Sometimes we find ourselves on a Journey,

only after we have realized the landmarks are no longer familiar.

We then wonder where we are headed

and just what choices put us in our current surroundings.

Is it time to backtrack, or do we forge ahead.

Journeys are usually best when there has been adequate preparation and planning.

But sometimes the most interesting events transpire

when we find ourselves in the uncharted regions of Life,

the places where Faith has a chance to flex and show itself strong on our behalf…

 

I had mentioned on the MCBlue page, I was one of their floating 5ths.

Because of this connection, bonds were being forged.

One such bond was with Bassist, Jay Sofranec.

He was and is one of the Regulars in MCBlue’s lineup.

Occasionally, before a gig, when his wife Chrissie was out and about,

Jay would invite me to a pre-show Dinner. Hold this thought while I chase a rabbit.

 

Whenever I heard Appalachian music, such as the kind

you might hear at a Dulcimer convention in the Mountains of Kentucky,

there was this Aura of Grandeur, be it ever so discreet.

And there was always an abundance of Irish Jigs and Reels

wafting through the trees and the air you breathed.

Celtic Music is such a Passionate Music, you could not listen and be unaffected.

As I have often said, I admired Celtic Music from afar

but had no idea of the Structure or Formula involved.

 

The phone rang one day and Jay invited me to a concert.

He said there was an extra ticket since someone else had to cancel.

I had never heard of the band before,

but Jay said they were this exceptional Celtic Band.

How could I say no. Another piece of the Puzzle.

 

Our friend Steve Matyi was going to play Bouzouki for the opening act, Kevin Crehan.

That was already the makings of a good evening.

Steve is a Renaissance Man. He is an accomplished Artist and Musician.

If it has strings, I think Steve can play it.

He has the Respect of more than a few competent Players I know of.

After several boisterous rounds of Reels and Jigs,

Steve and Kevin finished their set and left the stage.

 

Anticipation began to fill the room.

I could tell something Special was about to transpire. Then it began.

Solas walked onto the stage and just by the way they handled themselves,

you knew you were in the Presence of something Glorious.

Please understand I am only speaking from my perspective.

I am sure the way they see themselves is quite possibly not as magnanimous.

Each member was as proficient as the next. Their solos were lofty and soaring.

The Vocals were haunting. And when they joined together the sound was unimaginable.

They were from another Time and Place.

I don’t just mean Times and Places we have reference to.

I mean they have captured some Living Essence

from some far corner of the Universe and rather than keep it locked up in a cage,

they turn it loose upon those who are Fortunate enough to be within listening distance.

Since I am not familiar with what they do or don’t Believe,

once again I refer back to my perspective.

While they seemingly without effort wove such intricate Tapestries of Sound,

I was time and again ushered into what I refer to as the Presence of God.

I felt like I was glowing. At times I felt tears of Joy on my cheeks.

Only in the most sincere of Church Services had I felt such Glory.

 

Needless to say, I am a fan.

Should you ever get the opportunity to see them Live, I strongly urge you to do so.

I am sure the setting (20th Century Theatre, Cincinnati, Ohio)

in which I saw them had its part in the effect they had on me.

But I have seen them recently in a venue where the sound system was struggling

to reproduce the textures they are capable of.

Bear in mind, I had already seen and heard them in a more conducive setting.

Yet even though the sound wasn’t quite there,

their Relationship with the Music and each other prevailed.

Once again they unleashed their Essence to the delight of all who were in attendance.

I was so inspired I cancelled my plans for the following evening,

just to hear them one more time. I was not disappointed.

 

Back to the first time I saw them, I had Jay to my left and on my right,

was Laura Hasek and to her right was Dave Gilligan.

2/3rds of the Flock were in attendance

at one of the most Inspiring concerts I have ever attended.

I Believe they all came away as affected as I was.

 

The stage was set for one of the following Dinner’s with Jay,

when he announced the Flock were in transition and needed a Guitar Player.

Because of the effect of Solas’ Music, I immediately, without hesitation,

stuck my foot in the door and requested a chance to audition.

Jay said he would talk to Dave. In my next conversation with Dave, he said,

“John, Ron Woods said he couldn’t take the gig, so its yours if you want it.”

 

So there you have it.

 

This is why I am so grateful to have been introduced to the Music of Solas.

Because of them I have been surrounded

by an ever growing Circle of Musicians, one as Inspiring as the next.

 What I do on the Classical Guitar is a direct result of their influence on my Life.

If I have been so uplifted, I can only imagine they would have a similar effect on you.

So check out their Web-Site and see when they are going to be near you.

Since they are Inter-National, it may take awhile, but it will be worth the wait.

In the interim, pick up their CDs and let their Enthusiasm fill your Home.

 

I have been involved with several Musical Projects in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Blues in the Schools (an outreach mechanism of the Cincy Blues Society),

the Cincinnati Jam Factory (Band rehearsal space),

the Flock (Celtic, Folk, Classic Rock from when it was first called Classic, Country, Blues etc etc), MCBlue (Folk, Classic Rock, Blues),

Shepherd’s Pi (very Eclectic mix from Swing to Bluegrass to Jazz to Blues to Jam Band), the Oinks (the BrainChild of Ryan Thelen)

and the Source (the BrainChild of Michael Borack).

 

If you have Time and would like to see more of my Site, Click Here.

and you will be transported to my Home Page,

where you will find several Doorways to my little World

with plenty of options to choose from.

John Redell

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“Where They Are Today Is Not Where They Will Be Tomorrow…”