Potpourri – the hit single by Lucia Comnes and Karamo Susso (the official music video)
Featuring Lucia Comnes on vocals and violin, Karamo Susso on kora (West African harp) Sean Stillinger on electric bass, Tim Keiper (Vieux Farka Toure Band) on drums and Ben Isaacs on percussion. Music video by Aaron Proctor. Learn more at drymypetals.com.
Mori Shej, Sabina – Lucia Comnes at the Freight & Salvage, Berkeley, CA
Featuring Gawain Mathews on guitar, Sean Stillinger on electric bass, Cormac Gannon on bodhran and Aharon Wheels Bolsta on tabla. October 8, 2009 concert with The Hounds and The Gasmen.
King of the Faeries Set – Lucia Comnes at the Freight & Salvage, Berkeley, CA
The Anatolian Butterfly, featuring Karamo Susso
This is an original fusion of Irish, Turkish and Armenian elements we call The Anatolian Butterfly and for the first time adding the kora… Lucia Comnes on violin and vocals, Karamo Susso on kora (West African harp), Sean Stillinger on electric bass, Aharon Wheels Bolsta on calabash and darbouka/doumbek, and Will Bates on drums, at the Big Sur Spirit Garden in Big Sur, California – June, 2009.
I Dreamt You Returned (Sono Dikhljum)
Lucia Comnes & her band perform a Bulgarian Rom song at Cafe du Nord, San Francisco, on 3/15/08. The lyrics cry “Alone with two children, I’m poor, God. How could you leave me? Your heart is a cold stone.” Lucia learned this song from Carol Silverman and from her days performing with Bizim Mahalle. Check out the stunning bass solo by Sean Stillinger. Other band members include Aharon Wheels Bolsta (percussion), Will Bates-Minou (drums), and Pat Duffey (guitar).
Jug of Punch
A popular Irish folk song, Lucia Comnes on vocals and fiddle, and Gawain Mathews on guitar, perform at The Sleeping Lady in Fairfax, California, in Jack Irving’s event, String Sessions – May, 2009.
Dinney Delaneys/The Yellow Wattle
This is a set of jigs I learned from well known Irish fiddler, Kevin Burke called Dinney Delaney’s/The Yellow Wattle. Lucia Comnes on fiddle and Gawain Mathews on guitar perform at the Sleeping Lady in Fairfax, California, in Jack Irving’s event, String Sessions – April, 2009.
Water – by Lucia Comnes
Lucia Comnes and her band release their CD “On the way” at Cafe du Nord, San Francisco, on 9/18/08. This is an original song composed by Lucia called “Water” and was inspired by her experiences in Bolivia in 2000 when rainwater was being taxed by the corporate-influenced government. Band members featured: Lucia Comnes (vocals/violin), Dan Cantrell (accordion), Sean Stillinger (electric bass), Will Bates (drums), Aharon Wheels Bolsta (darbouka and percussion). Additional singers include Oona Garthwaite (www.myspace.com/oonamusic.com) and Veronica Perry – the same 2 singers as featured on the CD “On the way”.
Dawn Breaks (Mera Merose)
This is a well known Greek song called ‘Mera Merose’ which translates to ‘Dawn Breaks.’ The lyrics describe the moment that the sun is rising in the morning… Lucia Comnes on violin and vocals, Karamo Susso on kora, Sean Stillinger on electric bass, Aharon Wheels Bolsta on frame drum, at the Sleeping Lady in Fairfax, California – May, 2009.
Deljo the Haiduk, featuring Karamo Susso
This is an original fusion of a traditional Bulgarian song from the Rhodope Mountains called Izlel e Delju backed with a Motown groove and for the first time adding the kora… Lucia Comnes on violin and vocals, Karamo Susso on kora (West African harp), Sean Stillinger on electric bass, Aharon Wheels Bolsta on darbouka/doumbek, and Will Bates on drums, at the Big Sur Spirit Garden, Big Sur, California – June, 2009.
Jenny’s Chickens/High Reel/Rakish Paddy
Lucia Comnes and her band release their CD “On the way” at Cafe du Nord, San Francisco, on 9/18/08. This is medley of Traditional Irish Reels including Jenny’s Chickens, The High Reel and The Rakish Paddy. Band members featured: Lucia Comnes (violin/fiddle), Sean Stillinger (electric bass), Will Bates (drums), Aharon Wheels Bolsta (jews harp, tabla and percussion).
Nehavent Longa (Turkish Bellydance)
The rhythms, tsiftetelli and longa, are popular bellydance accompaniments. The melody is in the maqam (like a mode) of nehavent. Lucia learned this composition when performing with Bizim Mahalle, and studied further with Husnu, a gypsy violinist in Istanbul, Turkey. Performed here at Cafe du Nord, SF, March 2008.
Mori Shej, Sabina
This is a popular Romani/Gypsy lullaby song called “Mori Shej, Sabina” and made popular by the Hungarian group, Kalyi Jag. Lucia Comnes on vocals and violin and Gawain Mathews on guitar perform at the Sleeping Lady in Fairfax, California, in Jack Irving’s event, String Sessions – April, 2009.
Bizim Mahalle/Hadi Gidelum
These are 2 playful Turkish Roman (gypsy) songs that are well known in Turkey. “Bizim Mahalle” means “our neighborhood” and the lyrics of the song sing, “Our neighborhood is better than your neighborhood…” and goes through the various reasons why (such as, your neighborhood has drama and gossip, but ours is the bomb, etc). The second song is also playful, but a bit more on the evocative side. Featuring Dan Cantrell on acccordion (www.bellowhead.com).
Irish Tunes: Jig in Am/Banish Misfortune/The Morning Dew
The set begins with 2 jigs, the first in Am and the second, a well-known tune called “Banish Misfortune” in D major. The tabla is featured between tunes and the set ends with a reel — The Morning Dew. Performed here at Cafe du Nord, SF, March 2008.
