Kevin Griffen, Eoin O'Neill & Quentin Cooper

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Here's a great YouTube video I saw linked over at the session.org recently. It features Banjo player Kevin Griffen backed by Eoin O'Neill on bouzouki, and some mad mandolin backing by Quentin Cooper:

[Avi Ziv]

Thanks! Love all of these guys and great playing all around. I play the Floating Crowbar fairly often in our sessions.

Cheers,

[paganskins]

That's ace, love the contra-motion going on in the backing and the mando playing is bonkers but really impressive.

[whistler]

Quentin's got quite an idiosyncratic approach to music. He was a rock and blues guitarist before discovering the mandolin and traditional music. I remember a friend of his telling me that, when he first moved to Clare, he insisted that he hated traditional music and would never play it. It didn't last long.

[Shelagh Moore]

Thanks for posting this up! I met and played with Kevin Griffin a number of times in the 1980s in McGann's in Doolin (it looks a little like the video might have been shot there) and he was a big influence on my own tenor banjo playing as well as being a thoroughly nice fellow. I too really like the backing here.

[Dagger Gordon]

I think this is great!

I would say Quentin Cooper is really inspired and I don't find it 'bonkers' at all, in fact I think it's very original and I like his whole approach.

The banjo playing is steady as a rock and - well, I think it's just beautiful, actually. I'm afraid I've never heard of Kevin Griffen. Obviously my loss.

[whistler]

You hear/see more of Quentin Cooper and Eoin O'Neill here (among other clips) with fantastic Clare fiddler, Yvonne Casey:


Also, searching on The Ceili Bandits will give you a few hits.

Having met and played with Quentin on numerous occasions, I can attest that he certainly has a touch of the 'bonkers' about him - in a good way.

[Dagger Gordon]

"Having met and played with Quentin on numerous occasions, I can attest that he certainly has a touch of the 'bonkers' about him - in a good way."

I kind of like that!

[Paul Brett]

The album Kevin Griffin - Eoin O'Neill - Quentin Cooper, Live at the Burren Centre, Kilfenora is great. It's a live recording of a lunchtime concert complete with baby crying in the background. I got mine from Custy's Music Shop in Ennis, it's well worth a listen.

[paganskins]

I would say Quentin Cooper is really inspired and I don't find it 'bonkers' at all, in fact I think it's very original and I like his whole approach.

Didn't mean it in a derogatory way, rather that it's a very original and free approach. Also the talent and knowledge to play like that must be substantial.

OT I'm going to order your book shortly

[Dagger Gordon]

Didn't mean it in a derogatory way, rather that it's a very original and free approach. Also the talent and knowledge to play like that must be substantial.

OT I'm going to order your book shortly

It's ok, I thought you probably thought that. Judging by his appearance, I should think he may well like to present a slightly 'bonkers' persona but as you say it is indeed a very original and free approach and he does seem to have the talent to pull it off.

I like him!

Hope you enjoy the book!