13^th Annual Healing Garden Music Fest (Waltham)

Event Summary

Date: 2009 May 2 (Saturday)
Time: 19h30
Venue: French-American Victory Club, 193 Elm Street, Waltham, Massachusetts
Description: Hosted by Terry Eagan, the 13^th annual Healing Garden Music Fest this year features Ray Legere with Troy MacGillivray; Katherine Wheatley; The Laws; and the Larry Flint Trio, with Chuck Parrish and Matt Leavenworth.
Admission: $17 in advance; $22 at the door. $2 discount for Canadian-American Club members, French Club Members, WUMB members, Seniors, and Students (one discount per ticket). See the Patio Records web site for information on obtaining tickets locally or on-line.
Note: 100% of the proceeds go towards creating and caring for garden patios at cancer treatment facilities.

Review for the Cape Breton Music List
(Posted 2009 May 8)

This past Saturday evening, the 13^th annual Healing Garden Music Fest took place at the French-American Victory Club in Waltham (Massachusetts). Terry Eagan has organized this series of fine annual concerts as a way of raising funds to create and maintain healing gardens where those being treated for cancer can recollect in a place of tranquillity and beauty in order to gather the hope and strength necessary to continue their struggle. Terry’s wife Mary, who succumbed to leukæmia in 1992, wanted such gardens to be built; thanks to Terry’s tireless efforts in bringing her wish to fruition, the Mary Eagan Garden opened in Waltham in 2001 and a similar garden was dedicated in her honour at the Cancer Survivors’ Park in Ottawa this past year. A second Mary Eagan Garden in the Ottawa area will be completed within the brand new Queensway-Carleton Cancer Centre later this year at its opening. A fourth is envisioned in the Kitchener/Guelph area of Ontario, where a fund-raising music concert was held last year in the fall. These accomplishments result from the collaboration of many musicians from both the United States and Canada, who have come together under Terry’s leadership in concerts and other endeavours to raise the required funds. Several musicians, including Cape Breton artists, have produced and contributed outstanding recordings to the Patio Records label, of which Terry is the founder and president; all profits from these recordings also go to this cause.

Jan Vanderhorst of CKPC in Brantford (Ontario) was the emcee for the evening. He introduced the first group of the evening, the Larry Flint Trio, with Larry Flint on vocals and acoustic guitar, Matt Leavenworth on fiddle, and Chuck Parrish on electric guitar. Larry, who is a singer/songwriter in the Boston area and a regular Saturday DJ on Harvard University Radio’s Hillbilly at Harvard show, featuring traditional country music, bluegrass, and old-time music, gave us five songs, all of which he wrote: Honky Tonks and Bars,^[1] (You Keep Me) Rollin’ Home, Just a Little More Time, Two Wrongs Just Don’t Make a Right, and The Ghost of the Railroad. Of these five, my favourite was the fourth, a dandy, rollicking number in the Texas-swing style, but I enjoyed the others. The accompaniment from Matt and Chuck was top-notch throughout their set.

Next up was Katherine Wheatley, a singer/songwriter now living in Guelph (Ontario), who accompanied herself on guitar. Her first song was Hallelujah and her second was Until the Day Is Done. The third song was Water Moves Me, an “ode to water”, on which she was joined by Larry, Matt, and Chuck. Her fourth song, on which she was joined by Michele and John Law, was Over the Moon. The final song she gave us was Some Sweet Country, on which Michele and John, Larry, Matt, and Chuck all joined in. This was my favourite number of this set.^[2]

Katherine was followed by John and Michele Law, a husband/wife duo who have toured extensively in the US and Canada over the past eight years. Both sing; Michele plays electric bass and John acoustic guitar and, on their first number, Interstate Parking Lot, the harmonica as well. Their second song was I Believe in You. With Matt back on stage on fiddle, they next gave us a great instrumental piece, the Beaumont Rag, my favourite of their set. Their next song was Am I Still the One? and they closed with Getting Over You.

After well over an hour of music, it was time for an intermission, during which raffle tickets were sold. At the end of the intermission, the raffle was held with Terry holding the raffle ticket drum and Paul Ryan, President of the French-American Victory Club, doing the honours. Jerri Southcott of the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation then described the installation and dedication last year of the Mary Eagan Garden in the Cancer Survivors’ Park in Ottawa; this web page has a photo of the Mary Eagan Garden and an illustration of how the park helped four friends deal with the cancer with which one of them was diagnosed.^[3]

