Ralph Jordan

Hi Mike and Linda, That was indeed a very good night at Seaford. I would love any help you might offer with my 2013 tour. Up in t'north would be fine though for some odd reason I've mostly been touring the UK South. Not quite sure why, it's not by design, but there it is. So far my next tour includes: NOVEMBER 2013 Thursday 14, Uxbridge Folk Club Friday 15, Swindon Folksingers' Club Tuesday 19, Hoy at Anchor, Leigh on Sea Thursday 21, Folk at the Royal Oak, Lewes Saturday 23, Shammick Acoustic, Combe Martin, North Devon If you or anyone else has a suggestion for additional guest invitations next year, I would be glad to follow up. hi Jody. Glad you got home safely. (Don't think you'll be complaining about UK drizzle anytime soon though!) For bookings "Oop north" worth contacting Keith Kendrick for Derbyshire (Enblish and Anglo) and his partner Sylvia Needham (McCann). For South Yorkshire try Chris Coe (McCann). All three are gigging musos, and will certainly be able to make afew suggestions. Give them my love if you do! Great to see you in the UK, really enjoyed our tina trio at Herga. Now, stay dry! Ralphie

Well, My Dad was a church organist, and we had a piano at home...(lots of Gilbert and Sullivan recitals from Mum and Dad!) So, I started there. At school, I took up percussion, and ended up in the London Schools Symphony Orchestra for one season (Now that's posh!). Meanwhile I started on guitar, and then via various folk clubs in South London, fell under the spell of a certain Mr Wooff (of this parish) who persuaded me to to take up the Duet. (I've never looked forward since!) Other instruments? Bouzouki, Mandolin, Banjolele, Melodeon (sorry!), Bass...both acoustic and electric, Harmonium (Dads influence) Swedish shepherd flute, and for one particular project, Balalaika, Valve Trombone. Did enjot the Tympani, hard to get 5 of the buggers on a bus though!

You can also add virtually every Opera singer murdering Folk Song...Anyone want a Peter Pears CD (unplayed!) And I do agree with the Grappelli/Menuhin scenario. Never understood that one either side...Probably a nice fat fee was involved.

I have a Filofax with the first 8 bars of lots of tunes. (A sort of Aide Memoire) mainly because I can't keep them in my head, particularly if someone asks me to play a ceartain tune! (And never ask its name...!!!) My problem is that I always leave it at home! I'm with other posters who say that the English/Euro sessions are far more forgiving as to musical skills. In fact, I'd rather hear someone new to their instument trying to play a tune than some virtuoso showing off. Remember, we all started somewhere. So, Bring your tune books by all means, if that is of use for you, and a pox on people who tut-tut about it. It's only music after all, and there is no right and wrong way to play it. (Maybe that is why I tend to avoid Irish sessions)

"It sits beside the Cabbages and "peas"....No wonder it's disconsolate! (Marie Lloyd I think, although after complaints, was changed to "Sits beside the cabbages and Leeks")

Michelle....."Long gentle slopes on my learning curves?" Maybe a bit too much information there!

No Beating around the bush here.....5 Days....Shit, That's amazing....! Just don't turn up at one of my gigs!!! Well done....God knows what you'll be playing in 8 months. Regards Ralphie

Yes but there's no attachment Tony. Assumiong that was a mistake, it's certainly brave of you! Yes indeed....Am reminded of the Simon and Garfunkel song "Sound of Silence!" Go on...Publish and be damned! The gentle folks in Duet world will be (at the very least!) sympathetic....Good luck with the upload, I'm dribbling with anticipation.....(or is that just dribbling?)

Hi Tony.... I did put out a CD a year ago. ELOISE, with lots of tina stuff on it. You can listen to various bits at www.the-attic-tapes.co.uk Plus other bits and bobs!!

Blimey Tony...You speak in forked tongues!! I did study music back in the 70's but, never got my head around the "terms" I just feel the music now. Am too old to get to grips with the minutiae of it all. That is definitely not knocking anyone who takes a different path. I just play by instinct. Sometimes It's right, sometimes It's wrong...But, Hey..Does it matter, as long as it sounds good? Good on you mate! Upwards Upwards! Regards Ralphie

Hope she's got her own room so she can do some serious practicing. Give her my best wishes please Ralphie! Will do Dirge/Geoff. Fairly routine nowadays, but crutches required for a bit....Mind you, It's always easier playing tina sitting down, I find! Right then....Serious practicing in the morn. Night All.

