Hey Rolf,
Agreed, it can sometimes work in session, particularly a high profile one as that below, looks like Tim Edey sitting on jj's left, can't make out the fiddlers but one looks like Donegal's Aidan O Donnell (but may not be). A good standard of playing and musicianship with a strong melody line can accommodate what JJ does, but does if fit? Not always, and I've seen/heard enough melody players throw 'guinueyers' at Bodhrán players throwing in overly syncopated playing or "trazz-style" as it's becoming more euphemistically termed!
Perhaps JJ is accommodated simply because he's JJ. I am mindful approaching any session playing as to what may fit. It's okay with my crew at Uni because we
play in a similar fashion and know each others playing. In an unfamiliar session I'd tend to hold back, listen and then join in with a playing style which augments that of the melody players.
I played a couple of sessions in Chicago recently with Chris Bains, Pat Broaders and Dennis Cahill (All quality players) and it went from very pure trad to very contemporary style of trad that I wouldn't pigeon hole in either camp sufficed to say they were traditional tunes with modern variations and both worked and worked well. It [the music] remains driven by melody players and what they want in terms of backing, be it Guitar or Bodhrán. In our own ensembles we can try out what it is we like and what we think works but in 'pure' trad whilst there's room for it , my opinion is less is more a lot of the time.
I was in Glengarrif in Cork last summer listening to a session a nice session that was completely overtaken by ill thought out Bodhrán playing. The guy could play no doubt about it but it was simply the wrong style at the wrong time. Later back at my hotel in the bar I heard some people talking about the Bodhrán player and how he basically was the ruination of the entire session.Likening him to a rock drummer. In one hand it was a compliment that the guys capacity to play had such range but he lacked sympathy with what was happening around him. Disheartening to hear such comments particularly as he was an extremely good player, just not for that session or the playing standard. It remains about the music and what we add to it, but I do think at times, a lot of times in my experience, sensitivity to the tunes being played is lacking, and not just with Bodhrán players mind.
Mike
Mike
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