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The year in review » February 2006

Went to New York, courtesy of the SAC and studied free improv and flute technique with Jane Rigler. I met Jane in Canada last Summer, where we were both teaching on Chris Norman’s Boxwood Flute School, which I can thoroughly recommend. She was an inspiration so it was great to have the opportunity to learn from her. I also got the chance to study with vocalists Betsy Allen and Gina Crusco, and generally soak up some of the many musical vibes of the Big Apple. And I caught up with pal and fiddler Dana in Mona’s Bar.

Returned to Hootananny by popular demand to play with Marc and groove-meister Iain MacLeod. Rocked the joint!
We literally had a ball in Birnam on the 4th. Much sparkling of wine and strutting of booty went on, with a wonderful effort by all on the dressing-up front. It was a truly superb event, with the visits this year from many of our west-coast friends completing the night….. Apres dinner we had Sharon King as compere-extraordinaire and special guest appearances by Sandy Wright, Ewan and Anne-Sophie, John Martyn and Jack Evans together again for the first time in 7 years……fantastic. The cèilidh was wild and wonderful with Donald Hay, Sandy myself, Damian and Andrea Beaton (a quality import from Cape Breton) drivin’ er!

And, praise the lord I passed my driving test on the 7th– thank you Euan Robertson!