Hello everyone, hope you are ALL keeping well!!!
I’m very pleased to say that good progress is now being made in the recording of my forthcoming (long-awaited) album. I have recently put down no less than 15 tracks of different textures and tempos and I am really enjoying working on this with recording engineer/co-producer Ross Wilson, who has both great musical/recording skills and great patience!!! Hopefully (fingers crossed!!) when we get all the excellent guest musicians on board and get the whole thing edited, mixed and mastered, this will be available and out for Christmas.
Although not playing quite as many concerts as previously (recently reached the BIG 70), I am still (with Donnie MacKenzie and Màrtainn Skene) engaging in some live performances throughout the second half of the year (and, of course, beyond!!) – see “Concerts” page.
Earlier on this year Donnie underwent some major surgery. We are delighted that he has made a full recovery and that he is “ready to roll” with us again. You can’t keep a good man down!!!
I am rather honoured with this. Our incredible First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, very graciously agreed to join myself and first-class musicians Ali Levack, Grant MacFarlane and Stuart Taylor at the pre-Scottish election adoption night of local MSP/Transport Minister Derek MacKay in Erskine back in March. We auctioned the mouthorgan, signed by her on the night, for a staggering £1050 which went to SNP local branch funds. She was just fantastic.
Live Performance Bookings
Ace harmonica player Donald Black is firmly established as “the instrument’s foremost exponent in Scottish traditional music”
(Norman Chalmers – Scotland on Sunday, 02-03-08)
Having received his first harmonica from a kindly aunt at the tender age of four, Donald is totally self-taught, and, with his own unique style and mastery, has almost single-handedly been responsible for the humble mouth organ having been given a new respect and acceptance – forcing professionals and reviewers to sit up and take it seriously as a significant part of the Scottish music scene.
He plays much of his music on the TREMOLO harmonica (favoured in and played extensively and mainly all over China and other parts of Asia) and is one of a very few players in the western world to do this. “There are some prominent western tremolo players, such as Donald Black from Scotland.” (Tony Eyres, Harmonica World, Oct/Nov 2010) – visit www.tremoloharmonica.com
Being a native of Benderloch, Argyll, Scotland, Donald’s roots are firmly steeped in the West of Scotland Highland Bagpipe and Gaelic tradition – but his repertoire extends well beyond this to embrace the idioms of Ireland, the Shetland Isles, Cape Breton / Nova Scotia and mainstream Scotland.
Donald Black’s live performances have delighted audiences from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, UK-wide, through Europe – and from Moscow to Kansas City. His playing of thoroughly challenging jigs, hornpipes, marches, strathspeys and reels, and emotionally charged slow airs and laments can only be described as spellbinding.
He has, over the years, received wide acclaim for his recordings, his latest being his “Dreams & Dances” album on the Skye-based Macmeanmna label.