Just found a video of me playing with The Chieftains at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco on February 19, 2009.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D84buZsmmRo
The tune is “The March of the King of Laois”.
Cheers! Richard
There are three greats who have taken Irish Music across the modern world. Liam O’Flynn, Paddy Keannan have been well represented with solo recordings, both of whom I hold as high as the one missing, Paddy Moloney.
It would be a such a loss to the Uilleann Piping Community at large, if a solo album of Paddy Maloney’s playing was not recorded. It would be as significant a loss, as the scant recordings of Patsy Touhey, and Johnny Doran, for he and the Chieftains have done so much to pass on the legacy of Irish Music in general, let alone the Uilleann piping oeuvre.
He has a unique style, and a verve and freshness, and sheer mucicality. This must have been learnt somewhere. I suspect that it is his contractual commitments, and time fulfilling them, that prevent a solo recording. I suggest, he is the link between the Gentlemen Pipers, and the Travelling Style - and I would defy most players to bring such fizz to the chanter as he does.
Come on, how can you really compare styles without the CD of one of the greats, playing on his own? I am one who loves the chance to hear him play solo on The Drones and Chanters, waiting for more. I suggest so should you, to hear him uncluttered by other musicians, free at last to make the whole instrument sing.
Pwrt
Well done, indeed! 
Richard, that is totally sweet!
Rich
nice one Richard!
Well…one more time.
Here is the video of the sound check with Paddy Moloney and myself.
He is playing some amazing harmonies that I found really interesting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo1dfwDV6kk
Enjoy!
Cheers! Richard
Really sweet harmonies he was playing!
It must be a great feeling to share a stage with the Chieftains.
If you dont mind Richard,how come you were invited to play with them in the first place?
RORY
Well Rory, it a long story, but I will keep it short.
I contacted their North American tour management about three months ago to let them know that I would be attending the upcoming concert. They are listed on their website, so being the gregarious sort that I am, I just called them up.
I had been given back stage passes through them before in 2001.
They asked me how many back stage passes I wanted this time, but to my surprise I received a follow up email telling me that Paddy Moloney had asked them to ask me if I wouldn’t mind playing pipes with them this time.
I was pleasantly surprised and excited about this amazing opportunity.
To be honest all I really hoped to do was play a couple of pipes tunes together with Paddy back stage.
Well, through multiple emails back and forth it was decided when and what I would play. I suggested The March of the King of Laois because it is an old Chieftains favourite.
Paddy was accepting and let me know that he wanted me to play in the finale with them and that he wanted me to do about a one minute solo. I was blown away to say the least.
Everything about that evening went better than planned and was definitely a highlight of my piping career!
The other nice thing is that Paddy now tunes his pipes to A440 (instead of his regular A447). Our pipes were perfectly in tunes and he was very pleased by that.
The Chieftains are the nicest people and regularly ask locals to play with them. They are also very encouraging to other musicians.
So, if you are wanting to play with them as well, just call up their management and see if you can arrange it.
Once you are stage with them, it is just plain fun!
Just go for it!
Cheers! Richard
…and don’t forget to ask for the Richard Katz Special!
T
Correction: they regularly ask GOOD local musicians to play with them. You obviously made the grade. Well done.
Thanks for all the replies and comments.
I have updated my website recently to show upcoming performances as well as adding new photos and links to videos.
Just click on the main page logo.
http://www.katzwerk.com/piper.htm
Cheers! Richard