Lunasa is in town and played a wonderful concert on Saturday … very impressive and awesome! Played a lot of stuff from their new CD, Sé. They are one of my favorite groups and Kevin Crawford is one of my flute heroes so I expected to like what I heard. Of course there were the ripping reels and rollicking jigs; but what I enjoy most about them is the eligant grace they bring to many of their arrangements.
But the real thrill for me was Sunday night. Our band Celtic Waves was playing at a pub in Waikiki tonight and Kevin came in not only to hear us, but to sit in with us. He played about half the gig with us. It was very cool (and intimidating) to have the person who’s flute playing I’ve admired for so long sitting right there next to me playing circles around us all! Personally a very class guy as well.
What a ride that must have been! I can imagine being all fumble-fingered when there’s someone you greatly admire playing right there next to you. But I can also imagine soaring on that energy!
That is really cool, I saw them a couple nights before they headed off to Hawaii I belive it was the 20th. It was a great show, but your experience is awesomer than mine.
Yes, I had a case of fumble fingers as soon as he walked into the pub. My playing was crappier than it’s been for a long while. Oddly, though, when he came over and started putting his Grinter together the energy made all of us kick it up a notch or two or three. During the hour and a half or so that he played with us I was amazed at the variations and wonderful stuff that was burbling out of his flute.
As a kid I played whistle with my Uillean piper grandfather and learned a few tunes and about the music; but I have taken up the flute only the last 4 years or so. Here in Hawaii I’m the only trad flute player that I know of - so I’m completely self taught on the flute. I learned more about flute playing in one hour of sitting next to Kevin than I’d learned in the previous year on my own! I sure do wish there was more of an Irish music presence in my locale.
My friends Damien and Sarah live in Hawaii now… Is it you? 'cause he plays the flute too. She plays fiddle. I figure you must have seen them, they’re so much fun too!
No I haven’t met them - and would love to. Not only do we have a shortage of flute players in Hawaii, we have a shortage of fiddlers too. If you could have them get in touch with me I would let them know about sessions and the like on a regular basis. You could PM me with their contact info and/or they could go to our web-site (www.celticwaves.net) and there is contact information there.
We are always scrounging around for fiddlers. The fiddler in our band is in four others besides ours (bluegrass, old-timey, Irish rock, and cajun) and there are often conflicts. That’s what you have to do to cobble together a living playing folk music.
Darn how big can Hawaii be? Hehe I will let them know. I spent a few days with them in Ireland in november and they told me how much fun they had in Hawaii surfing and all. They said the irish music wasnt that great there, but they might be really glad to know that there’s a band out there!
Lynn is gone for the weekend, he stills toots away on the whistle. Maybe I will see you there.