Box player John Whelan with Felix Dolan at Convention 2008

A selection of reels from box player John Whelan (Connecticut) with piano accompaniment by Felix Dolan (New York), commencing with "The Old High Reel" and concluding with "The Galway Rambler". At the end of of the selection we see well-known writer/lecturer Earle Hitchner (of the Irish Echo and The Wall Street Journal) and John with his family.

They were recorded at the 2008 Comhaltas North American Convention, held in the Hilton Hotel at Parsippany, New Jersey between the 26th and 30th of March.

More info and videos at http://comhaltaslive.ie

Category:

Music

Tags:

• World
• Music
• Irish
• Traditional
• Reel
• Button
• Accordion
• Piano
• Convention
• Comhaltas

[IrishFlute69]

Yeah, definitely Toss The Feathers, not Ships Are Sailing.

[bronxgirltb]

John..you are a fab box player! Just love listening to you,,,and dancing to you as well!!!!!!!!!!!

[eyesandy1]

lol, his "american accent" John lives in my hometown, Milford, Connecticut, you can see him and his family out and about anyday........our accent is a cross between NY and New England.....Milford, Ct actually has it's own dialect...he's lived here so long that's what your hearing

[halfdoorclub1]

Lovely stuff lads.

[RinceBox]

So funny to hear his American accent - last time I heard him speak was about 30 years ago with a cockney accent! Good Wexford blood in his veins too lol!

[conners777]

Well played John, I remember you belting out these jigs and tapping you feet on the stage during morning assembly at Northfields school, Even ole Mr Phone was tapping along, Happy days.

[clarebannerman]

Can't get enough of his music. Absolutely brilliant ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

[ganainm124]

the second is toss the feathers

[anthonyhyers]

I think you were right the first time, the second tune is Toss the Feathers.

[boxplayer2]

my mistake - its the ships are sailing