The Transcendental Transatlantic Sessions

December 23, 2013 9:41 PM

The other day, I woke up humming Guy Clark's "Dublin Blues." That terrific performance is from Transatlantic Sessions, a long-running project uniting musicians from different countries and varying musical backgrounds. "For almost two decades, the sessions have been inviting American musicians – from Rufus Wainwright to Emmylou Harris to James Taylor – to the UK to collaborate with British musicians steeped in the folk tradition, and filming the results. Imagine Later with Jools Holland, if all the acts played on each other's songs. And with more accordion." Drawing from Wikipedia's list of performances, I offer for your listening pleasure... Transatlantic Sessions.

Season One:

Programme One: Wheels of Love (Emmylou Harris, Iris DeMent, Mary Black), MacIlmoyle (Aly Bain, Jay Ungar, Russ Barnberg, Molly Mason, Jim Sutherland), Ready for the Storm (Kathy Mattea, Dougie MacLean), Spencer the Rover (John Martyn, Danny Thompson), Big Bug Shuffle (Russ Barenberg), Black Diamond Strings (Guy Clark, Emmylou Harris), Guitar Talk (Michelle Wright, Karen Matheson), Ashokan Farewell (Jay Ungar, Aly Bain)

Programme Two: May You Never (John Martyn, Kathy Mattea), Big Scioty (Jay Ungar, Aly Bain, Molly Mason, Russ Barenberg, Jerry Douglas), Ta Mo Chleamhnas Deanta, (Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Donal Lunny), Grey Eagle (Mark O'Connor), Talk to Me of Mendocino (Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Karen Matheson), Mexican Monterey (Savourna Stevenson, Aly Bain, Danny Thompson), By The Time It Gets Dark (Mary Black, Emmylou Harris, Declan Sinnot), Auld Lang Syne (Rod Paterson, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Martyn Bennett)

Programme Three: The Loving Time (Mary Black, Emmylou Harris, Declan Sinnott), Goodbye Liza Jane (Jay Ungar, Aly Bain, Russ Barenberg, Jerry Douglas, Molly Mason), Iain Ghlinn Cuaich (Karen Matheson, Donald Shaw), Turning Away (Dougie MacLean, Kathy Mattea), Boulavogue/Mrs McCleod (Davy Spillane, Aly Bain, Russ Barenberg), Let the Mystery Be (Iris DeMent), Wild Mountain Thyme (Dick Gaughan, Emmylou Harris, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Rufus Wainwright), Far From Home/Big John MacNeil (House Band, Mark O'Connor, Martyn Bennett, Charlie McKerron, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Cathal McConnell)

Programme Four: Goin' Back to Harlan (Anna & Kate McGarrigle, Emmylou Harris), Daire's Dream (Davy Spillane, Jerry Douglas, Russ Barenberg), Canan Nan Gaidheal (Karen Matheson, Donald Shaw), Jim's Jig/Little Cascades/Fox in the Town (Simon Thoumire, Jim Sutherland), Farewell, Farewell (Mary Black, Declan Sinnott), Cat in the Bag (Mark O'Connor, Russ Barenberg, Donal Lunny, Danny Thompson), Our Town (Iris DeMent), Ronfleuse Gobeil (Jay Ungar, Aly Bain, Molly Mason, Russ Barenberg, Jim Sutherland)

Programme Five: I Will (Kathy Mattea, Dougie MacLean), Will the Circle be Unbroken (Michelle Wright, Iris DeMent, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh), You Low Down Dirty Dog (Jay Ungar, Aly Bain, Russ Barenberg, Jerry Douglas, Molly Mason), Gentle Annie (Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Rod Paterson), Jesse Polka (Mark O'Connor, Phil Cunningham, Russ Barenberg, Donal Lunny, Danny Thompson), Green Rolling Hills (Emmylou Harris, Mary Black), The Dark Woman of the Glen (Cathal McConnell, Aly Bain, Phil Cunningham, Russ Barenberg), Big Muff (John Martyn, Danny Thompson)

Programme Six: Hard Times (Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Rufus Wainwright, Emmylou Harris, Mary Black, Karen Matheson, Rod Paterson), MacCrimmon's Lament (Martyn Bennett), Dublin Blues (Guy Clark, Karen Matheson), Sweet is the Melody (Iris DeMent), A Maiden's Prayer (Aly Bain, Jay Ungar, Molly Mason, Russ Barenberg, Jerry Douglas, Jim Sutherland), Don't Want to Know (John Martyn, Danny Thompson), For No One (Emmylou Harris, Dave Spillane), Scotland (House Band, Mark O'Connor, Martyn Bennett, Charlie McKerron, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Cathal McConnell)

