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Transatlantic Sessions

Venue: Bridgewater Hall
Town: Manchester
Date: 5th February 2013
Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transatlantic_Sessions

As any lover of roots music will know, Transatlantic Sessions is a superb television series, which was originally conceived in the mid- 1990's. It's concept is simple but highly effective - put together a "house band" of the best musicians in the field of roots and traditional music from both sides of the Atlantic and then add a host of top-flight singer-songwriters. It works beautifully as a television programme but even better as a live show. This year's Transatlantic Sessions [TS13] formed the centrepiece of Celtic Connections in Glasgow and then went out on tour. I was indeed fortunate to see it at Manchester's superb Bridgewater Hall. It was, without any exaggeration, one of the most enjoyable concerts I have been to in forty years.

This year's line-up of artists was stunning, featuring as it did, a dozen master musicians from the worlds of Celtic folk, Bluegrass, Blues, Cajun and Old-Time music together with five of the best singer-songwriters you could wish to hear. A veritable "Dream Team".

Our hosts were, as on the television programme, Jerry Douglas [dobro and lap steel] and Aly Bain [fiddle]. Shetland fiddle player Aly was, of course, awarded a most deserved Lifetime Achievement Award at the recent BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

The "house band" [or " folk orchestra", as I prefer to call it] featured an outstanding line-up. From America, in addition to Jerry, we had Russ Barenberg [guitar], Bruce Molsky [fiddle]and Dirk Powell [Cajun accordion and banjo]. From this side of the Pond, we had Aly's long-time musical partner Phil Cunningham [accordion], the omnipresent Danny Thompson [bass], local "homeboy" Michael McGoldrick [ whistles and pipes], John McCusker [fiddle], Ireland's John Doyle [guitar], James Mackintosh [drums] and Donald Shaw [keyboards]. Some line up!

As if that were not enough, we had five superb singer songwriters namely Mary Chapin Carpenter, Teddy Thompson, Eric Bibb, Emily Smith and Crooked Still vocalist Aoife O'Donovan [who was, for me, the revelation of the night].

The great thing about the Transatlantic Sessions is that there is no ego involved. All the musicians and singers clearly enjoy taking part [and who wouldn't] and the atmosphere is one of relaxed bonhomie, or as Mary Chapin put it " a lovefest" and "an unbelievable pleasure". She told us she was begging them "not to send me home" from this "joyous collaboration".

This atmosphere is enhanced by the fact that even when they are not playing or singing, the artists remain in the on-stage "green room", where they can [and obviously do] enjoy the music, whilst having the odd glass of wine.

It is extremely difficult to pick out highlights as the whole show was a highlight from start ["Waiting For The Federals"] to finish [ "Shove The Pig's Foot A Little Further Into The Fire"].

The playing of the "house band" was sublime and the singers were all excellent, as you would expect from such an array of talent.

First up was golden-voiced Teddy Thompson, who sung "Delilah", which he wrote with his mother Linda [who needs no introduction here]. The song featured a great lap steel solo from Jerry Douglas [one of many throughout the evening]. Later on Teddy also performed "What Was I Thinkin'" , which reinforced his status as a fine singer-songwriter.

Next we had Scotland's Emily Smith who has a gorgeous voice and she gave us a stunning rendition of Robert Burns's "Sliver Tassie", followed by her own "A Day Like Today", with beautiful accompaniment from accordion, whistle and fiddles. Emily's third song of the evening was "The Final Trawl", which was equally good.

Eric Bibb is a wonderful performer who always makes me feel uplifted when I see him. Tonight he performed three songs in his inimitable style, "New Home" ["I'm building a new home across the county line" ]; the blues shuffle, "Goin' Down This Road Feelin' Bad" and one his best-loved songs, the delightful " Champagne Habits [On A Beer Salary]".

Discovery of the night was Boston's Aoife O'Donovan, who I had not seen before, although I had heard the odd track by her band Crooked Still on the radio. She was a revelation as she sang her first song " Hallowell" [by Vermont songwriter Stephen Spitzer] with piano accompaniment from Donald Shaw and harmony vocals from Mary Chapin and Emily Smith. This was absolutely beautiful and Aoife held the audience [and the other musicians ]spellbound with her stunning vocals. Her second song was Civil War ballad "The Bright Sunny South", which featured banjo by Dirk Powell and which was equally entrancing. Aoife also joined Bruce Molsky on vocals for a lovely version of the Old-Time song "Pretty Saro".

Last but not least of the singer -songwriters was the great Mary Chapin Carpenter, who is one of my very favourite songwriters. She was making her TS debut and she was clearly enjoying it. Mary Chapin released her twelfth studio album "Ashes and Roses" last year and it's a wonderful record, which I had the great pleasure of reviewing in the pages of Fatea. From that album Mary Chapin sang "Chasing What's Already Gone" and "Transcendental Reunion". The latter was particularly special.It was performed with Aoife on harmony vocals and John McCusker on fiddle and was spine-tinglingly beautiful. Mary Chapin also sang her "most autobiographical song", "I Have a Need for Solitude"which featured on her album "The Age of Miracles". Mary Chapin told of how she lives alone and that

"I Have a Need" is about "being alone but not lonely". The sympathetic accompaniment gave this song added poignancy.

In a totally different vein, and to the crowd's great pleasure, Mary Chapin performed a lively Cajun-inflected version of her breakthrough hit "Down At The Twist and Shout" complete with authentic accordion from Dirk Powell [he was, of course a founding member of Cajun group Balfa Toujours].

As well the singers and their songs , we were treated to some great instrumentals. Highlights included Jerry Douglas's " Gone To Fortingall" and "Lil' RoRo/ Monkey Let The Hogs Out" ; Bruce Molsky's "Sailor Fell Off the Masthead/ Icy Mountain Tunes"; Russ Barenberg's "Through the Gates" and last but not least, Phil Cunningham's beautiful "Phil's Air". Honourable mention should also be given to Dirk Powell's "Waterbound", a tribute to his grandfather.

To put it succinctly, this was an unforgettable night of all that is best in roots and traditional music and served to remind me of why I came to love it in the first place. Roll on TS14 !

Peter Cowley
Pictures Phil Carter, not taken at gig

The Birmingham gig on the 7th is reviewed on the Three Chords & The Truth Blogspot