5 string banjo player showed up at my session and tried frailing accompaniment, for instance.
Before you jump on me, I'm not knocking their playing, or their right to have fun, or play whatever they want. I'm just pointing out that it sounds somewhat contrived and stylistically muddy to me.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Reverend
Re: Just love this
Love it. Fantastic piping, and the old-timey banjo really works well. Very nice, a bit different, but in a good way.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Marklar
Re: Just love this
You have a point Rev, but I think this kind of thing is fun when done well, and it's done very well here.
I think most people who are serious about Irish trad and/or old-time understand the differences well enough. Or if they don't, they will learn soon enough when bringing a 5-string banjo to the local session.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Marklar
Re: Just love this
Yeah, I'm not entirely adverse to mixing of styles. A good example might be of Frankie Gavin and Rick Epping doing Baby Please Don't Go into Pol Ha'penny on the Jiggin' the Blues album...
And these guys certainly do it well too. But often times, the mixing of styles makes me cringe.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Reverend
Re: Just love this
Over on the CBOM Forum ( citterns, bouzoukis, and octave mandos ) someone has just posted the group playing Waiting for the Federals and asking why it sounds so Scottish ! 'Cause Aly Bain's leading it, that's why.
Lots of good stuff on those sessions. I have no complaints. My fave moment of all was from the first series, Dick Gaughan singing 'Wild Mountain Thyme' with Emmy Lou Harris and the McGarrigles doing harmony choruses....heavenly !
And, Reverend, as a Guernseyman with a dash of celtic, married to an American, and playing ITM, STM, ETM, and ATM ( Americana ? ), I'm too mixed-up to worry anyway.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Just love this
Sorry, I wasn't insinuating anything when I made my comment about the second tune, Joseph. It was more of a general comment, not directed at anyone in particular. Sorry about that! Thank you for transcrining the first one, I'd been looking for it!
# Posted on October 25th 2008 by samiam590
Re: Just love this
Cool. I know this is heresy, but that's the first thing I've heard Fred Morrison play that was nice to listen to. Plus it's time somebody started an Old Time uilleann piping tradition.
# Posted on October 25th 2008 by Gzeg
Re: Just love this
Hey Reverend, the other day you were slagging geantri and now its the transatlantic sessions.
What televised trad does'nt make you cringe eh?
# Posted on October 25th 2008 by banjoburger
Re: Just love this
That's just it, banjoburger....they don't often put the pure drop on the telly, eh?
# Posted on October 25th 2008 by Miss Lonelyhearts
Re: Just love this
I think it's amazing how Irish and British trad music went to America and evolved into its own forms. The Transatlantic Sessions are like a homecoming all brewed up by brilliant musicians. Maybe it's more of a rejoining of styles, rather than a mixing of styles?
# Posted on October 25th 2008 by Joel McDermott
Re: Just love this
I like the Transatlantic Sessions. All those musicians are well aware that what they are doing isn't pure drop, but they're good enough to pull it off and they look like they're having a fantastic time. What's wrong with that?
If Bruce Molsky showed up at your session I doubt you'd complain that much. I listened to Bruce playing a session with John Doyle and a bunch of other Irish musos in one of the back rooms at the Festival Club of Celtic Connections last year. Sounded brilliant. He has a great deal of sympathy and understanding for the music, so what comes out isn't pure drop Irish (but then again neither is a session) but it sounds *good.*
# Posted on October 27th 2008 by TheSilverSpear