Jay The Fiddler
For the Love of Fiddle.

Martin Hayes

Jay’s Irish Session

We will be at Tan Violin Shop
8749-53 avenue Edmonton, AB, Canada
Most Sundays. Just show up. (email to be on the invite list and to confirm we are on)
1-4 pm
The First Hour will be slower and accommodating.
Our 3 rules are
1) Keep it Irish
2) Instrumental only (no singing)
3) $5.00 entrance fee.
Come have fun!
Slán
Jay
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FREE SHEET MUSIC!
In the interest of promoting this exciting music I have produced 3 booklets with common Irish Session Tunes.
Where possible I have transcribed them from legendary recordings to try and provide the “best” versions that are heard in pub sessions in Ireland.
Please read and memorize these tunes for maximum enjoyment.

Week A First Hour Tune Booklet

Week B First Hour Tune Booklet

Week C First Hour Tune Booklet

Sunday Irish Session

The Community is growing! First hour is slower and accommodating. Everybody gets a chance to play.

Day 23 – Leaving Kerry

A lovely last night in Kearney’s. Tony Halsall played some mighty stuff. It was quiet enough so Jackie & I played loads of our tunes. Bouasque is always a show stopper.

Day 22 – last night in Brosna

With Brian McGrath

Left Rob & Mary’s & caught the city bus to Eyre Square. I had a little job to do; buy some banjo CD’s for Jim Schiebelbein. So what are the chances? Do you have “The Cat that ate the Candle?” by Brian McGrath and the man serving you is Brian McGrath? “Are you the banjo player Brian McGrath?” “Sure there are loads of banjo players named Brian McGrath.” He was the man in question.

Next see old friend Werner Gladh (V), gypsy style fiddler. Such a rushed trip this year with only 2 days in Galway. Lucky that his girlfriend Charlene showed up so I could see her.

Need to get to Ennis to collect a flute from David Strauch but stop in Oranmore to see Corrina McGarrigle and her 2 babies. The coast road to Oranmore is absolutely beautiful. The tune that Georgia & I play the very best is “The Bucks of Oranmore” which is a traditional session last tune.

Finally arrive in Castleisland to a lovely dinner and tunes with Jackie Dan Gerry O’Connor. It will my my last time at Flannagan’s in Brosna this year, so let’s make it a great one. Terrence McQuinn collects us and we make the country drive. It was a lovely night, and of course we had to sing “Four Strong Winds” which has more or less become my theme song here… “If our good times are all gone, then I’m bound for moving on, I’ll look for you if I’m ever back this way…” Then it was good bye & we’ll see you in 11 monthes & hugs & kisses all around, some even from women!

Day 17 – Arriving in Sligo

Gay's work
Brian McDonough from Dervish

It was quite a long drive from Gort to Sligo Town -2.5 hours. Mercifully the rain eased up. Now I remember how beautiful the countryside is here in Sligo. Called into Brian’s painting studio – an old school house. Some lovely work by Brian McDonough. So nice to see Gay McDonough as well. After a lovely dinner by Brian we drove into town to the session at “Shoot the Crows” – a very lovely and narrow pub. Well this session was SUPER fun. “Is it always this fun in Sligo?” I ask. Felip on guitar, Ian on guitar, Ray Coen on fiddle & guitar, Brian on mandola, Alain on Clarinet, & Eddie lee on bass.

Meeting Martin Hayes

I was coming out of Dunne Stores Ennis and I ran into Martin Hayes. I have met him twice before at his gigs in E-town. Also I played twice with his father, P.J. Hayes at Pepper’s Bar in Feakle, Co. Clare. He was amazed I had come all the way from Edmonton.