Of course today, after having snow over the weekend, it was in the 50s. I like this business of having unpredictable weather. They don't have that in Oakland. I rode my bike today and was sweating with just a wind breaker on. Crazy.
Last night I went to my second Irish session (the first one I've played at). I've been scouring the web (and the reader) trying to find every session around. I've compiled a list of sessions that I'm planning to find out about, and probably go to. I guess I should have a goal for getting to all of them, but for now I'll just let it happen and see if I do it. Anyway, that list might prove helpful to someone, so I'll link it here and maybe Google will pick it up.
Irish sessions are very interesting to me coming from a jazz background (just like jazz was interesting coming from rock). They encourage beginners to play. I've been playing bodhran about a month now, and I was able to sit there and play with one of the best Irish guitarists in the world (so I'm told): Dennis Cahill. This doesn't happen in jazz that often. Of course, neither does it happe in jazz that you're sitting there with twelve other people, all playing the same head over and over again, without anyone taking a solo. Everyone is there to learn. It's cool.
The whistle player who was leading the session, Pat Finnegan, was really friendly, and played great as well. I can't tell the difference between people who are really good and people who are world-class at this point; my ear doesn't have the training. Either that, or they're all great. I know it's working out for me, though.
Meantime, my drum set playing is going pretty well. I've been working on transcribing solos and breaks from Tony Williams (Seven Steps to Heaven) and Philly Joe Jones (Ah-Leu-Cha) lately, really digging into what they've done, working on stickings and getting every detail right. The goal is not to sound exactly like either of them, but to try to capture the concept and expand my vocabulary. It's a great thing to do, and I wish I had done it more previously.
joe, that is just too cool. good for you for trying something new and then finding the best possible person to learn about it with.
Posted by stephanie at December 5, 2002 4:39 PM
Have you been to the sessions at Nevin's in Evanston on Sundays?
I haven't been to one in awhile, but am told they still do them.
Posted by paul at November 25, 2002 3:19 PM