Today I attended an Irish seisiun at the Rosendale Cafe.  I met up with my old friend Sean from the Ruffians, who I haven't seen in some years.  It was a great time- the musicians were talented and welcoming and Sean and I ended up jumping in after a bit.  I brought in my Gibson Dove acoustic, and that coupled with Sean's tight bodhran playing added some movement and bottom to the group.  We each sang a few trad tunes and Sean sang a filthy romantic love song that he wrote based on a trad melody- which had the bazouki player nearly falling off his chair.  It was at this point that the fun really began and people starting buying us pints. 

All this got me thinking about how important (and often, fruitful) it is to explore old connections- and how those connections often lead to new connections.  I met some great players and wonderful people...Sean and I spoke of possibly finishing a song idea of his that we began almost 12 years ago...(12 years!)...we talked about getting together and going over new songs and rehearsing some ideas...I met his wife and 15 month old son (most well-behaved child I have ever seen in a restaurant- and meant to be musician if I ever saw one)...was entertained afterward by his cousin and family at their nearby house...and it was great to see all that's changed and all that's stayed the same over the years.  All while doing the only thing I've ever been certain I'm born to do: drinking!  No, just joking, I meant music of course.  This was the common thread and the driving force that connected friends old and new, family, players, audience...in the celebratory and multi-layered way that only music can connect us. 

Jude