I concur with what the venerable Dirge says..... But, basically just muck about with it. I'm right handed, so that side came fairly easily...Had to work harder on the left side. Then it's a case of joining both hands together. It's that old routine..Practice Practice Practice. Don't get disheartened though, One day soon the light bulb will click on, and it will feel really like wearing an old pair of slippers (?)

macannic....Irene is in hospital having new knees attached at the moment! Don't think Lists of Duet players are uppermost in her mind. I'm sure you'll all join with me (no pun intended!) In wishing her a speedy recovery.

Sounds like a harmonica to me....Great version though. Thanks Jody.

They've just entered the room, One had to go back to get the grappling hooks to make the climb to the mantlepiece. And thinking about it, after all the barn dances I've played over the years, a stable is P*** easy! (rubbish fee though!)

Chris and Geoff....A Merry Ho to you and yours too! Look forward to meeting up somewhere down the line next year! Tunes to be learnt. Oh Bugger!

Another interesting excercise, is to play ascending and descending scales with both hands simultaneously! In as many keys as possible!! And if you want to break sweat, try doing the same thing chromatically! Bloody difficult (can't do it myself yet!) But it's damned impressive when one then challenges an Anglo or English player to do the same! After that, just away smugly with a gentle smirk!

The wise men couldn't make it...Will I do? Merry Christmas everyone. Thanks to Irene S for the photo, and Alistair Gillies for the sculpture...(He plays sax actually, but don't hold that against him!)

I would wonder who did the reconditioning, and why these problems have remained -- or developed? -- after the reconditioning was completed. I don't think it's unusual for odd little problems to develop after a major reconditioning. Many repairers will address them at no charge. Are you able to find out who did the work? If they don't live too far from you, you might want to get in contact with them directly. Agree with others above...I always carry a pack of Blue Rizlas with me. Apart from loose fitting reed frames in the pan. If you've taken the ends off, you might as well try taking all the shoes out (one by one obviously!!) and slide the ciggy paper gently between the reed and the shoe. It's a bit dull, but worth it. Also I've found it useful to have a an aerosol of compressed air out to flush out any other slivers of wood and other detritus. (I wouldn't use perfumed hairspray unless you're that way inclined!) Seems to fix most cases of stuck and buzzy reeds in my experience. If not....Consult an expert. On no account remove the reed from its frame. That way madness lies! Good luck Ralphie. I always carry a little box with relevant screwdrivers, spare springs (They tend to break on old instruments.) Some Bias Binding tape for emergency bellow repairs, and a tube of copydex glue, Oh, a can of Talcum powder to help dry the glue. Not an ideal scenario, but that kit has got me out of many a hole in the middle of nowhere! (and it has to be Blue Rizla...They're the thinnest!)

Hi Blue Jack. Greetings from London UK. Will second the thoughts above re Jody K. Top bloke and a great tutor. As a Duet player, I can't really help with the Anglo. But If you have a 30 Key Wheatstone....! Wow! I have heard some magnificent stuff from instruments like that. All the notes are in there, my friend...You've just got to find them (preferably in the right order!) Get in touch with Jody Pronto. (and say hello from me!) Good Luck. Ralph

So with some having been destroyed over the years, not many made later and only 20 years of production before 1910, with my 3 instruments I might well own 1% of the remaining big Maccans in the world. What an extraordinary thought. I certainly have been working to sort out my instrument holding NOW for the long term because I feel sure the day will come when supply is badly outstripped by demand. And Felix; good choice of instrument. And for the reasons given above I'd get a larger one, perhaps a 58 or 61, at your first opportunity. You will learn to use all the notes I promise, and the bellows size is much better too. Well ...I've got 3 57 MacCanns....We seem to be cornering the market! That's my pension sorted when the prices rocket! And when I get my Dipper......!!

Thanks Ralphie, Without those socks my return home would have been a sad affair indeed. Happily, I got to fly back to the US with a bit of clean laundry. Many thanks to all here on the forum who sent good wishes, attended my events, and hosted me so lavishly on this tour. See you next year? Missing you already! Lis and I are in "Cahoots" (Somewhere near Wyoming apparently!) And will hatch a cunning plan over the next few months....You up for it??

Great Final gig in Walthamstow last night. Glad the socks crisis was resolved. Look forward to meeting up again soon. There is always a place to rest your head here in Watford.!

Regarding the socks scenario...As I type this. Dido is curled up asleep on them on the dining room table....Might have to wash them again! Hope all is well with you...See you at Walt...(God willing)

Jody. You left 2 pairs of socks behind Doh!