Hello! If you’re here because I gave you an Ochtapos card, please enter the download code from the card’s back into the field above, and then follow the instructions. Don’t forget to click here to read the notes I’ve put together for these recordings.
If you have no idea what I’m talking about but think you may be interested in getting some free music, you can preview the tracks here:
Sample Reel TrackIf you like what you hear, just drop me a line and I’ll send them your way!
Augusta Irish/Celtic 2013 Click on the image to download the full size flyer!
Augusta Irish/Celtic 2013 runs from July 21-26. Our staff will be as follows:
Augusta Heritage Center of Davis & Elkins College, Elkins, West Virginia
304-637-1209 or 1-800-624-3157 Ext. 1209
augustaheritagecenter.org/irishceltic • www.facebook.com/AugustaIrish
Here’s one from the archives:
Junco Partner by the Freshmakers featuring King Django and Dr. Ring DingIt came out on a Joe Strummer tribute record released in Italy in 2005(ish).
The track was recorded in the studio under Jammyland (60 East 3rd Street, NYC). I think the group – called the Freshmakers – included me (banjo and bamboo sax), Bob Timm (rumba box), Jay Nugent (guitar), King Django and Dr. Ring Ding (v0x) and another guitarist, whose name I can’t remember at the moment. Vic Rice engineered. I’m pretty sure that this happened in December 2003/January 2004; the band laid the instrumental tracks down one afternoon, and Django and Ring Ding came in a few nights later and did the vocals during a snowstorm.
The people who released it said they’d send me a copy of the CD and a t-shirt in exchange for the track. Perhaps needless to say, that never happened.
If you’ve come here before, you may know that I am the new artistic director of the Augusta Irish/Celtic Week (July 22-27th in Elkins, West Virginia). It’s the oldest Irish cultural week in the United States and there’s a great staff this year – click here to go to Augusta’s official website to learn more about what we’re offering this year. It’s a great week and an awesome thing to be a part of. And fair warning? In the future, you’ll see me posting a bit about the week (especially once it’s past and I have pictures to share)!
Irish Music in the NY Times today with a picture of me.
All front and center, like.
My first column was published in the Irish Echo today. Click here to read it. In it, I mention a recording of Paddy Canny playing ‘Cielito Lindo’ – this is it:
canny-mariachi.mp3I don’t remember where this came from – it’s just an excerpted bit from a longer track. I doubt I’ll be hosting much music relating to the column here, but a couple of people asked me what this sounded like so have a listen if you’re interested.
ps. “Free the Tarbolton Three” is a saying that I believe Boston’s own Teddy Davis and Tina Lech came up with.
UPDATE: Tom Madden wrote to me to let me know that the notation for “Blueberry Hill” (a fox trot) – in Morrison’s own hand – on appears on p. 68 of Veronica McNamara’s facsimile edition of the James Morrison notebooks (called “The Professor, James Morrison” – His Original Handwritten Music Manuscripts for Irish Fiddle – click on the link to buy a copy, whydon’tcha?).
UPDATE: Monsignor Charlie Coen tells me that he also plays ‘Cielito Lindo,’ as well as a few other tunes & songs as part of an “international” thing he likes to do.
You’re gonna want to keep an eye open in the Irish Echo, because I’m going to have a weekly column about traditional music there. Boom!
The other day I was corresponding with Jeff Ksiazek of the Ward Irish Music Archives and he mentioned the difficulty of finding photos of old Irish musicians and it reminded me of the report WNYC’s Soundcheck did last May in which they talked about the Flanagan Brothers. The best part of that report was probably the archival photo they dug out from December 9, 1926 taken at the WNYC studios. Not only is it probably the best photo of the Flanagans I’ve ever seen (that’s Mike and Joe, left to right), but it’s one of the finer photos of Irish music in that era I’ve come across.
Tonight, the Blue Glaze Mento Band will be in Kingston to launch its latest album, We Will Wait. The group worked with New Orleans producer Bill Monstead on a really nice mix of mento, reggae and gospel. However, what I think mento fans will find most compelling is that this album not only features some original songs composed by band members, but it also includes some legendary guest artistes taking over the vocal duties. For example, Stranjah Cole sings over his own ska classic “Rough and Tough” played as a mento and Bunny Wailer is the featured singer on Blue Glaze lead singer Vernal Morgan’s composition “We Will Wait,” while Toots Hibbert is featured on my favorite track “Great Jehovah” (another Vernal Morgan composition). Just great stuff all around. The guy who wrote the liner notes did a pretty good job as well (if I may say so).
This album marks the last recording my friend and original Blue Glaze banjoist Nelson Chambers made before he died just a bit over a year ago, and he’s in fine form. I think he would have been proud to see this CD finally released to the world.
If you’re interested in buying We Will Wait, click here to head on over to CD Baby and check it out.
Last week, New York City’s Irish Arts Center launched a Christmas album called An Irish Christmas: A Musical Solstice Celebration. It is the first in IAC’s “Live From Irish Arts Center” series and recorded live during last year’s series of Christmas concerts. The album features Mick Moloney, Athena Tergis, Rhys Jones, Billy McComiskey, Liz Hanley and Brendan Dolan and it also includes a track from the Washington Square Harp and Shamrock Orchestra! I mention it because I had a fair bit to do with it, not only with the WSHSO, but as production coordinator (being a second set of ears in mixing/mastering, organizing manufacturing, etc) and publicist (if you’ve heard it on the radio, I had something to do with it getting there).
It sets a very high musical standard for Christmas albums and has some great music on it – plus, it’s a worthwhile gift for the season! Click here to buy it/ check it out!