One-Off Mandocentric Irish/Scottish Trad Session

[Aidan Crossey]

By way of a "pre-launch" event for "The Glass Slipper", the (EXCELLENT!) mando compilation which many artists have been so generous in "populating", Dan Beimborn, Kevin MacLeod and myself (plus some special guests) are getting together for an evening of tunes next Wednesday night, 26th October.

The venue is Tommy Flynn's, Camden High Street. #Nearest Underground stations are Mornington Crescent (about 200 - 300 yards) and Camden Town (500-600 yards by my reckoning!). #The following link takes you to a map of Camden High Street http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newprin....?27,185 (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newprint.srf?x=529250&y=183750&z=1&ar=Y&isp=187&ism=500&searchp=newprint.srf&mapp=newmap.srf&dn=599&ax=528932&ay=183819?27,185)

We'll be kicking off at around 8.00-8.30. #Please feel free to drop by to have a tune or simply to sink a few beers (or do both ... I plan to!!)

Looking forward to an evening of great crack.

(And especially looking forward to meeting Kevin. #He and I have often corresponded, but we've never had a face-to-face.)

If you can't join us, then I'm sure you'll wish us well. #Might be able to get a few soundclips and pictures up on the web for those who can't make it!

[Martin Jonas]

I've only just realised that I'll be on a work-related training course in Leatherhead from Tuesday to Thursday this week, with nothing to do in the evenings except sit in the hotel. So, I'll be able to take a train into London and come to the session on Wednesday evening! I'll bring a mandolin (and probably plink away silently in a corner in the presence of so many luminaries...). Looking forward to meeting Aidan, Dan and Kevin!

Martin

[danb]

Aw don't hide, it's harder to buy you a drink if you do that..

[Martin Jonas]

Don't worry, Dan, I'm not as shy as all that!

Martin

[Aidan Crossey]

Glad to hear it, Martin. There's no bushels in Tommy Flynn's, so let the lights shine!

[jasona]

Have a great time you guys! Wish I were over there to enjoy the tunes.

[kmmando]

great, see you tomorrow Aidan. I'm going to bring my usual session National tenor guitar, and maybe borrow a mandolin. til then
regards Kevin

[danb]

Yeah, hope to meet folks from the site here, do drop in if you can

[Aidan Crossey]

See you tomorrow, Kev ...

And ... what Dan says!!

[Aidan Crossey]

Clock's ticking.

Dagger says hi ... he can't make it, but he's with us in spirit!

Dan and Kevin are meeting 6ish ...

Looking forward to a great night!

[Aidan Crossey]

Well ... thanks to everyone who showed up to make this a great night of music and crack.

The evening got off to a very pleasant start when Kevin and I were made very welcome by Dan in his riverside flat. #Spectacular views across London ... but more spectacular was the view in his bedroom of a truly amazing instrument collection. #We were treated, as we wolfed down a take-away, to samples from Dan's forthcoming album. #Suffice to say, folks, that it's a very worthy follow-on from Shatter The Calm. #Buy it when it hits the streets! #You'll certainly not regret it.

So ... well-fed and watered, we "tubed it" across town to Tommy Flynn's. #As well as Dan, Kevin and myself we were joined by martinjonas, as promised, who hot-footed it all the way up to Camden Town from Surrey for the evening. #Good man, Martin ... "a quare wee journey" for a few tunes; you're obviously as mad for the tunes as the rest of us.

So that was the mando-family contingent.

In addition we were joined by my mate Paul on banjo; Cathy, Amy and friend on fiddles and Mary on flute.

In one of those quirks of fate, the fiddles and flute party arrived after everyone else and sat at the remaining table-space. #It was only after a while that we realised that we had a "girls' table" and a "boys' table", when - after finishing off a great set of reels, Cathy suggested that it was now "the boys' turn" to launch a set.

Kevin was in his element as the fiddlers gave us a great set of reels, remarking that it's very rare in sessions in Scotland to hear Irish music played with such great swing and lift.

And, as Tommy Flynn's pulled down the shutters for the night, we left for yet another session in East London at a pub which cannot be named in a public discussion board because - in #the interest of promoting good session music - the governors ignore every licensing law on the statute books.

Things eventually came to a close in the wee small hours ... much music was had, much drink was consumed, old friendships reinforced and new friendships forged.

I have to say that I was quite nervous before the night was underway. #For a mere hack like myself to share tunes with Dan and Kevin, two of the most accomplished musicians in the small pond of the Irish and Scottish mando-family, is an honour and a privilege. #I've been in Dan's company a few times, but I'd never met Kevin before and I was agonising over how the meeting would go.

