Dusted off my copy of “First Flight” this morning and gave it a spin.
This record was a real “gateway drug” to Irish music in general, and Hibernian plectralizing in particular. Gerald made that cittern ring like a bell, and his collection of sidemen were no slouches either. The arrangement of “Martin Wynne’s #2” still sounds like it belongs on a late Bothy Band record.
Gerald hasn’t made much of a contribution to the Youtube universe, but here’s an audio of a set of reels:
Nice to see Gerald mentioned. Yes, I agree. he was definitely a lure to the unwary.
I knew him back in the mid-80s when he was living in Bridgeport, CT. I think “intense” is a good word to describe him. My dear friend and bandmate Steve (Stefano) Denti had become his main duo partner, and I had the pleasure of playing with Gerald as well. After their final US tour he really astounded everyone by giving up the cittern like Prospero breaking his staff. Steve acquired the now-famous Sobell instrument used on all those recordings, and it currently resides in the music room of Steve’s lovely 400-year old farmhouse in Italy.
The recordings really were remarkable at the time, and I think they hold up well today. Maybe your post will cause younger players unfamiliar with his work to check them out.
Brilliant!! Thanks for posting that, Rob. What is it about YouTube recordings that just seem to drain the life out of a tune? That has little of the power and drive of the original. Exquisite stuff of course; shows what a cittern is supposed to be.
Celtic Odyssey was the first Celtic CD I ever purchased, which has been quite a long time now. I forgot how much I enjoyed that track until listening to it again just now! Thanks for the reminder…