Programme Seven: Old Fashioned Waltz (Emmylou Harris, Kate & Anna McGarrigle), Clyde to Sandyhook (Savourna Stevenson, Aly Bain), Dark as a Dungeon (Guy Clark, Rod Paterson), The Lover's Waltz (Molly Mason, Jay Ungar, Aly Bain), Both Sides the Tweed (Dick Gaughan, Emmylou Harris), The Reason Why I'm Gone (Michelle Wright, Karen Matheson), Uncle Sam/Rain on Olivia Town (Jerry Douglas), This Love Will Carry (Dougie MacLean, Kathy Mattea)

Season Two:

Programme One: The Blue Train (Maura O'Connell, James Grant, Nanci Griffith), A Simple Life/traditional reel (Ricky Scaggs), Piobaireachid Dhomhnaill Dhuibh (Ishbel Macaskill, Iain MacDonald), He Got All the Whiskey (John Martyn, Eddi Reader), Magic Foot (Sharon Shannon, Russ Barenberg), Boots of Spanish Leather (Nanci Griffith), Eunice Two-Step (Michael Doucet, Sharon Shannon)

Programme Two: Waiting for the Federals (Aly Bain), Who Knows Where the Time Goes (Nanci Griffith, Karen Matheson, James Grant, Maura O'Connell), Violet Tulloch - Queen of Lerwick (Aly Bain, Jerry Douglas, Russ Barenberg, Donald Shaw), The World is What You Make It (Paul Brady, Karen Matheson, Fiona Kennedy), Evangeline (James Grant, Maren Matheson, Maura O'Connell), Jolie Blonde (Michael Doucet), Talk About Suffering/traditional reel (Ricky Scaggs)

Programme Three: Trouble in the Fields (Maura O'Connell, Nanci Griffith), Bachelor's Walk/The Congress (Breda Smyth), Footsteps Fall (Eddi Reader, Boo Hewerdine), Bonaparte's Retreat (Aly Bain), Seven Year Ache (Rosanne Cash, Radney Foster), Excuse Me Mister (John Martyn), There's Always Sunday (Karen Matheson, James Grant, Maura O'Connell)

Programme Four: Hummingbird (Eddi Reader, Boo Hewerdine), Road to Aberdeen (Nanci Griffith), Urban Air (Ronan Browne), Storms Are on the Ocean (Sharon White, Ricky Scaggs), La Danse de la Vie (Michael Doucet, Sharon Shannon), Ae Fond Kiss (Karen Matheson, Paul Brady), God Knows When (Radney Foster)

Programme Five: Nach Truach Leat Mi Stun Eirinn (Fiona Kenndy, Karen Matheson), Western Lift/Glass of Beer (Sharon Shannon), Cure for Life (James Grant, Karen Matheson), Marriage Made in Hollywood (Paul Brady, Karen Matheson), A Tribute to Paeder O'Donnell / Takarasaka (Jerry Douglas), God Speed (Radney Foster)

Programme Six: Forty Shades of Green (Rosanne Cash, Paul Brady), Passing the Bar (Jerry Douglas), My Father's Son (Ricky Scaggs), Les Veuves de la Coulee (Russ Barenberg, Aly Bain), Arthur McBride and the Sergeant (Paul Brady), Always Will (Nanci Griffith, Ricky Scaggs, Sharon White), Nobody Wins (Radney Foster)

Programme Seven: Return to the Brandywine (Russ Barenberg, Aly Bain), September When it Comes (Rosanne Cash, John Leventhal), Sanseptique Set: Domhnall Dubh An Domhnallaich/Thoir A Nall Ailean Thugam/Senseptique (Tommy Hayes, Fiona Kennedy, Karen Matheson), The Mansion on the Hill (Sharon White, Ricky Scaggs), Solid Air (John Martyn, Danny Thompson), Puirt A Beul set: O Mhisgh A'Chuir A Nollaig Oirnn/Cape Breton Port A Beul/Ann MacKeachnie's Favoutire/Bealach A'Chara (Iain MacDonald)

Season Three:

