Last November I sped down to Dublin (100 miles south) to see Irish jazz guitar legend Tommy Halferty’s 70th birthday concert. I was unfamiliar with Tom’s music, though I knew the name. (I realise there will be several Afterworders who will now tell me they have 20 of his albums and how come I don’s – but there just isn’t enough time in the world to hear everything, especially if a large part of your day job is documenting things that happened 50 years ago.) I went because I’d just heard the great Norma Winstone would be there, a fabulous English singer of 50 years standing (hence, I knew her vintage works…).
The whole show – a set with Norma then a trio set then a one-off septet, playing seven pieces of Tom’s arranged for the occasion by bassist Ronan Guilfoyle who, as far as I can see, sort of runs Irish jazz.
It was professionally filmed and here is a wonderful edit of some of the evening with great sound.
It was uploaded in March, but I’ve only noticed it tonight. The reason I did was because my friend Scott Flanigan – a fabulous pianist and arguably Ireland’s leading jazz organist – dropped me a line to tell me he’s playing with Tommy in Belfast on July 21st (McHugh’s bar, should anyone be interested), and playing a set of Tony Williams Lifetime from the John McLaughlin era, no less. that’s just about the most obnoxious, anti-social music a pub jazz act could possibly play – and I will, naturally, be there. I may even hire someone to film it.
Wow.
Just watched the first 5 minutes of this and that is some guitar playing.
Lovely vocals too.
Going back for the rest of it now.
Just about to retire to my sack for the night.
I’ll have a listen in the morning.
Not familiar at all with Tommy, but Norma Winstone is always worth a listen.
If he’s going to be playing a TW Lifetime gig then my interest in him is definitely piqued. Shame (for me) that it’s your side of the water.
lovely stuff- clean, delicate playing -not overplaying at all.
Indeed – I’d never have assumed he was a McLaughlin buff let alone a Lifetime buff, but apparently so!
That was great Colin. Thanks for posting.
Enjoy the 21st in Belfast.
Thank you, Attackmeister – I’m still intrigued at how mild-mannered Tommy will do it. The Lifetime repertoire is aurally as brutal as an AttackDog fist in the face on a typical Friday night down your local boozer… There will be blood… and fusion… and people leaving in droves…
Really Colin, is that a night out in Belfast? How trite.
I may have to come over and liven the place up a bit. Bring a few cheap Strat copies. Break a few heids. You know, say hello. Be as civil as poss.
Mwah, mwah Glasgow stylee.