The second half of the show, for me the most enjoyable part of the evening, got underway as Ray Legere and Troy MacGillivray took the stage for a long session of mostly down-east music. They opened with a fiddle set, with Ray on fiddle and Troy on keyboards; what I heard was definitely not Cape Breton style fiddle-playing, but something more in the Don Messer tradition, with a dandy just-this-side of jazzy, keyboard accompaniment from Troy. The second number was the Shannon Waltz, beautifully played by Ray with another superb, though much more traditional, accompaniment from Troy. A great blast o’ tunes then followed, including the reel Big John McNeil;^[4] it was a joy to hear both musicians playing superbly well. Slowing things down a bit, Troy started alone on keyboards the lovely air Niel Gow’s Lament for the Death of His Second Wife; on the second time through, Ray added a very fine mandolin accompaniment. Ray then invited to the stage Joe Cormier^[5] and Edmond Boudreau, both well-known and well-respected musicians originally from Chéticamp and now longtime residents of the Boston area; while they were getting set up, Ray and Troy played the delightful Puddle Jumper, a very neat tune indeed! Joe then gave us a traditional Cape Breton air-strathspey-reel set, accompanied by Edmond on electric bass, Ray on mandolin, and Troy on keyboards. After he had finished, Joe left the stage, but Edmond stayed on and joined Ray and Troy in playing the Maiden’s Prayer, an old-time Texas swing dance tune. Matt then came back to the stage on backing fiddle and with Edmond still on electric bass, Ray on acoustic guitar, and Troy on keyboards, Ray sang the Nine Pound Hammer, a bluegrass song on which John and Michele joined in providing backing vocals. Troy and Ray ended with a long fiddle set: they started out on unaccompanied dual fiddles, but then each took turns on solo fiddle, playing traditional Scottish tunes in the Cape Breton style, though Ray’s playing often had a noticeable Don Messer “twang” to my Cape Breton-attuned ears; towards the end of the set, they rejoined on dual fiddles after which Troy went back to the keyboards as Ray finished off the set. This tour de force brought the second half of the show to a close, nearly three hours after it had started. Both the audience and I greatly enjoyed Troy and Ray’s brilliant playing across a whole range of different styles.

While the musicians were setting up for the finale, Terry thanked the musicians, those who had turned out, and those who had helped with the show. During the finale, all the musicians were on stage (with Troy on fiddle—the keyboards having been removed) and they all played together, switching from song to instrumental number and back; the styles ranged widely from bluesy country song, to breakdown with fiddles and dominant bass, to vocals, to Rag Time Annie^[6] played by a fiddle trio (Ray, Troy, Matt) backed by the others, to the final song Will the Circle Be Unbroken^[7], in which everyone joined. It was a rousing and a fitting ending to a memorable concert.

Even though some of this music was outside my rather circumscribed musical comfort zone, it was a pleasure to be present at this concert and to meet up once more with its inspiration and driving force: Terry Eagan is a warm and wonderful human being whose gentle leadership and passionate commitment impel others to help him bring his dreams to fruition. I thank him very much for his marvellous hospitality and for assembling a great set of musicians who all put their hearts into a very fine evening of music.

^[1] I am indebted to Terry Eagan for this song name, which I did not get at the concert.↩

^[2] I am again indebted to Terry Eagan for the first two and the fourth of these song names, which I did not get at the concert, and also for a correction to what I misheard as the name of the third.↩

^[3] I am yet again indebted to Terry Eagan for this link.↩

^[4] I am indebted to Marcia Palmeter for this tune name.↩

^[5] If you follow this link, be sure to press the “More” button at the bottom of that page to read the second page that is linked to the first.↩

^[6] I am again indebted to Marcia Palmeter for this tune name.↩

^[7] I am once more indebted to Terry Eagan for a correction to the name of the final song.↩

Photos

The lovely quilt hanging on the wall was hand-crafted by a group of Terry’s friends and co-workers; made in the “garden” pattern, on the back, it has outlines of the hands of those who made it with their signatures inside so that when Terry is wrapped in the quilt, their hands would be wrapped around him. A marvellous and very fitting tribute to a wonderful and beloved man!

The photos turned out reasonably well, though, as always, at a live concert, microphones obscured some of the musicians and musicians sometimes obscured other musicians.

Jan Vanderhorst, the emcee for the evening

Larry Flint sings to his own acoustic guitar accompaniment
and that of Matt Leavenworth on backing fiddle and Chuck Parrish on electric guitar

Larry Flint on acoustic guitar
accompanied by Matt Leavenworth on backing fiddle and Chuck Parrish on electric guitar

Matt Leavenworth on backing fiddle

Larry Flint on acoustic guitar

Chuck Parrish on electric guitar

Larry Flint sings to his own acoustic guitar accompaniment
and that of Matt Leavenworth on backing fiddle and Chuck Parrish on electric guitar

Larry Flint on acoustic guitar
accompanied by Matt Leavenworth on backing fiddle and Chuck Parrish on electric guitar

Katherine Wheatley sings to her own guitar accompaniment

Katherine Wheatley sings to her own guitar accompaniment
with Michele and John Law on backing vocals

Katherine Wheatley on acoustic guitar

Katherine Wheatley sings to her own acoustic guitar accompaniment
and that of Matt Leavenworth on backing fiddle, Larry Flint on electric bass,
and Chuck Parrish on electric guitar

Katherine Wheatley sings to her own acoustic guitar accompaniment
and that of Matt Leavenworth on backing fiddle, Larry Flint on electric bass,
and Chuck Parrish on electric guitar, with Michele and John Law on backing vocals