Programme One: Sophie's Dancing Feet/Andy Brown's Reel (Aly Bain, Jenna Reid, Donal Lunny), Saint Teresa (Joan Osborne), The Lakes of Pontchartrain (Paul Brady), The Drummers of England (Russ Barenberg), Puirt A Beul/I Bhi A Da/'S Ioma Rud A Chunna Mi/Chateid Fionnlaigh A Dh'eige/Cairistion Nighean Eoghainn (Karen Matheson, Donald Shaw), The Open Door (Darrell Scott), The Swedish Jig/Untitled Jig (Sharon Shannon, Jim Murray, Gerry O'Connor)

Programme Two: Li'l Ro Ro/Little Martha/A Monkey Let eh Hogs Out (Jerry Douglas), Back to Earth (Eddi Reader, Tim O'Brien), You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive (Darrell Scott), Hector the Hero (Jenna Reid, Aly Bain), Biodh An Deoch Seo An Laimh Mo Ruin (Julie Fowlis, Jenna Reid, Donal Lunny), Garden Valley (Cara Dillon, Sam Lakeman), Woo'd An Marrit An A/Up Da Stroods Da Sailor Goes (Aly Bain, Jenna Reid, Bruce Molsky)

Programme Three: Through the Gates (Russ Barenberg), Holy Water (Joan Osborne, Iris DeMent, Bruce Molsky), The Neck Belly Reels (Shaon Shannon, Gerry O'Connor, Jim Murray), The Blackest Crow (Bruce Molsky, Julie Fowlis), Rainbow (Paul Brady, Eddi Reader, Karen Matheson), Crucan Na Bpaiste (Karen Matheson, Donald Shaw), The Crossing (Tim O'Brien)

Programme Four: Sir Aly B (Jerry Douglas), Oganaich Uir A Rinn M'Fhagail (Julie Fowlis), He Reached Down (Iris DeMent), Frank McConnell's Three Step (Phil Cunnignham. Aly Bain), Look Down That Lonesome Road (Tim O'Brien), The Streets of Derry (Cara Dillon, Paul Brady, Sam Lakeman), Farewell to Uist/The Lochaber Badger/Rip the Calico (Fred Morrison, Michael McGoldrick, Donal Lunny, Jerry Douglas)

Programme Five: St. Anne's Reel (Aly Bain, Jerry Douglas, Russ Barenberg, Todd Parks), One More Chance (Karen Matheson, Darrell Scott, Tim O'Brien, Donald Shaw), Swan LK 243 (Catriona MacKay), Don't Try to Please Me (Paul Brady, Cara Dillon, Tim O'Brien, Darrell Scott), Bothan Airigh Am Braigh Raithneach (Julie Fowlis, Bruce Molsky), Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends (Joan Osborne, Bruce Molsky), Shove the Pig's Foot a Little Bit Further Into the Fire (Bruce Molsky, Sharon Shannon, Jim Murray)

Programme Six: Half Past Four (Bruce Molsky), Aye Waulken-O (Eddi Reader, Karen Matheson, Paul Brady), Brother Wind (Tim O'Brien), Sophie's Lullaby (Ally Bain, Jerry Douglas, Todd Parks, Donald Shaw), P Stands for Paddy (Cara Dillon, Paul Brady, Sam Lakeman), Shattered Cross (Darrell Scott, Paul Brady), Sail Away Ladies/Walking in the Parlour (Michael McGoldrick, Donal Lunny, Bruce Molsky)

Season Four:

Programme One: Fiddle Blast: The Teetotaller/Lorn McDonald's Reel/High Road to Linton (Aly Bain,Stuart Duncan, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Jenna Reid), Man of Constant Sorrow (Dan Tyminski), How She Does It (Allison Moorer), Glide (Jerry Douglas), Ged A Sheol Mi Air M'Aineol (Julie Fowlis), Millworker (James Taylor), Jewels of the Ocean/We're a Case, the Bunch of Us/Tommy & Ronnie's Double Tonic (Allan MacDonald)

Programme Two: Bleeding All Over You (Martha Wainwright), O'Farrell's Farewell to Limerick/Oot East by the Vong (Aly Bain & Donal Lunny), Lassie Wi' the Lint-white Locks (Karen Matheson), Copperline (James Taylor), Maili Dhonn (James Graham), Flatwater Fran (Phil Cunningham), Mo Nion O (Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh)

Programme Three: The Boy Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn (Dan Tyminski), The Silver Tassie (Emily Smith), Paddy in the Smoke/Sporting Days of Easter/The Crosses of Annagh/Sporting Nell (Michael McGoldrick, Dezi Donnelly), Tower Song (Martha Wainwright), Gelnntain Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair (Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh), Bethany's Waltz (Jenna Reid), 500 Miles Away from Home (Rosanne Cash)

