Transatlantic Sessions
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Richard Bull reports
The Transatlantic Sessions, falling each year at the end January, has become a Glasgow institution, easily selling out two nights at the Royal Concert Hall. The sound 鈥 and the rapport 鈥 are well worn-in now, perfectly natural and familiar. In a way these Sessions have established a new genre of music: a mixture of Scottish, Irish and American, topped by the resonant sound of 鈥檚 dobro.
Tonight set the tone by explaining that he鈥檇 tried to get home to support his family at a time of loss, but weather and transport not permitting, he was here to celebrate life among friends.
The list of friends in full was: , Jerry Douglas, , , , , , Tim O鈥橞rien, , , , , , , , James Mackintosh, , and .
Wow!
Paul Brady, a previous guest, fitted back in with no problems, and gave us one of the night鈥檚 most memorable moments, when he led the band in a tribute to . They fearlessly took on the monster hit 鈥 Baker Street 鈥 and pulled it off, with the famous sax brilliantly replaced by dobro, uilleann pipes and fiddles.
Another tremendous moment was Carrickfergus, sung dramatically by Allison Moorer. Though only after she鈥檇 assured us that 鈥淛ohn Henry鈥檚 decided to hush鈥, referring to her (and Steve Earle鈥檚) baby, who鈥檇 previously been heard 鈥渟inging鈥 (i.e. crying) backstage.
Ashley Cleveland was the night鈥檚 unknown quantity but she made quite an impact with a set of big folk/gospel songs which asked questions like 鈥淲hen does the world come to an end?鈥
Other highlights included a puirt-a-beul, transatlantic style, by Julie Fowlis, and a pair of Cajun two steps led by Aly Bain and banjoist .
It was Phil Cunningham鈥檚 birthday too, so 鈥 when he was off for a break 鈥 Jerry Douglas instructed the whole audience to stand and sing Happy Birthday, which we duly did. And at the end of the night Phil鈥檚 parting words were: 鈥淭hank you to all these guys for coming over and playing for me on my birthday.鈥 鈥淲e do anniversaries too,鈥 added Jerry Douglas.
Same time, next year?
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