“If he’d play in front of people...”

A friend of mine invited me to his “house concert” where he played classical guitar. I knew he played guitar, but I thought he was just a beginner or weekender. He was nervous and it showed just a bit in his playing, but really it was an impressive performance. If he’d play in front of people more he wouldn't be so stifled by his stage fright, and he’d really shine.

After the house concert Jacquie and I went to Pub 317 for the Sunday night Irish jam session. Simon played Woodcock on the flute and I was barely able to hang on since he plays it much faster than I can. He also played Colonel Fraser’s, the wonderful pipe march that Tom and I learned from Gabe MacVarish in Edinburgh. It’s a four-part reel, and well ornamented it’s marvelously pipey. Here’s one setting, if you’re so inspired: Colonel Fraser's

Bar patrons who eventually moved out of the din of the football fans and into the acoustic influence of the jam appreciated what they were hearing, and the number slowly increased through the evening. I mostly enjoyed my Guinness and listened since I don’t know many Irish tunes.

Until Tom said “Hey, Bob! I want to play Pretty Peg but I don’t remember how it starts. Why don’t you lead us into it?” Very suddenly it was very warm in the bar, and by the second time through I was sweating. Tom smiled. Thanks, Tom, I needed that. “Come on, Bob, let’s do a strathspey set,” Tom hollered at me over the table. “Okay!” I shot back with forced enthusiasm. Me? Play in front of, like, people? Strathspeys? In a bar? In an Irish bar session? Er… but there’s people around!

I stood up for better posture and projection, so did Tom, and we tucked into The Source of Spey, thrice through, then twice through Captain Campbell’s. And the whole circle was on it – two drums, two flutes, two fiddles, a guitar and a bouzouki – and it sounded great! And when we were done the bar patrons applauded. For us!! That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?

And that leads me back to “if he’d play in front of people more...”

Indeed.