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

Penultimate Porch Party

Our second-to-last porch session for this season was wonderful - one of the best of the summer, I think. Between the brilliant musicians who have found their way to the porch - not the easiest session to get to, mind you, between busy summer schedules, buses, traffic, and ferries - so kudos and many thanks to all who bothered to venture this way, and many thanks as well as to the people who have stopped by to listen and/or to play with us; and thank you especially to the loyal regulars - Bob, David, Susie, and Karen. These sessions have truly made my summer, and I hope the music has brought a little joy to Main Street, as well (and judging by the smiles and the dancing on the sidewalk, that would be answered in the affirmative). A clipping that is in my possession -  from the Vineyard Gazette in 1948 (related post, link) - documents the moving of this house, by a team of oxen in 1848 to its present location, culminating with a party that included a feast and fiddlers, and my childhood in this house included many a kitchen hootenanny - with family and friends and neighbors gathered around the table - so it is only fitting, and deeply meaningful to me, that this house is becoming once again a gathering place and filled with music, in the tradition of Irish and folk music the world over. Thanks, everyone. To be continued.





Saturday Night Porch Session, August 20, 2011 from Sara Piazza on Vimeo.
Our regular Saturday night session, greatly enhanced this week by the addition of Emily, concertina and whistle; Adrienne, fiddle; and Dirk, guitar - all three from the North Shore of Boston; and Mando Mike, from Boston. Great stuff, everyone!


























































The morning after.
For the photo-tech geeks: video was shot with the G12,  BWs with the 5D (amazing quality for ISO 6400 and very low light, I think).