Discovery 2

First up is a few bands, not in particular order.  The main musos are the resident band, but more on them later.  They are the jazz trained readers.  But there are numerous others around  Without any real order, a favourite of any is Pint of Plain, an Irish folk duo who play in O'Malley's pub.  So Guinness on tap and Slainte whiskey liberally presented.  PofP is Fionn Morrison, vocals, guitar and immense Irish wit, and Meabh Kennedy, fiddle, occasional vocals.  These were regularly performing, always overflowing attendances in a small venue, ready to take requests or perhaps take a title to perform later.  His offer to me was Celtic jazz.  How important is presence for a band!  Fionn had a digital stomp box which had me somewhat uncomfortable although it always worked perfectly well for him.  He was always ion the beat, 1-2-3-4 or 1-3 and I would feel the offbeat, 2-4.  Strange but so obvious in this context.  Both work, of course, but it was an indicator of our different trainings.  Wonderfully professional and entertaining.   These guys have it, but then the Irish just do.  More sedate but classy playing from the Russians, always superbly classically trained.  Diamond Strings was a violin duo with recorded accompaniment playing all manner of popular classics and light pop tunes.  Leysan Gimranova and Alexander Yakubov.

Pint of Plain comprised Fionn Morrison (vocals, guitar, stomp) and Meabh Kennedy (fiddle, vocals).  Diamond Strings comprised Leysan Gimranova and Alexander Yakubov (violins).