Sunday, September 16, 2018

What a Trip!

  After an 8 1/2 month gestation, the new baby is about to be released!

JOURNEY - my newest album -    is being launched at the Lass O'Gowrie Hotel, 14 Railway Street, Wickham on   Sunday afternoon, 21st October, 2.30pm ....and you're invited to come along and join the party.   Entry is FREE.  your invitation is here: 


Journey  contains 6 Original tracks, a Traditional Irish song, and 3 early blues songs selected as a tribute to 3 of the great female blues artists of the 20s, 30s, 40s.

Four of the Original pieces are songs from my final theatre production "Ladies Who Almost Lunch" and all of the songs on the album have a place in my own journey of life.   The Trad Irish song - the Wexford Carol - is done as an acapella piece and multi-tracked for the harmonies.

Recorded at the Funky Lizard Studios,  master instrumentalist Robbie Long has once again surpassed himself in the engineering stakes and I'm thrilled with the flavours he bought to those songs on which he has played.  [with instruments:  Lead guitar, bass guitar, drums, dobro, and fretless bass].

Once more, Russ Redford has placed his stamp on the CD with his lovely blues harmonica.  And for the first time in nearly 20 years of playing together, Gary Roberts finally agreed to record with me.  Russ, Gary and I have been playing intermittently as a trio for over 15 years - we've traveled some miles and shared some memorable journeys.  The 3 tribute songs were recorded Live in Studio in just one take - which says it all about how comfortably we work together.

My favourite song on the album is "Precious Cargo" - the lyrics memories are the treasures, gathered on the journey of life - say that our memories are the precious cargo that we carry on our journey through life. Robbies instrumentation really brings that one to life, for me.   I'll be interested to hear which is YOUR favourite song.