Programme Four: Mocking Bird (Allison Moorer), Lee Highway Blues (Stuart Duncan), Down in the Willow Garden (Dan Tyminski), Black is the Colour of My True Love's Eyes (Karan Casey), Kid on the Mountain/Sleep Soon in the Morning/The Reconciliation (Aly Bain), Worry Not (Liam Ó Maonlaí), Pandemonium of Pipers: Fhir A' Chinn Duibh/Una Bhan/Market Place of Inverness/Humours of Tulla/Foxhunter (Allan MacDonald & Ronan Browne)

Programme Five: Mary Rogers/Siun Ni Dhuibhir (Donal Lunny & Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh), Secret Life of Roses (Rosanne Cash), Unionhouse Branch (Jerry Douglas), Caledonia (Emily Smith), The King's Shilling (Karan Casey), Carrickfergus (Allison Moorer)

Programme Six: Belfast to Boston (James Taylor), O Nach Eisdeadh Tu 'N Sgeul Le Aire (Karen Matheson), Lily Dale (Aly Bain, Stuart Duncan & Jerry Douglas), Motherless Children (Rosanne Cash), The Pleasant Beggar (Russ Barenberg), Mo Ghruagach Dhonn (Julie Fowlis), Work Song (Liam Ó Maonlaí)

Season Five:

Programme One: The Boys of 25/The Glass of Beer (Aly Bain), Goin' Down the Road Feelin Bad (Eric Bibb), Oran na Cloiche (Kathleen MacInnes), Falani (Béla Fleck), Leezie Lindsay (Eddi Reader), Boats up the River (Dirk Powell), Lay My Burden Down (Alison Krauss)

Programme Two: Helvic Head/Kiss the Maid (Michael McGoldrick), Annabel Lee (Sarah Jarosz), Some Sweet Day (Dirk Powell), Dreamcatcher/Off the Hook (Sharon Shannon), Time Machine (Declan O'Rourke), Lake Charles Waltz (Phil Cunningham), Jesus (Please Help Me Now) (Amos Lee)

Programme Three: Big Country (Béla Fleck), Western Highway (Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh), Clear Blue Eyes (Amos Lee), A New Day Medley (Jerry Douglas), Waterbound (Dirk Powell), Run Away (Sarah Jarosz), Lios na Banriona/The Cross Reel (Nollaig Casey)

Programme Four: Flying Circus/Windchime Dance (Sharon Shannon), A Lewis Summer (Iain Morrison), Ring Them Bells (Sarah Jarosz), Lonesome Moonlight Waltz (Alison Krauss), The Ballad of Stringbean and Estelle (Sam Bush), Galileo (Declan O'Rourke), Dimming of the Day (Alison Krauss)

Programme Five: The Hut on Staffin Island/Shake a Leg/Wing Commander Donald MacKenzie's Reel (Phil Cunningham), Dragonfly (Eddi Reader), Cúnla (Donal Lunny), Leaving Limerick (Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh), Same Ol' River (Sam Bush), Gur Milis Morag (Kathleen MacInnes), Don't Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down (Eric Bibb)

Programme Six: The Breton Set (John McCusker), Broken Off Car Door (Iain Morrison), Windows are Rolled Down (Amos Lee), T'aimse Im' Chodhladh (Aly Bain), Little Girl of Mine in Tennessee (Sam Bush), I Believe in You (Alison Krauss), Route Irish (Jerry Douglas)

Season Six:

Programme One: Shetland Set (Aly Bain), Don't Know What I Was Thinking (Teddy Thompson), Aragon Mill (Karen Matheson), Jock Stewart (Ewan McLennan), Shotgun Down The Avalanche (Cara Dillon / Sam Lakeman), I Wish I Was In Belfast Town (Andy Irvine), Bright Sunny South (Aoife O'Donovan)

Programme Two: My Girl's Waiting For Me (Tim O'Brien), I Have A Need For Solitude (Mary Chapin Carpenter), Hallowe'en Rehearsal (Russ Barenberg), Smeorach Chlann Domhnaill (Julie Fowlis), Cragie Hill (Cara Dillon), Wee Michael's March / D Jig / Boys Of The Puddle (John McCusker)

