On the afternoon of Sunday, December 21st, the Winter Solstice, I hosted another house concert. Returning Jack Dwyer, along with Sarah Jane Scouten of Montreal. Sarah Jane came out to visit her folks for Christmas in Vancouver, B.C. and she and Jack created a Pacific Northwest tour and I was the Portland stop. The concert began at 2:00 so it would end at 4:30 with the sunset, with the river as the backdrop the whole time. They were both quite fabulous, singing and playing together and separately, and it was especially wonderful to hear Sarah Jane perform in person songs that she wrote and recorded on her CDs. As the concert was nearing the end I felt a twinge of sadness, not wanting it to be over. About 22 people attended -- some old friends I hadn't seen in a long while -- and we had homemade snacks and drinks at the intermission. When I thanked them at the end for filling my house with such marvelous music I teared up and Sarah Jane came and hugged me and said that if musicians didn't move people, they weren't doing their job.
Here's how I described them on the invite:
About Jack:
Jack Dwyer is a virtuoso mandolin player and singer/songwriter/guitarist who delights audiences with well-honed arrangements and flights of improvisation. His debut album with Tim Connell (Mando Planet, 2013) won praise as “Every tune is delivered with spontaneity, drive, passion, and obvious joy. You can’t ask for a better album than this.” Hermon Joyner, Mandolin Magazine
About Sarah Jane:
This is the only Portland stop on a Pacific Northwest coast tour for Montreal-based singer/songwriter, guitar- and banjo-player Sarah Jane Scouten. Her latest album, “The Cape” earned nominations for 2014 Traditional Album of the Year and Traditional Folk Singer of the Year. “Beautiful delivery and phrasing, imaginative narratives, and excellent musicianship. Sarah Jane is not to be missed.” Sheesham Crow, Sheesham and Lotus
See them on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h19EoBnAfl4; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvOBNSYkYRs
Check out their websites: www.jackdwyer.com; www.sarahjanescouten.com
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