The
Transatlantic Sessions concert is about the collective spirit of music with
some of the cream of Scottish and American Celtic music. Both musical directors
Jerry Douglas and Aly Bain are outstanding musicians. The musicians were joined
on stage this year by the singers - Teddy Thompson, Emily Smith, Eric Bibb,
Aoife O'Donovan and Mary Chapin Carpenter. The Transatlantic Sessions now tours the UK after its Celtic concerts and they also played
over in the US last year as part of Celtic Connections'
showcase for the Ryder Cup Chicago, ahead of the contest's coming to Scotland in
2014. It is also the main event at Celtic Connections festival Glasgow each year.
The Transatlantic concert began with the tune Waiting for the Federals played by all the players in the Transatlantic band. Douglas
introduced singer Teddy Thompson (son of Richard Thompson) who sang Delilah and Dear Mary. Next Emily Smith
sang a Robert Burns song Silver Tassie and
her own song A Day Like Today. Bluegrass banjo player Dirk Powell sang the Cajun two-step French song Step de Bonne café.
Dubro
player and the most recorded artist ever, Jerry Douglas played Gone to Fortingal. He really is a very
striking musician; he also plays with Alison Krauss and Union Street Station.
Jerry made the comment that Scotland had romantic tunes but that the US had
the titles! Next blues singer Eric Bibb sang New Home
and Goin Down This Road Feelin Bad.
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| Aoife O’Donovan and Bruce Molsky |
Aoife O’Donovan of
the band Crooked Still, sang Hallowell backed simply by piano, and along with Mary Chapin Carpenter and Elaine Smith created some
beautiful female harmonies when they sang the song Bright Sunny South. The band played the tune The Helvic Head and then Grammy award winning Mary Chapin Carpenter sang Chasing What’s Already Gone and I
Have a Need. She used moving
expression and interpretation with her songs of heartbreak and longings.
Second Set: Bruce Molsky and Aoife
O’Donovan preformed Pretty Saro.
Teddy Thompson sang What Was I Thinking.
Mary Chapman Carpenter sang Transcendental
Reunion. Aoife O’Donovan sang O Mamma
backed by fiddler John McCusker, after which Eric Bibb sang Champagne Habits. Accomplished guitarist
Russ Barenberg played the tune Through the Gates. Dirk Powell played Waterbound and Scottish accordion player Phil Cunningham played one
his own popular compositions.
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| Jerry Douglas |
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| Emily Smith |
Emily Smith sang The final Trawl and Phil Cunningham, Aly Bain and Michael
McGoldrick played Phil’s Air - a tune
written about Sir Walter Scott. The finale was an uplifting Down at the Twist and Shout with all the
singers and band on stage.
There is nothing much that can beat having such a top quality gathering
of musicians and Teddy
Thompson, Emily Smith and Aoife O'Donovan are all
very gifted singers. I enjoy
watching Aly Bain play, he has a relaxed, easy style that makes it look effortless
and he’s a master of his craft. As
someone remarked this concert is extremely good value considering the number of
quality artists that perform!
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| Eric Bibb |
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| Aly bain |
I did miss Jerry Douglas’s solo performance at the start of the second
set which allows us to hear his skill and musicianship to great effect and
provides a contrast with only one player on stage. We also
missed both American Tim O’Brien and well loved Scottish singer Eddi Reader
this year.
Thanks to
Festival music director Donald Shaw for all his hard work to make the festival
such a successful event. And a thanks to
the Celtic press team for a nice list of the artists set list and songs, this
helps greatly with writing up these reviews! Cheers.
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| Michael
McGoldrick |
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