Live and Amazing at the IAC

Irish Voice Entertainment

Live and Amazing at the IAC

March 12, 2008

from the hob

ONE of the appealing aspects of traditional Irish music is its sincerity and earthiness befitting the humble roots alongside a turf fire. The sheer melodic beauty and emotions conveyed by it allow it to be appreciated unadorned by artificial over stimulation or pretension.

Perhaps that is why the recently released TV video Absolutely Irish captures the fancy of those who not only recognize great musicianship, but the heartfelt feelings that create it and allow so many to enjoy it for what it is.

So when video producer and director Paul Wagner and musicologist Dr. Mick Moloney looked for a chance to work together again after their successful collaboration in 1995 for the PBS production Out of Ireland, they wanted to explore Irish music roots more deeply.

To that end they assembled a mighty musical armada over several days last year and saw to it that this project would be a true reflection of the great talent they amassed for it.

The resulting film running 60 minutes has been making the rounds of around 100 PBS stations around the country,

spearheaded by WGBH in Boston that, along

with American Public Television, are distributing it. The closest airing around New York City has been WNJN in New Jersey last week.

Thus far, it has been out muscled -– not to mention out-glamorized — by local PBS giants like Channel 13 and Channel 21, whose pledge-drive goals reach for deeper pockets and contributions. That usually means acts that garner more support like Celtic Woman, the High Kings, Celtic Thunder, Tommy Fleming and Red Hurley fare who have dominated the local airwaves and coffers.

Undaunted, the Absolutely Irish team are satisfied with their product and documentation of the live concert that was filmed last April 18 at the Irish Arts Center under the auspices of a generous grant from the New York State Music Fund.

The fund allowed for massive payola penalties collected from record companies to be re-channeled into the hands of working musicians in New York, and it is significant that the Irish crew assembled here virtually all produce traditional music for a living — the first generation to really do so.

Mick Moloney brought in Karan Casey, John Doyle, Joanie Madden, Liz Carroll, Billy McComiskey, Tim Collins, Eileen Ivers, Athena Tergis, Seamus Egan, Susan McKeown, Robbie O’Connell, Jerry O’Sullivan, Rhys Jones, Mac Benford and Bruce Molsky, most of whom are regarded as “All Mick’s Children” from his 35 years of fostering Irish music in America.

Dancing duo Niall O’Leary and Darrah Carr also brought their imaginative footwork into the show, including his interpretation of a sand dance once performed by Kitty O’Neill. (No, she wasn’t discovered by Moloney who is keen on Harrigan and Hart revivals lately).

Octogenarians Mike Rafferty, 81, on flute and Josephine McNamara, 85, the dancing doyen of the Irish Arts Center for three decades made it a three generational affair.

Many of these musicians had appeared at major festivals before in this country and abroad, but the challenge here was to integrate performances and sounds in a live performance in the cramped confines of the Donaghy Theater at the center before a live audience brought in for atmosphere and support.

Those of us who saw the show were privileged to witness such history and riveting performances. The superb vocal selections by O’Connell (“Flower of Kilkenny”), Casey (“The King’s Shilling”) with one-time founding partners in Solas Doyle on guitar and Egan on mandolin in a spine-tingling rendition.

McKeown (“Fair London Town”) was at the top of her game, and Moloney had his ensemble intact for “McNally’s Row of Flats” as well.

As you might expect the instrumentals were top-notch led by the trio of fiddlers making the YouTube rounds in Ivers, Carroll and Tergis playing Reavy and Fahy tunes.

With musicians like Madden, Collins, McComiskey and Dolan, you know the dance tunes would be lively and stupendous when joined by Egan, O’Sullivan, Carroll, Ivers, Tergis, Doyle and Moloney himself. Even the mighty Raff couldn’t complain much about the tempo of one set of tunes he shared with the younger crowd.

Rising from a chair after a brief interview, Jo Mac took to the floor like a spring chicken for a medley of dance tunes from piper Jerry O’Sullivan to thunderous applause from the audience and a big hug from another Cherished lady, Ms. Madden.

There are been viewings of the show since March 5 up to March 15 at the Irish Arts Center nightly at 8 p.m., or matinees on Saturday at 2 p.m. which contain another 10 minutes or so of the longer documentary.

Those who wish to order for personal viewing can go to the WGBH website (www.wgbh.org) and order either the CD or the DVD (or both) for the equivalent of making a pledge to the station. As they say in Pledgeland, if you want to show your support for this kind of entertainment there’s nothing like voting with your wallet.

At the opening screening on March 2, a number of the musicians featured reassembled to enjoy the final product and rambled back to the Landmark Tavern down 11th Avenue. It was where they rehearsed the show, fed and watered themselves while in production.

A terrific session broke out shortly in the back room as if the cameras never stopped rolling. Well, that sort of thing is bound to happen when you have the real thing, and it is so Absolutely Irish.

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