The making ‘Polbain to Oranmore’ with Alec Finn & Zoukfest, Taos 2003.

2 Sept

A behind the scenes look at our duet cd project of 2003.

Alec Finn had kindly volunteered, along with a few other great musical pals, to help me out on my debut cd recording “Springwell” in 1999. I enjoyed making music with him so very much that I put a proposal together for Ian Green of Greentrax to continue on with a duet recording with Alec. This was to be a recording featuring all sorts of stringed & plucked instruments, and focussing on the great traditional repertoires of Scotland; piping, dance, Gaelic airs, peurt a beul and suchlike. We had a great time doing it and it has been well received over time.

A cornucopia of instruments! (Photography by Jim Mackie)

Alec Finn & Kevin Macleod at Newhaven Harbour, Edinburgh 2002. (Photography by Jim Mackie)

The following year, 2003, Alec invited me over to accompany him at the 2003 Zoukfest held at Fort Burgwin, Taos, New Mexico, USA. Here’s film of us performing the first track off the cd, live. A great highlight in my musical life being accompanied by the legendary man.

“It was truly a marvel to watch Alec Finn and Kevin Macleod play together. Kevin has an original and very rhythmic approach to the mandolin and Alec’s understated contrapuntal accompaniment on Greek bouzouki was the perfect foil for Kevin’s playing.”

Kevin Macleod & Alec Finn, Zoukfest, Taos, 2003

The cd is long since out of print, but seems to be available as a download from Greentrax Recording’s website, see the link below. There’s sound samples of all the tracks if you follow the links on the page.