THE TUNES:
Many of these tunes I learned from sessions at Molly Maguires with Sara Cory and her brother Dave. My main tune sources were Dale Russ and Tom Creegan...
Cuz Teahan's/That's Right Too (Liz Carroll)
With Cary Novotny (guitar), Jeff Baxter (keys), Jules Holbrook (bass) and Ezra Holbrook (drums). I play a Giles Lehart Bb flute on this track.
Urbies/Pressed for Time
With Cary, Jeff, Jules, Kathryn Claire (fiddle) and Matt Jerrell (drums). I am playing the Eb of an Eb/D combo flute from Forbes Christie at Windward Flutes.
The Choice Wife/Elizabeth Kelley's/The Blast of Wind
With Cary and Takeaki Nagahama (bodhran). I play the D Windward flute.
The Humors of Westport/Eileen Curran's/The Graf Spee
With Cary, Jeff, Jules and Matt. I play a Burke C whistle and a Sweetheart C flute.
The Jigermyster/Johnny's Jig/The Roaring Barmaid
This first tune comes from accordion player extraordinaire Josephine Marsh. The second is a John Mccusker tune. With Kathryn, Cary, Jeff, Jules and Ezra.
The Golden Eagle/Alexander's/Mulhaire's/The Abbey
These first two hornpipes I learned from Tom Creegan. With Cary (guitar). I play a Reviol low E whistle.
Suite de Gavottes des Montagnes
From my friend Clara in Barcelona. With Kathryn, Jenny Conlee-Drizos (accordion) and Nate Query (bass).
The Reel of Mullinavat/Paddy Taylor's/The Pinch of Snuff
With Cary and Jules.
Mimi and the New Generation Polkas/Tom Sullivan's/The Newmarket Polka
This first tune I learned from the playing of Julie Langan. With Kathryn, Cary, Jeff, Jules and Ezra.
The Humors of Flinn
One of my favorite waltzes. With Cary and Jeff.
THE SONGS:
A Kiss in the Morning Early
Back when I was first learning to sing, I was given a cassette tape for my birthday from Terry Conlon and Mel White. The cassette was labeled not with either artist's name, but merely said, "Learn 'Em." On one side was Paddy Glackin and Paddy Keenan's excellent album Doublin' . On the other side was Mick Hanley's seminal recording A Kiss in the Morning Early from which I got this first song. (A few years later, Niamh Parsons told me that Mick had actually penned the second line of each verse himself.)
feat. Cary Novotny (guitar), Tony Furtado (dobro/banjo), Jeff Baxter (piano), Colleen Raney (backing vocals), Jules Holbrook (bass), Ezra Holbrook (drums)
The Lakes of Ponchartrain
My introduction to Irish songs were The Pogues and The Dubliners; I loved the belters and the brawlers. Fiddle-player and publican extraordinaire Conor Byrne told me one night after a gig I needed to learn a few torch songs. This was to be the first of these I learned, and have sung it ever since. I never grow tired of it.
feat. Cary, Jeff, Jules, Ezra and Kathryn Claire (fiddle and backing vocals)
Bonnie Jean Cameron
My brother Rocky was a big fan of a group called Kornog and as all good big brothers do, introduced me to this terrific band from whom I learned this song. I loved the story behind it, and its appearance as a love song. (It's not.)
feat. Cary, Kathryn, Jules, Colleen and Matt Jerrell (drums)
Wind and Rain
One of my all-time favourite singers is Bob Soper. I heard him sing this version of this very common "Two Sisters" story and it haunted me.
feat. Kathryn (guitar and fiddle), Tony, Jules, Ezra (drums and backing vocals) and Matthew Hayward-Macdonald (backing vocals)
The Creel
I could've sworn I first heard this song sung by Finn MacGinty but he tells me he never sang it. Hopefully he won't mind me crediting him with it anyway. The definitive version is of course Paul Brady.
feat. Cary, Kathryn (fiddle and vocals), Ezra (tenor guitar), Matthew and Takeaki Nagahama (bodhran)
Don't Call Again
Now, this one I KNOW I learned from Finn. Originally called Don't Come Again. I like the slightly updated feel of Don't Call Again. It is folk music, after all.
feat. Cary, Jeff, Tony, Jules and Ezra (drums and backing vocals)
Jock Randall
It would be incredibly remiss of me to not mention the great impact the singing of June Tabor has had on me. I learned this song from one of her many lovely recordings.
feat. Kathryn (guitar), Tony and Jeff
The Bold Robber
My dear friend, musical colleague and brother Paul Lawton was famous for, among other things, his "Great Stuff" mixed tapes. Paul introduced me to Nic jones on one of these masterpieces with this song.
feat. Cary, Kathryn, Jules and Matt
A Handful of Earth
Albums of the life altering variety would have to include Dick Gaughan's Handful of Earth. Another fine selection of my brother Rocky's. Kathryn and I arranged this song for a live concert of songs of labor and immigration.
feat. Kathryn (guitar and vocals), Jules (bass and sax), Ezra (drums, electric guitar and vocals) and Jeff
Rocky Road to Dublin
A tip of the hat to the afore mentioned Dubliners, and my first band The Whyos.
feat. Cary, Kathryn, Jules and Matt
Read more...