Over many years playing traditional Scottish music with The Occasionals and many other great friends, I have been lucky enough to encounter a handful of remarkable musicians. Folk who never get the spotlight shone on them, but are in my mind the real thing, rooted in their traditions which are sadly fading fast. Accordionist Ali Beag MacLeod in Coigach with his pure Gaelic lore, the wonderful accordionist Jim Brown of The Foundry Bar Band who taught me so much about the genuine Scottish dance idiom with its deep roots in Angus, Shand and the ferms and bothies, and his old pal cornet maestro Dod Michie of Jim Cameron's legendary Scottish Dance Band. Genuine traditional musicians.
Then, in more recent times I would occasionally hear real maestros on out of fashion instruments, one memorably being the hugely accomplished moothie player Jimmy Little, first heard at the mighty Rothbury Accordion Club, where he moved me hugely with his groovy, accurate and lively renditions of catch local compositions by Willie Taylor; deep roots again. My Occasionals pal, leader and brilliant composer Freeland Barbour has properly honoured this superb musician with a suitably catchy tune. Here it is, sight read and new to me, so excuse any wee slips. I look forward to being able to play this with Jimmy and Freeland sometime when this dreary pandemic time is over.
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