17/08/2004
Richie Buckley, master saxophonist, delights Dublin
Richie Buckley is a well-kept secret. The Dublin-based jazz/rock saxophonist is probably best known for the soaring solos which illuminated Van Morrison shows in the 1980s and 1990s. His trademark sound is a fluidity matched by few contemporary sax players. Fellow Dubliner Brian Leahy filed this report of a rare sighting of Buckley last week: "After a tip-off, I showed up at McCormack's in Mounttown (Dun Laoghaire), where a golf function was in full swing, with music to follow. McCormack's is a small pub in southside, suburban Dublin. "The main attraction was The Paul Ashford Band. Paul was the bass player with Stepaside, one of the great Irish bands from a few years back, and he would be joined by guests over the course of the evening. "The show began in front of a packed audience of about 100 – the rest were outside smoking (you know about the smoking ban in Ireland, don’t you?). The starting lineup was: Paul Ashford (bass) Larry Hogan (guitar), Robbie Brennan (drums), and Paul Miller(?) – keyboards. "Setlist:
1. I’ve Got The Blues For You
2. Gimme All Your Lovin’
3. Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick (Richie joins – unbelievable)
4. Have I Told You Lately – RB solo
5. Let The Good Times Roll – RB
6. Sunshine On A Cloudy Day (no RB)
7. Blueberry Hill (no RB)
8. Beautiful Affair, with Mikey Hanrahan of Stockton’s Wing on vocal/guitar.
9. A new Mikey Hanrahan song – guess at title ‘Farmer John’.
10. Walk Away – Mikey Hanrahan again. (Any lover of Irish music must have Stockton’s Wing's essential 'Light In The Western Sky' release – I cannot recommend this record strongly enough).
11. McAlpine – a pretty anti-English song I think, judging by the introduction. Ronnie stood up on stage, lit a cigar (in defiance of our anti-smoking legislation) and spoke about he knew Patrick Kavanagh, Myles Na Gopaleen etc.
12. Raglan Road. Stunning. Ronnie mentioned Richie and how he knew him. ‘He’s a jazz-head’. Unreal Richie solo that stopped the entire pub in its tracks. Million smiles all around.
13. Viva La Quinta Brigada. Introduced as a Christy Moore song. Stunning version. Dare I say better than Christy’s?
14. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down (guess at title). Dedicated by Ronnie Drew to Sinead O’Brien (Sinead Buckley – Richie’s wife) – ‘I worked with your late father ….’ – jazz pianist Peter O’Brien. Wonderful Richie solo.
15. Dirty Old Town – hey McGowan, this is how it’s done! Brought the entire place to its feet. Ronnie Drew, Richie Buckley, Mikey Hanrahan.
16. Bright Side Of The Road. All guesting musicans had departed – Richie was off to bed as he was leaving for NYC the next morning to join The Sawdoctors' tour.
17. See My Baby (guess at title!). Long jam session with guest saxophonist Paul Carr. "All finished around 1am. What a night! What a show. What a band. What a sax player." © Brian Leahy 2004
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