Tonight at SMDCAC, it was the Andrew Collins Trio. The trio was Andrew Collins, Adam someone-or-other, and James MacKay. They're from Canada.
As is weirdly true of Canadians, they have a penchant for southern US bluegrass and country music. They even sing some of it with what approximates southern US accents. (The Canadian members of "The Band" also had a penchant for southern US bluegrass and country music. In case you didn't know, Garth Hudson, the last surviving member of "The Band," died last week.)
Andrew, Adam, and James sort of rotated instruments. Andrew mostly played mandolin, although he also played mandola (a mandolin with a slightly different tuning, and an undetectable, to me, different sizing, which he likened to a viola) and "mandolin cello," which is an eight stringed instrument that looks otherwise like a guitar, and has four pairs of strings, like a mandolin does. Adam played regular guitar and both the mandolin and the mandola, I think. I couldn't always keep track of which mandolin-looking instrument he had. James played upright bass, but also mandolin cello. Andrew and James sang sometimes, and Adam sang with them on one song.
Andrew and James have been in the same band together for about 13 years. Adam is newer in this band.
The music was totally captivating. Andrew wrote some or most of it, although one piece started out with Bach, and another started with Debussy's "Clair de Lune."
And Andrew is also a great talker. He introduced pieces, told a few jokes, and added some depth to the presentation.
It wouldn't have meant anything to you, but the young woman at my table, sitting with her boyfriend, recognized me from Sandrell Rivers Theater. I had gone to a couple of "The Moth" events there, and told some stories (if you know what "The Moth" is about). And another couple I know from SMDCAC and Sandrell Rivers was also there. So I gave the younger couple my card, in case they want to go to some events with me, or come over for dinner, and I'll see the older couple again soon enough anyway.
Andrew was eager to sell CDs, or some book he had, or a tee shirt he had, so I got two CDs as souvenirs, and because the music was terrific.
Annie Hoffman, who introduced the Andrew Collins Trio, said something about an event tomorrow night, and I didn't have it on my calendar. But I checked when I got home, and it's Miami City Ballet, which is not of interest. I only go to Dimensions Dance Theater of Miami and Dance Now! Miami for ballet-based dance.
You really let this stuff get by you, huh?
