Unusual to take 3 of Ireland's finest musicians, put them on the same LP, but not have them playing together at all. All the tracks are solos with no accompaniment.
Glackin has tracks # 1,2,9,12, and 18.
O'Brien has # 5,6,10,11,16,17.
Gavin has # 3,4,7,8,13,14,15.
Great playing from all 3 musicians. Glackin and O'Brien are probably better known, but Mick Gavin is one of the all-time greats on the concert flute, and deserves much more recognition. Recorded 25 years ago, but still one of my favourite recordings.
"slainte" was asking about Mick Gavin, the Dublin flute-player. I first heard Mick at the All-Ireland in Ennis in 1977. He was in the Senior flute competition, and had a play-off with Michael Flatley for 2nd place. Damned if I can remember who came out best. I was very pleased to find myself placed in a flute class he was taking with Mick Hand at the Willie Clancy week in 1982. We all learned a lot that week, from both of them, very generous with their music, and great fun too.
The biography of Mick Gavin on the sleeve of this album says the following:
"Mick Gavin has moved to his present home in Balbriggan by way of Mayo and Sligo and received his earliest musical training from his father Paddy, a fiddler, who played with the old Moate Ceili band in the 1930s. Mick's sister Kathleen and brother Paddy are both musicians and all three have been active at fleadhanna recently. Like Paddy Glackin, Mick came under the influence of John Joe Gardiner, and John Kelly has figured prominently in giving Mick valuable insight into music and musicians.
Mick's playing isn't noticeably breathy in the old style, nor yet full in the way some of his contemporaries play. Rather unusually, when he plays on his own, he tends not to couple tunes [ though there are examples of coupling tunes here ], and this is in keeping with older traditions of playing for dancing. Such awareness of precept may go un-noticed because of his happy-go-lucky approach to music. His geniality is well appreciated but should not detract from the real hard work and keen intelligence behind his playing, manifested for example, in his choice of tunes here.
For the aficionado, Mick's flute was bought for a fiver in a mental hospital in Mullingar".
On a sad note, I'm not sure that Mick's around anymore. I did read somewhere on a website that he had died a couple of years ago, but haven't been able to confirm that anywhere. I sincerely hope it's not true, and would be very grateful if someone could tell me it's not.
I can't thank you enough, Kenny. My original enquiry was about the flute player called Mick Gavin on John & James Kelly's duet album: http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1567 Yes, he has a great style.
I got an email from Mick's sister Kathleen some weeks ago, and she informed he still plays music on the flute. Not sure where he is living though. And I've just found Kathleen has made a recording with Brendan Bulger and Marty Fahey: http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/839
Solos
Unusual to take 3 of Ireland's finest musicians, put them on the same LP, but not have them playing together at all. All the tracks are solos with no accompaniment.
Glackin has tracks # 1,2,9,12, and 18.
O'Brien has # 5,6,10,11,16,17.
Gavin has # 3,4,7,8,13,14,15.
Great playing from all 3 musicians. Glackin and O'Brien are probably better known, but Mick Gavin is one of the all-time greats on the concert flute, and deserves much more recognition. Recorded 25 years ago, but still one of my favourite recordings.
# Posted on June 27th 2004 by Kenny
On eBay
There is a copy of this rare LP being auctioned on eBay. [ It's not mine, but I am curious to see how much it sells for. ]
# Posted on March 23rd 2005 by Kenny
Mick Gavin
"slainte" was asking about Mick Gavin, the Dublin flute-player. I first heard Mick at the All-Ireland in Ennis in 1977. He was in the Senior flute competition, and had a play-off with Michael Flatley for 2nd place. Damned if I can remember who came out best. I was very pleased to find myself placed in a flute class he was taking with Mick Hand at the Willie Clancy week in 1982. We all learned a lot that week, from both of them, very generous with their music, and great fun too.
The biography of Mick Gavin on the sleeve of this album says the following:
"Mick Gavin has moved to his present home in Balbriggan by way of Mayo and Sligo and received his earliest musical training from his father Paddy, a fiddler, who played with the old Moate Ceili band in the 1930s. Mick's sister Kathleen and brother Paddy are both musicians and all three have been active at fleadhanna recently. Like Paddy Glackin, Mick came under the influence of John Joe Gardiner, and John Kelly has figured prominently in giving Mick valuable insight into music and musicians.
Mick's playing isn't noticeably breathy in the old style, nor yet full in the way some of his contemporaries play. Rather unusually, when he plays on his own, he tends not to couple tunes [ though there are examples of coupling tunes here ], and this is in keeping with older traditions of playing for dancing. Such awareness of precept may go un-noticed because of his happy-go-lucky approach to music. His geniality is well appreciated but should not detract from the real hard work and keen intelligence behind his playing, manifested for example, in his choice of tunes here.
For the aficionado, Mick's flute was bought for a fiver in a mental hospital in Mullingar".
On a sad note, I'm not sure that Mick's around anymore. I did read somewhere on a website that he had died a couple of years ago, but haven't been able to confirm that anywhere. I sincerely hope it's not true, and would be very grateful if someone could tell me it's not.
# Posted on April 11th 2006 by Kenny
I can't thank you enough, Kenny. My original enquiry was about the flute player called Mick Gavin on John & James Kelly's duet album: http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1567 Yes, he has a great style.
# Posted on April 11th 2006 by slainte
I got an email from Mick's sister Kathleen some weeks ago, and she informed he still plays music on the flute. Not sure where he is living though. And I've just found Kathleen has made a recording with Brendan Bulger and Marty Fahey: http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/839
# Posted on August 23rd 2006 by slainte