Kevin Griffin, Roger Burridge, Michael Shorrock and Quentin Cooper

Across The Pond - Kevin, Roger, Quentin and Michael "Celtic Jam-Band"

     

This project is very special to me. My great friend and music mentor Michael Shorrock was part of this project. When I heard the rough mix, I kept telling him to turn up the bouzouki, but being the humble musician he is he didn't, so the bouzouki isn't in the mix to my liking. This music soars though. True to the roots of the toonz, yet there is the live spontaneity that is rarely caught in a studio. The first time I heard the CD all the way through, I characterized it as "Celtic Jam" but only from the fact that each musician got to put so much of themselves into each "toon". The bass in a few of the songs did grow on me. Kevin Griffin does some shining stand-out banjo and Roger's mastery of the fiddle is in full bloom. Quentin is a very strong and at the same time subtle force while he and Michael shine throughout as the melodic rhythm section... harmonic glue. Working together they give it a pocket that makes this very approachable "Celtic" music for the unfamiliar and a masterpiece for those that are already indoctrinated.

I often drive down Wilbur Hill Road and stop and look at his "pub".

Across the Pond is a great tribute to our dearly departed friend, Michael who was equally proud of this as I was impressed. Never forget that he'll still be joining in at the next session with the rest of the boys from Across The Pond... on both sides!