In correspondence to my previous post "Chris Caswell: A charitable gathering for a leading Harpist and Harper" I pay tribute to the passing of Chris, who said goodbye to us on January 21, 2013. It was a recent comment on this blog that made me awake and come back to Earth, since even I was expecting the parting news, I was invaded by a feeling of longing and of constant presence. Chris was undoubtedly on this life not only a Harper (one of the firsts of a bunch of craftsmen in the USA , making harps in the early 1970s with Bay Area craftsman Jay Witcher.), but an awesome Harpist, and a master musician on several instruments, I always loved his cute performance while playing on Highland Bagpipes.
By those days he shared his skills with us along with Robin Williamson( leading founder of the famous "Incredible String Band"), as line-up musician of his " Robin Williamson's Merry Band", and later on touring and performing from 1978
to 1983 along with other brillant musician and contributor of this blog Danny Carnahan of Albany , and recording two albums on the Kicking Mule label as "Caswell - Carnahan", a music embelished with original tunes and songs and brillant arrangements.
At this point, let me quote the unique words of David Brewer, host of
"Celtic Music Night" at St Andrew, as featured on Chris Caswell's Official Site: "But perhaps even more than that, his prolific bardic skills
of story telling & narration, deep knowledge of the
music's history and quick wit with an improvisational style
will even more quickly have you enveloped in a completely
different time & place from where you began.
This is a skill which is becoming harder & harder to find in concert, and which makes any of Chris's performances a 'must-see'. Chris Caswell is certainly one of those few artists who leave you wanting more, but in fact gave you more than you realize.”
This is a skill which is becoming harder & harder to find in concert, and which makes any of Chris's performances a 'must-see'. Chris Caswell is certainly one of those few artists who leave you wanting more, but in fact gave you more than you realize.”
Dearest Chris... your spirit will always be with us
...and will always keep on shining... your are part of our deepest
feelings and your music will stand by our hearts for ever in this
life....wherever our paths lead us.. we shall meet together once
again....Keep on shining for us as always! ☼
Benefit Concert
The benefit concert, Feb 4, at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley will
go on, to help pay for his medical bills. Look also for a fundraising
campaign at www.indiegogo.com/ChrisCaswell launching around Feb. 1.
The Good News: There is an intention to produce his Legacy double CD album, to preserve his amazing music for the future.
A Night for Chris : a benefit celebration for Chris Caswell
Freight & Salvage Official Site
- Date: Monday, February 4, 2013
- Time: 8:00 pm
-
Venue: Freight And SalvageAddress:
a benefit celebration of the life of Chris Caswell
$24.50 advance / $26.50 at door
$24.50 advance / $26.50 at door
The host will be Danny Carnahan, who currently plays in Wake the Dead, the world’s first Celtic all-star
Grateful Dead jam band. Danny will play solo as well as in tandem with
some of his current band mates, covering more than 30 years of musical
highlights.
Golden Bough, featuring Margie Butler, Kathy Sierra,
and Paul Espinoza, will play from their vast repertoire of haunting
ballads, beautiful airs, and lively songs drawn from the traditional
music of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, French Brittany, and
Spanish Galicia.
Oak Ash & Thorn, the legendary a capella trio with Doug Olsen, Tom Wagner, and Dave Swan, first shared a bill with Caswell Carnahan 32 years ago.
Kevin Carr of Wake the Dead, Hillbillies from Mars, and several other musical assemblages, performs with his motley band of Galician bagpipers.
Panacea, with Shira Kammen, Nada Lewis, Robin Petrie, Nicole LeCorgne, and Bon Singer, uses traditional instruments from the Balkans and the Middle East to create a wildly playful musical fusion.
San Francisco’s Steve Baughman is a dynamite guitarist inspired by Celtic and Appalachian traditions. Tonight Steve joins forces with his “Farewell to the House” chorale.
Philip Gelb plays shakuhachi, a traditional Japanese bamboo flute. He began studying the instrument in 1990 and has recorded more than a dozen albums.
Celia Ramsay, a warm and witty singer with a passion for Scottish ballads, joins harpist and singer Patrice Haan of Leftover Dreams for a musical collaboration sure to tug at the heartstrings.
Marla Fibish, Susan Spurlock, and Peter Heelan, on mandolins and uilleann pipes, play Irish traditional music with imagination and flair.
It’s a chance to be part of an unforgettable evening, with an all star lineup honoring our true Celtic bard.
Oak Ash & Thorn, the legendary a capella trio with Doug Olsen, Tom Wagner, and Dave Swan, first shared a bill with Caswell Carnahan 32 years ago.
Kevin Carr of Wake the Dead, Hillbillies from Mars, and several other musical assemblages, performs with his motley band of Galician bagpipers.
Panacea, with Shira Kammen, Nada Lewis, Robin Petrie, Nicole LeCorgne, and Bon Singer, uses traditional instruments from the Balkans and the Middle East to create a wildly playful musical fusion.
San Francisco’s Steve Baughman is a dynamite guitarist inspired by Celtic and Appalachian traditions. Tonight Steve joins forces with his “Farewell to the House” chorale.
Philip Gelb plays shakuhachi, a traditional Japanese bamboo flute. He began studying the instrument in 1990 and has recorded more than a dozen albums.
Celia Ramsay, a warm and witty singer with a passion for Scottish ballads, joins harpist and singer Patrice Haan of Leftover Dreams for a musical collaboration sure to tug at the heartstrings.
Marla Fibish, Susan Spurlock, and Peter Heelan, on mandolins and uilleann pipes, play Irish traditional music with imagination and flair.
It’s a chance to be part of an unforgettable evening, with an all star lineup honoring our true Celtic bard.
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