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"The gig at Gregson’s Well Folk Club in Liverpool was well
into it’s second half when I strolled in late and only half interested.
Everyone from the weekly session in The Crack was going to be there.
‘You have to come!’ they all insisted. ‘Its John Doonan!’
That meant nothing to me of course. John Doonan! Never heard of him!
When I entered the Concert Room I was stunned and enthralled. The whole
place seemed to be throbbing with the music. There must have been twenty
musicians playing and the sound was awesome, yet one sound, one instrument
stood out above all the others. I edged closer, shouldering my way through
the crowd that surrounded the pulsing heart of the music, and got my
first and only sight of John Doonan playing the piccolo. That was the
precise moment, as they say, when it all went pear shaped and my life
changed forever. I became a Piccolo Player. A truly dreadful addiction
which has had a serious effect on my family and friends, and caused
severe damage to the hearing of many totally innocent strangers too.
Having discovered Irish Traditional Music only one year earlier, and
having spent most of that year struggling to knock even the simplest
tunes out of a Tin Whistle, it may seem incredible, or even arrogant,
that I may have suddenly considered myself a Piccolo Player. If I had
any idea how long and difficult the journey was going to be, I would
probably have thrown myself out of the window on the spot and settled
for a quick and merciful end. If I realized how much pain and suffering
I was about to inflict on the poor unsuspecting public who attended
weekly music sessions, I would have run out of the place and thrown
myself under the first bus that passed. But no! It was a Pauline Conversion
and I left the Folk Club that night with an unholy and fierce determination
to spread the word. I had a mission. I was going to play The Piccolo!
On a more serious note, I never saw John Doonan again, much to my regret,
but his L.P.s were my inspiration and guiding light for years afterwards.
I spent the next ten years playing in sessions with friends, trying
to achieve some measure of control over this difficult and moody little
Instrument. I now live in Listowel, Co. Kerry, Ireland, where I am still
struggling with it. I play regularly through the year at John B. Keane’s
Pub in the town, and McMunn’s Bar in Ballybunion with Micky MacConnell
and Stevie Flynn. These two brave souls are now immune to my piccolo
playing, for, having played with me for the last few years, they are
now stone deaf!
Before I finish this tale, I have to thank two very special people.
Firstly, the late Mick Johnson. Mick was a noted fiddle player from
Liverpool who died tragically in a cycling accident some years ago.
He gave me time and encouragement when I was first trying to get into
Irish music. He even found me my first piccolo. Thanks Mick wherever
you are - you are sorely missed. Secondly, my son James, who persuaded
me to make this CD. He did all the recording work, most of the arranging,
and spent hours and hours of time putting it all together. He is a very
talented musician and I am very proud of him and what he has achieved.
I also have another son Jonny, and a daughter, Roisin. They are also
into music, and are both out in the world doing their own thing. None
of them, wisely, play the piccolo
Thirty years on from that fateful night in Gregson’s Well, I finally
got around to making this CD. I sincerely hope you enjoy it." Jim
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