Programme Three: Gone To Fortingal / Wired To The Moon (Jerry Douglas / Michael McGoldrick), Transcendental Reunion (Mary Chapin Carpenter), Loch Katrine's Lady (Phil Cunningham), Oh Mama (Aoife O'Donovan), She Thinks I Still Care (Teddy Thompson), Father Dermot (Aly Bain / Mike McGoldrick), Jute Mill (Ewan McLennan)

Programme Four: Jubilee (Mary Chapin Carpenter), Never Tire Of The Road (Andy Irvine), Che Mi Bhuam (Karen Matheson), Delilah (Teddy Thompson), Isle Of Malachy (Maura O'Connell), Hug Air A' Bhonaid Mhoir (Julie Fowlis), Letter In The Mail (Tim O'Brien)

Programme Five: Liberty's Sweet Home (John Doyle), Bright Morning Star (Cara Dillon / Sam Lakeman), No Direction Home / Bright Start Over Sark (Michael McGoldrick), Whistling The Esperanza (Ewan McLennan), He Gradh Ho Gradh (Julie Fowlis), Sad The Parting / Miss Ann McKechnie / Lord McConnell of Loughearn / Rakish Paddy (Allan McDonald)

Programme Six: Like I Used To (Tim O'Brien), The Diamond Ring (Karen Matheson), Kimberley's Waltz (Phil Cunningham), My Heart's Tonight In Ireland / West Clare Reel (Andy Irvine / Donal Lunny), It Don't Bring You (Maura O'Connell), Hallowell (Aoife O'Donovan), On A Monday (Jerry Douglas)

Enjoy.

posted by MonkeyToes (18 comments total)

Lordy, there goes the rest of the week!
Thank you!
posted by drhydro at 10:42 PM on December 23, 2013

Wonderful!
posted by argybarg at 11:57 PM on December 23, 2013

This is incredible. Thank you!
posted by fshgrl at 12:49 AM on December 24, 2013

My wife passed away a few weeks ago after a long illness, but she really enjoyed seeing most of the latest series on iPlayer. Something about the emotions in the songs and the musicians’ evident joy in being able to get together and do what they do, struck her as really moving and beautiful. Still does, for me. I wish she'd been around to see this post. Every other time I'd try to point out how awesome Mefi is, there'd be something not quite her cup of tea: I think we could've won her over here! Thanks for these, I will be quietly bubbling away at the beauty of it all.
posted by aesop at 1:08 AM on December 24, 2013 [6 favorites]

Wow this is great. And it reminds me that I haven't been to the Chili Parlor for awhile. Maybe i'll stop there for a shiner on the way home today.
posted by nightwood at 4:59 AM on December 24, 2013

I had no context for it at all, but the Dick Gaughan and co. version of Wild Mountain Thyme has been on my YouTube playlist for ages
posted by PeterMcDermott at 5:26 AM on December 24, 2013

aesop... In her memory, then. I am so sorry for your loss. May the beauty be a comfort to you.
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:41 AM on December 24, 2013

What a marvelous gift for the holidays. Thanks so much.
posted by russh at 5:45 AM on December 24, 2013

So much great music. And I say this as Bob Dylan's biggest fan: Nanci Griffith's version of Boots Of Spanish Leather is magical. (Her smile at the end just melts me, too.)
posted by Benny Andajetz at 6:26 AM on December 24, 2013

You had me at Guy Clark.
posted by maurice at 6:41 AM on December 24, 2013 [2 favorites]

Feel like I just unwrapped a Christmas present...thank you!
posted by incandissonance at 6:49 AM on December 24, 2013

Incredible post, M. Toes. Thank you!

Aesop- sorry for your loss, may the circle be unbroken.
posted by Dr. Zachary Smith at 9:34 AM on December 24, 2013 [1 favorite]

You had me at Guy Clark.

Guy Clark and Verlon Thompson at The Tennessee State Museum. Good stuff.
posted by MonkeyToes at 6:24 PM on December 24, 2013

Thank you MonkeyToes--what a fantastic collection.
posted by Sing Fool Sing at 6:38 PM on December 24, 2013

Wow!
What a blessing. Thank you
posted by dougzilla at 2:47 AM on December 25, 2013

Thank you so much. I'm a bah humbug who's weary of That Music everywhere right now. This is a delicious antidote!
posted by Jesse the K at 8:57 AM on December 25, 2013

Thank you very much for this wonderful music. What a treat!
posted by key_of_z at 2:43 PM on December 25, 2013

Thanks so much! My family couldn't all be in the same place this season, but we're all enjoying this gift today, thanks to you.
posted by uncaken at 3:50 PM on December 25, 2013