Katherine Wheatley on acoustic guitar
accompanied by Matt Leavenworth on backing fiddle, Larry Flint on electric bass,
and Chuck Parrish on electric guitar, with Michele and John Law on backing vocals

Michele and John Law sing with Michele on electric bass and John on acoustic guitar

John Law on acoustic guitar and harmonica and Michele Law on electric bass

Michele Law on electric bass and John Law on acoustic guitar
accompanied by Matt Leavenworth on backing fiddle

Michele and John Law sing with Michele on electric bass and John on acoustic guitar
accompanied by Matt Leavenworth on backing fiddle

Michele Law on electric bass and John Law on acoustic guitar
accompanied by Matt Leavenworth on backing fiddle

Terry Eagan holding the raffle box
with Jan Vanderhorst and Paul Ryan looking on just before the raffle draw

Jerri Southcott of the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation speaks

Ray Legere on fiddle

Troy MacGillivray on keyboards

Ray Legere on fiddle accompanied by Troy MacGillivray on keyboards

Ray Legere on fiddle

Troy MacGillivray on keyboards

Troy MacGillivray on keyboards accompanied by Ray Legere on mandolin

Ray Legere on mandolin

Troy MacGillivray on keyboards

Troy MacGillivray on keyboards accompanied by Ray Legere on mandolin

Ray Legere on mandolin

Joe Cormier on fiddle
accompanied by Troy MacGillivray on keyboards, Ray Legere on mandolin,
and Edmond Boudreau on electric bass

Joe Cormier on fiddle

Edmond Boudreau on electric bass

Ray Legere on mandolin

Troy MacGillivray on keyboards

Joe Cormier on fiddle
accompanied by Troy MacGillivray on keyboards, Ray Legere on mandolin,
and Edmond Boudreau on electric bass

Ray Legere on fiddle
accompanied by Troy MacGillivray on keyboards and Edmond Boudreau on electric bass

Ray Legere on acoustic guitar
accompanied by Troy MacGillivray on keyboards, Matt Leavenworth on fiddle,
and Edmond Boudreau on electric bass

Ray Legere sings to his own acoustic guitar accompaniment
and that of Troy MacGillivray on keyboards, Matt Leavenworth on backing fiddle,
and Edmond Boudreau on electric bass

Ray Legere sings to his own acoustic guitar accompaniment
and that of Troy MacGillivray on keyboards, Matt Leavenworth on backing fiddle,
and Edmond Boudreau on electric bass (obscured),
with Michele and John Law on backing vocals

Ray Legere on acoustic guitar
accompanied by Troy MacGillivray on keyboards, Matt Leavenworth on backing fiddle,
and Edmond Boudreau on electric bass,
with Michele and John Law on backing vocals

Troy MacGillivray and Ray Legere on dual fiddles

Troy MacGillivray on fiddle

Troy MacGillivray and Ray Legere on dual fiddles

Terry Eagan during remarks while the finale was being set up

Finale: Michele and John Law sing with Michele on electric bass and John on acoustic guitar
accompanied by Matt Leavenworth on backing fiddle,
Katherine Wheatley on acoustic guitar,
Troy MacGillivray on backing fiddle, and Chuck Parrish on electric guitar

John Law on acoustic guitar and Chuck Parrish on electric guitar

Finale: Matt Leavenworth, Troy MacGillivray, and Ray Legere on triple fiddles,
accompanied by Katherine Wheatley on acoustic guitar,
Larry Flint on electric bass, Chuck Parrish on electric guitar,
and John Law on acoustic guitar

Finale: Larry Flint sings to his own electric bass accompaniment
and that of Matt Leavenworth, Troy MacGillivray, and Ray Legere on backing fiddles,
Katherine Wheatley on acoustic guitar, Michele Law on backing vocals,
John Law on acoustic guitar and Chuck Parrish on electric guitar

Finale: Larry Flint sings to his own electric bass accompaniment
and that of Chuck Parrish on electric guitar

Katherine Wheatley on acoustic guitar,
Matt Leavenworth, Troy MacGillivray, and Ray Legere on backing fiddles,
Michele Law on vocals, and John Law on vocals and acoustic guitar

Finale: Matt Leavenworth, Troy MacGillivray, and Ray Legere on triple fiddles
accompanied by Katherine Wheatley on acoustic guitar, John Law on acoustic guitar, Michele Law on backing vocals,
Larry Flint on electric bass and Chuck Parrish on electric guitar

Finale: Matt Leavenworth, Troy MacGillivray, and Ray Legere on triple fiddles
accompanied by Katherine Wheatley on acoustic guitar

Finale: John and Michele Law sing with John on acoustic guitar
accompanied by Matt Leavenworth (obscured), Troy MacGillivray,
and Ray Legere (obscured) on triple fiddles,
Katherine Wheatley on acoustic guitar, Larry Flint on electric bass,
and Chuck Parrish on electric guitar

13th Annual Healing Garden Music Fest (Waltham)

Event Summary

Review for the Cape Breton Music List (Posted 2009 May 8)

Photos

13^th Annual Healing Garden Music Fest (Waltham)

Review for the Cape Breton Music List
(Posted 2009 May 8)