Andy Irvine & Dónal Lunny's Mozaik ~ 'Reuben's Train' [Part 2 of 2]

Mozaik performing at 'The Galeri' in Caernarfon (Wales, UK), on Wednesday 26 September 2007.

This live version of 'Reuben's Train' is quite different from the studio recording released on Mozaik's second album, 'Changing Trains', where it was wittily renamed 'Reuben's Transatlantic Express'.
http://www.amazon.com/Changing-Trains-Mozaik/dp/B000ZIZ0R0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8...

At the start, Nikola slowly sets the rhythm going on the nyckelharpa while Bruce and Dónal provide some fun from their repertoire of railway station noises! ;-D

The journey then proceeds as per the album until 3:40, when Andy looks at Rens, Bruce and Dónal in turn, as if to give them a cue and, sure enough, at 3:48, they keep the rhythm going but all drop a fourth and into a fabulous Irish reel for about 18 seconds, which is an amazingly clever 'interlude' and a brilliant addition to the album version! It's interesting to witness how they all seem pleased to have pulled it off so successfully as Bruce, then Nikola, exchange glances and smiles with Andy as if to say: "Great! It worked!!!"

After the song, the instrumental closing piece, starting at 4:42, is again very different from that recorded on the album, as Nikola launches into what sounds to me like a Hungarian 'csárdás' which gradually takes them into an exuberant frenzy until the very end, with Dónal effortlessly augmenting the whole feel of the tune with some typical Hungarian bass lines on his baritone guitar. And, as they all bring the piece to its conclusion, the audience goes bananas! ;-O

This was an extraordinary performance and, to this day, I am thrilled to have been there to witness it!

I hope you'll all enjoy this performance as much as I do. If you ever have the opportunity to attend a Mozaik gig, don't miss it! As this video so clearly demonstrates, these five outstanding musicians produce the most amazing music you could ever hope to hear, while also exuding camaraderie and fun in the process!

As a band, Mozaik truly are an international treasure!

With kind regards;
Patrick.

PS: After I sent Bruce Molsky a link to this video clip on 8 June 2011, he very kindly replied, as follows:

"Hi Patrick,
Thanks so much for sending that link! I just put it up on my Facebook 'fan page.' Really nice to see that again. We were in the middle of trying to figure out what tunes to slide into that crazy arrangement of Reuben's Train, and that might have been the only time we did it that way."

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Mozaik
• Andy
• Irvine
• Dónal
• Lunny
• Nikola
• Parov
• Bruce
• Molsky
• Rens
• van
• der
• Zalm
• Reuben's
• Train
• Galeri
• Caernarfon
• Wales
• 26
• September
• 2007

[pdebee]

@malcat79 Hello Malcolm. Thanks for your comment. I've had similar conversations with Andy, who often mentions the dreaded 'pigeonholes'. The other complication, surely, is that any venture is subjected to the tyranny of the 'Profit & Loss' bottom-line. It can't be easy when band members are scattered across several continents. Still, I'd like to think that the Planxty fan-base alone must secure a good following. Adding these clips to our Favourites should help! ;-))

All the best.

Patrick.

[malcat79]

Hello Patrick,

I saw Andy recently and he thinks the problem is the variety of the stuff they do - which is one reason I'm such a big fan! He hasn't given up on getting the band back together however but who knows when? So until then, thanks again for your efforts - I'm afraid I'm not technically/computer literate enough myself!

Cheers

Malcolm

[pdebee]

@malcat79 Hi 'malcat79' [sorry, but I don't know your first name.] Thank you for your supportive comments. I fully agree with you about how the media seem to ignore this wonderful band of outstanding musicians. Dear ol' Mike Harding has done his best, as have Froots and a few others.

I suppose that, as always, it's down to us all to promote them by sharing these gems with as many of our friends as possible. So, thank you for your part in that endeavour. ;-))

With kind regards;

Patrick.

[malcat79]

Great stuff! Thanks for this Patrick. I can't understand why this band aren't better known! The English folk scene seems to have ignored them completely whilst making a great deal of fuss about much lesser talents! The musicianship is awesome and they are having fun at the same time! Perhaps they're just too eclectic for the average listener - a sad thought!