“All In Good Time”
The new 2023 CD from Toby Bresnahan.
Do you remember back in the day when you went to your favorite music store, bought a new vinyl, 33-1/3 RPM LP, brought it home, dropped the stylus, sat back and listened to both sides while reading the liner notes front to back?
Well, because CD’s are shite for that sort of thing, I’ve created this web page to act as the album liner notes for my new CD release “All In Good Time”.
And even though the CD is not yet available as of this writing, this should give you a good idea of what it’s all about. I’m excited about this collection of tunes and I just can’t wait for you to hear it.
Track List:
- Ramblin’ Rover-Rolling Wave-McGann’s Set
- Farewell To Auld Ireland
- Kilavil / Morrisons / Follow Me Up To Carlow
- Whiskey Before During and After Fishing
- Rights Of Man
- Jock Stewart
- Man In The Bog / Drummond Castle
- Wish I Was Back Home In Derry
- Crabs / Ten / Colerane
- Lord Randall
- Monaghan Jig
- Raggle Taggle / Congress
- Miller Of Drohan
- Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór
This is my very first all Irish / Celtic, solo CD. Some of the tunes I play quite regularly at my gigs are on this CD. There are jigs, reels, hornpipes, instrumentals and songs with actual words.
I’ve taken up a few new instruments recently and bits from those instruments have found their way here.
I’ve always loved the sound of the low whistle and the tin or penny whistle. I’m by no means accomplished on these new instruments but, I’ve been having a lot of fun learning and I think they’re sounding great on this CD.
I’ve also been banging on the bodhran (Irish drum). Most of the rhythm tracks on this CD are compliments of my not so fancy bodhran playing. I’ve also taken up the Jaw Harp. Why not?
A complete list of instruments featured on this CD… Acoustic guitars. Steel, nylon, standard tuning, drop D, DADGAD. Bouzouki, tenor banjo, ukulele, mandolin and octave mandolin. Low D whistles, tin whistles, bodhran, flute, bass guitar, jaw harp and voice.
So, short story made long, I started this project during the covid pandemic. Musicians were forced to give up their gigs and many of us found creating and sharing music videos fun and creative.
So, I started creating weird little music videos of some of my favorite Irish music. A few of the music tracks from those videos have found their way onto this CD. I was able to re-mix and re-master those audio tracks and I think they came out quite well. At this writing, there are 3 of those “older video” tracks and the remainder are brand new tunes / arrangements, or at least brand new from me.
This YouTube link is an example MILLER OF DROHAN of one of the tunes that were re-worked and made it on to this CD. It was my intention to release this CD in March 2023 but as they say, life happens.
I am dedicating this CD to my two beautiful sisters whom I love so very much. Kathleen Marie Bresnahan-Luke and Mary Colleen Bresnahan-Donaker.
We lost Mary Colleen on February 27, 2023. RIP my beautiful sister.
Jim Nulty
I’m fortunate enough to have had some very talented folks help me out on this CD. I happen to know an amazing artist who was so very kind to create the amazing cover art for “All In Good Time” The piece is called “Irish Shoreline”
He happens to be my wonderful, amazing, talented cousin Jim Nulty. I believe Jim’s art and the music on this CD are perfectly matched. I just can’t thank Jim enough for making this CD so very special to me. Love you, cuz. Thank you!
“Irish Shoreline” is a bees’ wax painting by Michigan artist Jim Nulty.
The coldwax and oil pigment painting on birch board (24” x 24”) was inspired by a trip to Northern Ireland in 2013 with his daughter Laura James.
“The abandoned fishing boat and small cottages along the northern coast of the Irish Sea spoke to me of ancestry with an emotional connection of time gone by.”
Nulty’s encaustic and cold wax pieces are included in the members’ and permanent collection of The Encaustic Institute in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
He sells his work through The Jeff Blandford Gallery in Saugatuck, MI.
Rod Sager
I met Rod Sager many, many years ago when we were both in the IT industry. We lost touch for a few years and got reacquainted when we both retired from our real jobs a few years ago.
Rod is a multi-instrumentalist which include ukulele, baritone ukulele, mandolin, guitars (in many alternate tunings), piano and bass guitar.
Rod taught me how to properly pronounce “ukulele”.
Rod plays nylon guitar on the Crabs-Ten-Coleraine set. Ukulele on the Raggle Taggle-Congress reel set and steel string guitar on Whiskey Before, During and After Fishing set.
Rod and I have been booking some really great gigs lately. Look for us and if you like the sounds on this CD, we’ll come to your house and play them for you.
Thanks so much Rod, my friend.
Alison Sanchez
A long time ago, in a small Michigan town, far, far away, there was a wee Irish quartet called Peat in the Creel. They played Traditional Irish tunes across the land, had much fun and made many friends.
I met Alison Sanchez at a little music store where she was working and we began to chat about Irish music. That was the start of Peat in the Creel.
Although I don’t believe Alison and I ever played “Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór” together in public, we both really liked this Turlough O’Carolan tune.
I am so very honored to have Alison join me on this renowned Irish tune on my new CD. Alison played the flute, low D whistle and tin whistle on this track. I absolutely love what she did with the melody and the exceptional harmonies to my bouzouki arrangement. I’ve heard many versions of this tune but, never like this.
I hope you enjoy our arrangement as much as I do.
Thank you so much, Ally!
Kathy Bresnahan
Of course, there is one person without whom none of this would be possible.
The one who stole my heart over 23 years ago. The one who puts up with me and my sometimes-silly musical adventures. The one who makes sure I get to the gig on time, manages my schedule, buys me new octave mandolins for Christmas. Loves to paint, hates peanut butter and onions. Let’s me go out to my studio to work on music when I should be cutting the grass. Bought me a man purse so she wouldn’t have to carry all my stuff to my gigs. Loves to iron clothes. Is one HELLUVA cook!!! (just look at me for evidence of that). Laughs at me and with me quite often. Teaches me to dance in our living room. Makes friends with everyone she meets. Has a smile that will knock you on your arse. Is as beautiful inside as out. And that’s just off the top of my head. I could go on and on.
Thank you for all you do. I love you, Kathy.
If you’ve made it this far, thanks so much for reading my “liner notes” and thanks again to each and every single person who has supported my music over the years.
From my family members and relatives and friends to the wonderful musicians whom I’ve worked with over the years, to the festivals and music event organizers to the pub owners, booking agents, business owners and private events. The Vance family; Mike, Craig, Sue and Uncle Bill who let me tag along to Ireland where I experienced the culture, music and the wonderful Irish people first hand. The folks who check out and comment on my weird Facebook videos to everyone who has ever attended one of my performances. The folks, too numerous to mention who have given me some amazing, musical opportunities.
I hope you enjoy my new CD “All In Good Time”. Let me know, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Sláinte
-Toby
