« KEEPERS OF THE FLAME: Mike McHale | Main | KEEPERS OF THE FLAME: Jack Coen, Part II »
KEEPERS OF THE FLAME: Jack Coen, Woodford, Galway
By Paula Carroll | November 11, 2009
Jack Coen
This week in our Keepers of the Flame series on Irish immigrant musicians in the USA, it’s the turn of the great flute-player Jack Coen, who left Woodford for the Bronx in 1949. Jack was not able to join us for Willie and Siobhán Kelly’s Kitchen Session, but 2 days later, Willie took me into Jack’s home meet him. We had apple tart and whiskey and a long chat. He’s a sharp, witty man, and you’ll hear me guffawing more than once. The interview is in 2 parts. In the first part Jack talks mostly about home and those he learned music from when he was very young. He starts by telling us how he discovered there was a second octave on the whistle!
The interview will also be broadcast on Clare FM’s Wednesday Session this week.
Topics: Keepers of the Flame, Willie and Siobhán Kelly, New Jersey |