I needn't have worried. #Kevin is a warm, generous and instantly likeable chap. #Dan and he, like many excellent musicians, are gracious and self-effacing in the company of lesser players. #Neither Dan nor Kevin - even though both are well-capable - stole the show. #(Dan even did a spot of setting-up for me ... no mean feat in a dim pub at 2 in the morning ... which made my newly-acquired mandolin sound even better than it had done previously. #Many thanks, Dan!)

I was very pleased to bump into Kevin again last night at a Carmel Gunning & Pete Quinn/Noel Hill & Alec Finn gig at the London Irish Centre where I also had an opportunity to meet his wife. #She's every bit as gracious, charming and instantly approachable as her husband!

So, to Kevin, Dan, Martin and everyone else who contributed to a memorable evening of music and crack, go raibh mile maith agat (many thanks). #I'm sure that we'll all meet at various times again!

[Martin Jonas]

Aidan,

Thanks very much for setting up this great session! It's been a joy and privilege to meet and share some tunes with such wonderful players as Dan, Kevin and you. Apologies for having to leave so early to catch the last train (made it to Victoria with five minutes to spare). I would have loved to stay on into the lock-in session, but there just wouldn't have been any way for me back to my hotel in Dorking. Normally when I'm down in the South-East I stay in Central London, which makes staying on much easier -- I'll let Dan and you know when I'm next around and hopefully there'll be another chance to share a few drinks and tunes.

This was a lovely session with a great blend of instruments: Kevin and Dan both brought their resonator tenors along (tuned GDAE) and together with the banjo, three fiddles, flute and Aidan and me on mando this was a wonderful balance. I'm not really a session player (most of my playing in company is in a small classical mandolin ensemble), but you guys made me feel very welcome and comfortable to chip in. Aidan is being unreasonably modest about his playing in his last post: he's a terrific player with lots of inventiveness, drive and tone. I love your arrangement of Hector The Hero!

Thanks again and I'm looking forward to the next time!

Martin

[Aidan Crossey]

The pleasure was all mine, Martin. These things are not overly difficult to arrange and so I'm happy to try to set up another session in a while for visiting mandoliers. Remiss of me in the above not to mention that Dan and Kevin were majoring on tenor guitar on the night in question. I did take some photos, but I'm not happy with them ... they don't capture the essence of the night at all. They just look like a bunch of people holding instruments and none of the sparks are at all obvious. Anyway ... a great, spontaneous, fun time was had by all. "The girls" send their regards ... Aidan

[Bren]

er ... but, did you record anything?

[Aidan Crossey]

Well, no ... I had a recorder in my pocket. But I just felt that the presence of a recorder may have thrown people off their stroke. Dan and Kevin, as accomplished recording artists may have taken it in their stride, but I sensed that others were slightly more hesitant. And of course by the time we'd all settled in, the table was awash with Guinness and I would have feared for the recorder's safety!!

[kmmando]

Well, I've just about sobered up from the immense hospitality in London, and can safely say that I had a brilliant time, and was particularliy pleased to meet Aidan, who deserves a medal for the sterling work on the forthcoming mandolin compilation - I urge you all to buy copies, as Aidan is effectively funding this project out of the goodness of is generous Irish heart, so buy loads!

The music was great fun, always a change to play other musicians repertoires in sessions, and I really enjoyed playing with all three fellow mandolinists. Aidan has a really great sounding Gibson A mandolin, not a glorious looker but sonically as fine, possibly better than any expensive glittery fancy thing, and he plays it with great panache and taste, and I'm looking forward to hearing more of his playing in future. Martin played a mint and very tasty 1970's Washburn F5, and I enjoyed playing along with his sets too. It would be fun to hear your classical repertoire. And Dan, what can I say? Powerful and intricate, and a pleasure to finally have a full nights music with - thanks for the crash too, what a pad! Dan's new cd approaches completion, and is sounding brilliant, you'll like it, so get it!

The Noel Hill cd launch with Alec Finn accompanying, was great - my principal reason for going South - two of the greatest musicians from Ireland in total sympathy to the music - wonderful! Sorry I didn't hang around at the end, Aidan, as we had a last tube to catch and dashed off. Meeting with Alec on Friday, we ventured to Denmark Street where Alec bought a nice Goldtone electric slide guitar, and promises great things with it, so watch out!

So, mandoheads, get your plastic oot and get buying Aidan Crossey's mandolin products and keep the old ball rolling along!
thanks again to all # Kevin

[mancmando]

I happen to be in London tomorrow eve (Wednesday 2 Nov), and wondered if there is a session on Wednesdays??

don't arrange one especially as I'm not sure what time I'll be around etc, but if there is one anyway would be good to check out..
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[danb]

Check out the session (http://www.thesession.org) website.. I've not been to a weds night one, though I believe there are quite a few of them! Monday is the one I go to, up in St. Margarets (St. Margaret's pub opposite the St. Margarets station)

[mancmando]

Thanks Dan,

If I'm ever in London on a Monday I'll come to the St Margarets session.... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif