WHAT'S NEW UPDATED FEB 18 2008
Hard to believe it after all this time, but I just finished writing my first original tune in the Irish traditional style. During the couple of years I spent playing bouzouki with local Irish musicians, I approached things from a rhythm-section and harmony perspective, adding counter-rhythms to the acoustic guitar and opening things up harmonically with open chords and drones. But I never took the time to focus on the melody, apart from learning one of my all-time favorite tunes and introducing it to the folks I played with.
But something made me dust off the old mandolin recently, and it wasn't long before I was determined to finish an idea for a tune I'd had long ago but never finished.
The result: The Moon-Bog. Funny name, but nice tune. It's a 12/8 jig in D minor, with a nicely spooky feel (keep this in mind for your next Halloween session). Here it is, in a few different formats (Conversion courtesy of the wonderful Concertina.net site.):
If you check it out, let me know what you think. Oh, and what inspired the title, you might ask...?
WHAT'S GOOD UPDATED JAN 19 2008
Battlefield Band, Battlefield Band
This brilliant early album from the renowned Scottish traditional band is a showcase for bouzouki player & vocalist Jamie McMenemy. In my opinion, McMenemy (along with Irish player Donal Lunny) is the finest bouzouki player in all of Celtic music, and here he demonstrates the languid, open style of accompaniment he would later refine to incredible effect with Kornog.
Rosie Thomas, These Friends Of Mine
In this jaded hipster-plagued time, you don't often hear music as heartfelt and direct as this, or as beautiful. The starkness and sincerity of songs like "Kite Song" and "Much Farther To Go" is striking, and Thomas' voice is heartbreakingly expressive. (iTunes link)
Paul Galbraith, French Impressions
Several years ago, I was lucky enough to see 8-string classical guitar virtuoso Galbraith perform live, and the most moving piece of the night was a rapturous reading of Debussy's Children's Corner suite. He finally committed it to disc here.