If you’ve been listening to live music in the area for any amount of time, there’s a good chance you’ve probably heard Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki either alone, with the trio or with various other music partners, at some point. Tirrell-Wysocki has been playing music since he was 12 and he’s been recorded on more than 60 albums.
On Saturday at 8 p.m., he and the Jordan TW Trio will add one more to that list with the release of Live at CedarHouse at the Capitol Center for the Arts.
Tirrell-Wysocki answered some Monitor questions about the new album in advance of the release.
Can you tell me a little about what songs are on “Live at CedarHouse”?
There are several different types of pieces on this record, all of which could be categorized as Celtic folk. Some are traditional songs, some from more contemporary Celtic artists such as Dougie McClean, Ralph McTell and even Flogging Molly, and of course there are lots of fiddle tunes! As usual we’ve included a couple of our own pieces as well, heavily inspired by the Celtic traditions.
The ever-difficult question: Do you have a favorite song?
It really depends on the situation. When it comes to foot-stompers we’ve included some of my all-time favorites in medleys throughout the album. As for more thoughtful pieces, Dougie McClean’s “I Feel So Near” is definitely a favorite, and I’m happy with how our version turned out. The piece I’m probably the most excited about from this release is “Star Of The County Down,” because it features the Vernon Chorale, a 45-voice choir from Connecticut that performed with us recently. They were fantastic, and listening to the track gives me the chills.
Who worked on it with you?
The two other guys in my trio are Matt Jensen (guitar) and Chris Noyes (upright bass). They also sing harmonies. Gerry Putnam recorded, mixed and mastered the project. And of course there’s the guest appearance from The Vernon Chorale.
Is CedarHouse a real place?
It is! CedarHouse Sound and Mastering is in North Sutton, owned and operated by Gerry Putnam.
How long have you been working on “Live at CedarHouse”?
We were booked for a concert at CedarHouse, and as the date drew closer we realized that performing in a top-of-the-line recording studio presented us with an opportunity we couldn’t pass up. So we decided to ask Gerry to record it, and crossed our fingers that we’d get some good takes. The recording process itself was all done in one evening, in front of a live audience. Mixing and mastering happened in the following few weeks, so as far as making an album goes, this was a pretty quick process. However, we’ve been working on developing and rehearsing most of the material for years, so you could say that the preparation for this project began a long time ago.
What are some differences compared to your previous albums? Similarities?
There are two major differences.
The first is that it is a live record, you can hear the audience in the room with us and there’s a special energy in the songs that you only get from live performance. Generally this is a trade-off, you have to sacrifice some sound quality for a live recording, but in this case we were very pleasantly surprised at the quality with which Gerry was able to capture the audio.
The second difference is that, unlike our past records, this one includes lots of singing! Songs with vocals have become a major part of our shows over the last five years or so, but we didn’t yet have that reflected in our recorded music, so we’re excited to finally deliver what so many fans have been asking for; an album that includes both instrumental pieces and singing.
How did you become interested in Irish/Scottish folk music?
I’ve been drawn to Celtic music since I began playing fiddle as a child, though I can’t say exactly why. I had a great elementary school teacher named Bill Egan whose love of this music was infectious, so I’m sure that was part of it. There was also the magic and mystery of Celtic mythology, which is closely tied in with the music, so that would have been an influence. There’s something about the range of emotion you find in Celtic music; it can be joyful and lively one minute, haunting or heart-breaking the next, which makes it irresistible to someone like me who views a piece of music as an emotional journey.
How do you blend writing new songs with an older style/folk traditions?
When I set out to write a new piece, I usually don’t intend to make it a Celtic piece specifically. However, I’ve been playing and listening to this music consistently for almost 25 years, and after a while you become sort of steeped in the tradition, it gets into your bones and influences your creative process whether you intend it to or not. I play with lots of projects in various genres in addition to the Jordan TW Trio, and I’ve certainly been accused of sounding a little Celtic even while playing with a bluegrass or rock band. So I suppose it makes sense that the Celtic flavor would make its way into my original compositions as well.
Is there anything else you think people should know about you?
What began simply as a passion has become a career for us, and that’s mainly because we are so lucky to have such a wonderful music community here in New Hampshire. The support from the fans, the venues and even the fellow musicians is what allows us to do this, and we are very grateful.
For more information about the group, visit jordanTWmusic.com. To get tickets for the Spotlight Cafe performance, visit ccanh.com.