Saturday, November 24, 2007

Tony DeMarco coming back to Vermont

This is a picture of Jerry Holland and Tony DeMarco playing tunes at the Red Shoe Pub in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Tony DeMarco played in Vermont a fews year back for a memorial concert in honor of the late and great Johnny Cunningham. I had never heard of Tony DeMarco before that day. He's a big teddy bear of a guy and as he walked out on stage that night I couldn't imagine what kind of music was going to come out of his fiddle. Once he sat down and began to play, I quickly realized that I was not in the know. This man made my jaw drop with his fiddle playing. He was incredible.

DeMarco is a Brooklyn native with Irish and Italian in his blood. He plays County Sligo style Irish fiddle with lot of crisp ornamentation, fast rhythms and he improvises like nobody's business.

DeMarco is one of the musicians that will take the stage with Ashley MacIsaac and John Doyle next month at Chandler Music Hall to raise money for Jerry Holland's battle with cancer.

Monday, November 19, 2007

John Doyle, a master at his craft


I first met John Doyle at the Champlain Valley Folk Festival when he performed with fiddler, Liz Carroll. He was standing by one of the booth's checking out CD's. I thought it would be a good opportunity to go introduce myself so I walked over, pulled out his CD with Liz Carroll called In Play and I said "I hear the guitar playing on this one rocks." He just giggled as I introduced myself.

I was spending the weekend, as most people do for this weekend long festival, and throughout my time there I just followed him and Liz around like a puppy dog. The two of them together bring more energy to the stage then any duo I have ever seen. Their music is so rhythmic and catchy, it just makes me want to dance. John plays with such passion that he can't keep still when he's on stage. He smiles, dances in place and just plain rocks.

John is well known for his past guitar playing in the band Solas. He sings, he plays guitar exceptionally well and he's a ripping fiddle player, as I found out at a late night session during this memorable festival.

A little back history about my relationship with Liz Carroll: I was taking fiddle lessons with Sarah Blair. I told her that I want to play fast and in tune. She said "listen to Liz Carroll." So not only did I run out and by some CD's but I signed up for a week long workshop in the Catskills where she was teaching.

So here I was at the Champlain Valley Folk Festival listening to a session hosted by Liz Carroll, John Doyle, and other great musicians when Liz looks at me and invites me into the inner circle to start a tune. My heart was racing. I had Liz on one side and John on the other. I was in heaven. I started some tunes that I knew I could get through and there I was playing with two of my heroes. It was amazing.

So as you can imagine I was psyched to find out that John Doyle will return to Vermont on December 8, to play with Ashely MacIsacc and other very talented musicians, in a benefit to raise money for Jerry Holland's battle with Cancer.

I also hear that John Doyle will be giving a guitar workshop so for those interested call (802) 728.6464 or click here for more information.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Jerry Holland, master Cape Breton fiddler



Jerry Holland has mastered one of the most elegant instruments in the string family, the fiddle. Let's face it, he literally wrote the book when it comes to Cape Breton fiddle music. There isn't a Celtic band out there that doesn't have at least one of his tunes in their repertoire. And if you have ever heard him play, you understand why his music is so loved throughout the world. His playing reflects his soft humor, his quick whit and his passion for this rhythmic tradition they call Cape Breton music.

In the last 5 or so years, Jerry has been visiting Vermont from his home in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia taking on fiddle students, playing for house parties and concerts and touching the lives of more Vermonters than I can count.

Next month, on Saturday, December 8, Chandler Music Hall in Randolph, Vermont, will play host to Ashley MacIsaac, Cape Breton Fidding sensation; John Doyle, guitar player extrordinaire; fiddler,Tony DeMarco; and bohdran drum player, Anna Colliton, as they play a benefit concert to honor Jerry, his music and his commitment to carrying on the tradition. All the proceeds will go directly to helping Jerry fight his battle with cancer.

This should be an amazing concert. Hope to see you there!

If you can't make the concert but would like to contribute to the Jerry Holland fund, click here.