Hello!
I am a whistle player near Portland, Oregon, who is ready to enter the world of Uilleann pipes. Currently, I am looking for a good practice set to start on. I am looking for a set at less than or around $1000. If anyone has a practice set they are looking to sell, I would be interested.
Also, I am looking for any Uilleann pipers near Portland, OR who would be interested in giving me lessons on the pipes. I am very committed to the music and am ready to make the commitment to learn the pipes. Thanks!
-Casey
I would order from Brad – I have heard great things about his pipes, and they sound great – but they are a little bit over my price range… Yesterday I sent him an e-mail, though, to see if he knew anything about lessons.
Never heard of him. “i before e, two n’s.”
Who says I live near Portland? Pretty much I’m stuck in the valley these days. Newberg. Getting to Portland’s a bit of an expedition. But if you’re passing through we could meet up, perhaps. Channing’s a very good piper, he’ll learn ya right. Brad’s the best pipemaker in the area. By “area” I mean more than the Pacific NW, too!
Aren’t Biffy’s a bit forgiving about youngsters coming in? Peter Marshall had a session in a pizza joint for a while. “Bagpipe Bomb” is another piper on this board.
Kevin, thanks for posting. Maybe I can make it to Newberg sometime once I get a set and a start on the pipes. I have heard of minors at Biddy’s, but I have also heard people saying there can be no minors – I guess I should give them a call. If by Peter Marshall, you mean Peter from Ennis, then I try to go to that session every week. I’ve been going there off and on for about a year, and at one point there was a piper who went, but I haven’t seen him in months – I did try an get in touch with him too. I really haven’t seen many pipers in Portland, and I’m hoping to find some by posting here.
Peter’s session is great though. Great pizza too. But, it is majorly unattended.
-Casey
I too would love to order a set of pipes from Brad would that I had a bit more money (C set in the style of Harrington with cocobolo and silver mounts, please…Good enough to eat! Arhghghghghghghgmmmmmmmm…).
Gee, maybe I oughta start offering lessons or something…Hmm…
Ya know what they say, “those that can’t do, teach” (which is why I’m becoming an English teacher…).
Is Peter billing himself as Peter from Ennis? Lovely guy Peter. Peter Marshall, yes. Bust his balls about that. “Do you have something to hide!?”
Is it still on at It’s A Beautiful Pizza? [sic]
The piper who showed was probably Dan Joughin. “g then h, one n.” He’s the Bagpipe Bomb I mentioned above, PM him. Nice guy, again.
Cocobolo? Good for steak knives maybe. Brad’ll do ebony, boxwood, or ebony. Black ebony, smart guy.
We were always rapping about him making a set in stained boxwood - when I was in Stumptown the idea of bringing him a jar of nitric acid on the bus seemed a bit insane, though. Well, insane for me anyway. Probably illegal these days, too!
Peter didn’t introduce himself as that – I never got his last name. We just know him as “Peter.” I’ve been going to the session with him for a while – we are regulars – and we learned he is from Ennis originally, and we had been right next to his old house when we were in Ireland last summer. The session is still going and at “It’s A Beautiful Pizza.” Usually only 4 people, but we have a lot of fun. Every time we get overpowered by the middle eastern music with the amps on the other side of the place when it’s time for us to be done. I guess we might Jam with them sometime.
He told me his name was “Don.” Don is a nice guy, and I actually have his contact info because he said he would help the Irish band at Lewis and Clark College, but I’m not there anymore… Anyways, he’s a good player, and recently got a Brad Angus full set. He offered me to play it one night, but I was too tired to feel right trying it… But, I sent him an e-mail yesterday.
Biddys absolutely never lets in minors or breaks the law. That said, see if you can hook up with a regular to get into the sesssion. Understand?
I think a couple of Brad’s practice sets are still at Artichoke music on SE Hawthorne. If they are, they’ve been there a long time and I’d be willing to bet they’d take an offer. Last I checked they were $1000 each, but that was a while ago. They both played very nicely, but sitting unused and in the case they’re in the reeds may have suffered (which would be an even better point to make if you’re going to make a lowball offer).
Which school are you attending? Johnny Connolly teaches at Lewis and Clark if I’m not mistaken and they’ve had an on-again, off-again Irish music group. Feel free to send a PM if you have any more questions. I’m in SE Portland.
But, I sent him an e-mail yesterday.