Medford House Session

I managed to pry myself off the island for only the second time since June (dear Lord, how did I do this every week for ten years?!), having been nudged by the prospects of playing with a few of the old Tommy Doyle's gang, also enticed by the possibility of playing with piper Joey Abarta. The efforts to get myself onto the ferry and up to Boston were not for nought as it was a fine evening. Not only were a few of the TD gang on hand, but at times there were a total of three pipers a-piping. Great stuff! Thanks, Rosanne!



Kinda looks - with the lighting and colors, and Wynter looking so angelic - like the post-Last Supper session (I mean, if there had been one, and who's to know for sure that there wasn't?).


Liam and Mike.


Dave, Joey, and Rosanne.


Mike, Alex, and Wynter.


Wynter, Rosanne, and Joey.


Joey

My Apollonio Bouzouki

I've had my new bouzouki for a couple of months now, have played it and passed it around at a few sessions, and the general consensus is, "Wow, great instrument; a beauty." And indeed, I'm quite happy with it. It's very well made (and I was in on choosing the woods as well as being on hand for the beginning stages of its construction, as seen in this post from last March), is a gorgeous instrument, and has a rich, full sound (though, to my ear anyway, it doesn't sound exactly like a bouzouki; its voice being more like an eight-string guitar, but it's a very subtle difference), and has very comfortable action (though I've had to adjust to the neck width, which is a bit wider than my old bouzouki). All in all, I love it, and look forward to spending more time with this instrument, sussing out melodies, counter-melodies, and chords; using it for backing as well as accompanying myself (all of which the bouzouki lends itself to very well, and are the qualities that attracted me to it in the first place), preferring it more than my guitar these days. Lovely. Oh yeah, and as anticipated, it's very comfortable to hold and nestles into my lap perfectly.

The only problem is what to call the thing - all of its possible nicknames (guizouki? boutar?) - to me, anyway - sounding a bit gimmicky and less than dignified. I'll probably just keep calling it a bouzouki, though bouzouki doesn't seem quite adequate or accurate.









This is the model of the Galway hooker that was given to me by my friends Lee and Barbara Smith when I was in Maine last March, the traditional Irish fishing boat model that inspired the pearl inlay in the headstock of my (and many subsequent, so I am to hear) bouzouki.











Back in July, we had a total of seven of Nick's instruments on the premises. Seen here are five of them (from L-R): my bouzouki, Susie Bowman's six-string (with catboat inlay), Nick's bell cittern, Nick's 12-string, Bob Denton's bouzouki.

Here's Nick, playing a tune he composed on my bouzouki, with Yours Truly accompanying him on my then-brand-spanking-new zouk:

Laurence Nugent and Seamus Connolly in Vineyard Haven

First Baptist Church, Vineyard Haven

Irish traditional music lovers were treated on Saturday night to the duo of Laurence Nugent on whistle and flute, and Seamus Connolly on fiddle. It was a night of firsts, this being the first time that a KCT concert has been held at the Baptist church (it appears there is work going on at nearby Katherine Cornell Theater), also the first time that Nugent and Connolly had ever performed together as a duo, which you'd never have known from the listening, since the music was as tight as a drum.

There was also an interesting generational dimension - something that is not uncommon to this music - Seamus having played with Larry's father back in the day. Great chemistry, along with obvious mutual admiration and respect between the musicians, rounded it all out nicely.

It was a thrill (but made my fingers itch) to hear many tunes I've played myself in sessions. My only faux pas of the evening (that I'm aware of - but I'm usually the last to know) was while speaking to Larry at intermission. I avowed as how Brendan Bulger was one of the best fiddlers in Boston. Larry said, "Oh no, Seamus is the best fiddler in Boston, and he was Brendan's teacher." Ah! So it was that Seamus Connolly I had come to hear. I knew there was something about Seamus' playing style and his footwork that seemed familiar.

My only disappointment was the truly horrible lighting coming from directly behind the performers. Arghhh...

Otherwise, it was a brilliant evening altogether.









The gentlemen, themselves.

A Rabbi, a Priest, and a Minister Walk Into an Irish Session

Okay, so it was only a priest and a minister, but what a great Saturday night session it was.

We've been playing in the living room lately - a great space now that it's painted and furnished - and with the screen door propped open, the music blasting out into the street, and the Irish colors flying, passersby - the cool ones, anyway - are likely to wander in. It's quite fun, actually.

Along with the above-mentioned men of the cloth (Susie's husband and FOCUS' Woody Bowman, and Fr. Augustine, one of our summer priests at the island's RC parish - a fan of Irish music due to his having taught for a few years in Dublin), I was vaguely aware of a scattering of folks who had wandered in and out on Saturday night, but the most memorable visitors had to have been the ladies who came in and step-danced across the living room floor.

The session resumed on Sunday afternoon, on the porch. I don't see all of what's going on around me - busy thinking about what note comes next and whether it's the second or third time around - but what I do see, I like. I am occasionally aware that a crowd has gathered on the sidewalk and that people have cameras out, but what I am mostly aware of is that people are smiling. Even people who have their serious "I'm on vacation but I'm stuck in nasty Edgartown traffic" faces on, when they see - and hear - a group of musicians playing happy Irish music on a porch, they break into smiles. I love it.

We played well into the evening on Sunday - right up until Emily, Dirk, Adrienne, and Eric had to hop onto VTA bus #1 to catch the last boat from Vineyard Haven. Several people stopped by, including Ann Tucker, from Co. Clare, who spends every summer in Edgartown; also Anita and Don - here from Chicago for a wedding. Anita graced our evening with stories of her folk years in Cambridge - with the obligatory "Do you know so-and-so?" game, and by singing - beautifully - an Irish song she had written. Just lovely.

I gotta say, I just love bringing people from various musical pockets together - from the Boston and Massachusetts area - and beyond; a true joy.

Thanks, everyone, for filling my home - and Upper Main Street - with music and life!



Welcome!


Elias, Adrienne, and Dirk.


Emily, Susie, and Alex.


Emily, Susie, and Alex.


Elias


Adrienne, Dirk, Emily.


Adrienne, Dirk, Emily, Alex.


Adrienne





Eric


Don and Anita, from Chicago.


Don, Anita, and Eric.


Adrienne