there's a stage at womadelaide that i think is my favourite
it's called the morton bay stage and is quite small and welcoming
it it is nestled alongside a few very impressive morton bay fig trees
huge almost prehistoric looking trees with massive above ground roots
in prior events in years go by is was possible to take a seat on a root
and be fulfilled both by that sensation and some extraordinary music
this year the roots were cordoned off which came as no surprise
i'm sure the trees did not really need the human contact
but still performers on this stage were of exemplary standard
according to the program martin cahill is a irish fiddle virtuoso
impressively is the six-time all-ireland fiddle champion
dennis cahill is american-born (chicago) to irish parents
they met in the 1980's in chicago and have played together since
mostly in jazz-rock fusion outfits but lately as a duo
i was suitably taken in by the writeup in the program
especially when their scheduled appearance would be on this stage
i have locked in memories of a similar collaboration from the 1980's
a fiddle/guitar duo called (bill) oskay and (michael) o'domhnail
staples of the much revered windham hill label of that time
their album nightnoise contains many beautifully crafted tunes
and so maybe unfairly i was attendance at this show with that in mind
the duo came on stage with fading sunlight and a rousing reception
martin hayes brandishing his fiddle and taking a humble bow
dennis cahill looking to me like tom morello on a side project
they launched into their music and from the first note were locked in
it appeared their connection was sustained by eye contact
not with each other but with the others hands and instrument
i was quite a way back in the crowd but the intensity was conveyed
no simple verse, chorus, singalong, tra-le-la, jiggy things here
this was complex music played with skill and precision
no idea of course whether it was note perfect to a score
or whether in fact improvisation was the major component
i suspect the later judging by the on-stage connection
and their own excitement as a tune was completed
given wild and enthusiastic applause by an enraptured audience
martin took charge of the between song banter
he spoke with that lovely gentle lilting irish accent
told us briefly about the origins or meaning of some of the tunes
and also expressed their genuine excitement at performing for us
by the time they had finished their hour long set
the sun had given up for the day and darkness had descended
there were a lot of very happy people then on the move
and in appreciation of the music just witnessed
heading off to take in the first beer of the day
another morton bay stage triumph
there's one of those every year
this was it for 2008
cheers!
