Transatlantic Sessions

Image:Transatlantic Sessions AlyBain JerryDouglas.jpg|thumb|300px|Transatlantic Sessions musical co-directors Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas
Transatlantic Sessions is the collective title for a series of musical productions by Glasgow-based Pelicula Films Ltd, funded by- and produced for BBC Scotland, BBC Four and RTÉ of Ireland. The productions comprise collaborative live performances by various leading folk, bluegrass and country musicians from both sides of the North Atlantic, playing music from Scotland, Ireland, England and North America, who congregate under the musical direction of Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas to record and film a set of half-hour TV episodes. The Television director is Mike Alexander and the producer is Douglas Eadie.
In addition to the TV productions, public performances of the Transatlantic Sessions have been staged recently by some of the participating artists, receiving critical acclaim in the press,/. The six series have been released in both CD and DVD format by Whirlie Records.

Background

The first Transatlantic Sessions episode was produced in 1995 - a project conceived at that time by Douglas Eadie, Mike Alexander and Aly Bain. Subsequent sessions were produced in 1998, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013. To date, the series comprises the six sessions shown below in the History.
The producer and directors select a special setting for each session – typically a country manor, lodge or hotel in Scotland where the musicians perform and stay while the session is recorded. Each session was filmed in a different location with the exception of Series 4 and 5, which were filmed in the same house. Series 6 was filmed and recorded at a location on the banks of Loch Lomond.

History

Participating musicians vary from session to session but, since the first session, a format has been followed where a core of musicians forms the House Band and each session features additional guest artists.

The Original Transatlantic Sessions (TS1)

[Image:Montgreenan House, Kilwinning.jpg|thumb|right|230px|Montgreenan House, where The Original Transatlantic Sessions production was recorded in 1995]
. Recorded at Montgreenan Mansion House Hotel in Ayrshire.

House Band: Aly Bain, Jay Ungar, Russ Barenberg, Jerry Douglas, Molly Mason, Danny Thompson and Jim Sutherland.
Featuring: Martyn Bennett, Mary Black, Guy Clark, Travis Clark, Phil Cunningham, Iris DeMent, Dick Gaughan, Emmylou Harris, Donal Lunny, Cathal McConnell, John Martyn, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Charlie McKerron, Dougie MacLean, Karen Matheson, Kathy Mattea, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Mark O'Connor, Rod Paterson, Donald Shaw, Declan Sinnott, Davy Spillane, Savourna Stevenson, Simon Thoumire, Rufus Wainwright and Michelle Wright.

TS1 Programmes

Main performers in brackets.

Programme One: Wheels of Love, MacIlmoyle, Ready for the Storm, Spencer the Rover, Big Bug Shuffle, Black Diamond Strings, Guitar Talk, Ashokan Farewell
Programme Two: May You Never, Big Scioty, Ta Mo Chleamhnas Deanta,, Grey Eagle, Talk to Me of Mendocino, Mexican Monterey, By The Time It Gets Dark, Auld Lang Syne
Programme Three: The Loving Time, Goodbye Liza Jane, Iain Ghlinn Cuaich, Turning Away, Boulavogue / Mrs McCleod, Let the Mystery Be, Wild Mountain Thyme, Far From Home / Big John MacNeil
Programme Four: Goin' Back to Harlan, Daire's Dream, Canan Nan Gaidheal, Jim's Jig / Little Cascades / Fox in the Town, Farewell, Farewell, Cat in the Bag, Our Town, Ronfleuse Gobeil
Programme Five: I Will, Will the Circle be Unbroken, You Low Down Dirty Dog, Gentle Annie, Jesse Polka, Green Rolling Hills, The Dark Woman of the Glen, Big Muff
Programme Six: Hard Times, MacCrimmon's Lament, Dublin Blues, Sweet is the Melody, A Maiden's Prayer, Don't Want to Know, For No One, Scotland
Programme Seven: Old Fashioned Waltz, Clyde to Sandyhook, Dark as a Dungeon, The Lover's Waltz, Both Sides the Tweed, The Reasons Why I'm Gone, Uncle Sam / Rain on Olivia Town, ''This Love Will Carry''