Excerpts from issue 52/03 16 November 2024
So Long, farewell
The 'MV Hebridean Isles' pictured on her last visit to Islay in September this year. The ferry will be officially retired from the CalMac fleet on 21 November, due to the costs of maintaining her certification being viewed as uneconomic.
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Portintruan proceeds once again
Elixir Distillers have confirmed that a new principal contractor has been engaged for Portintruan Distillery. and work has now recommenced on site.
Morris and Spottiswood have taken over management of the project, and have employed the majority of the former ISG workers previously engaged on the project.
Elixir's Sukhinder Singh said, "A lot of work has taken place since the collapse of ISG, not only to find the right company to ensure a smooth transition and best outcome for the project, but to retain as many of the talented people with whom we have been working from the start.
"We couldn't be happier with this outcome, particularly now that we are back up and running with so many of the people whom we have already built sound relationships."
Process installation has already recommenced, with building works planned to restart later in November. Once all contractors are re-engaged, a new project timeline will be instated. Elixir Distillers are confident they are still on track to see the first spirit flowing in 2025.
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In this week's issue:
Farewell to the Hebridean Isles, Possible change of date for the Islay Show?, Growth Deal agreed, Argyll Foodbanks benefit from council underspend, Mainland roadworks, Beth Newman's charity trip to Ukraine, Portintruan Distillery begins again, Lifeboat callout and Islay RNLI presented with cheque from Islay Quilters, Islay & Jura Dolphins swimathon, Bowmore Primary School news, Islay Schools Wind Band trip, Allt Dearg Education Trust, Craig Walker's Walk on the Wild Side, Book Review: Power Plays and Pulpits, Lochindaal Way, Islay & Jura Sick Children's Fund, MLC seeks volunteers, Music Review: Guitar Duets, Louis Stewart & Martin Taylor, Heather Dewar's Gaelic classes.
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Islay Lifeboat receives £1000 from Islay Quilters
Kate Hannett writes:
Islay RNLI were delighted to be beneficiaries of the Islay Quilters charity raffle for 2024. The funds were raised from sales of raffle tickets, the grand prize being a beautiful handmade quilt depicting the view across Loch Indaal on Islay to the Paps of Jura beyond.
The quilters met with the Lifeboat crew over a cup of tea, to present a cheque and show off the quilt. Earlier in the morning, several members of our volunteer crew were pleased to be invited to attend the Remembrance Service at St Kiaran's church and war memorial in Port Charlotte. While the crew were in uniform it was an opportune morning to photograph the cheque being handed over.
Since 1993, Islay Quilters have made a different charity quilt each year. The money raised through the sale of raffle tickets is donated to local charities on Islay and Jura.
Islay Quilters Chair, Susan Kennedy, said, "Around eight or nine of us contributed to the quilt, starting in January and finishing around Easter. When we were formed, one of the ideas that seemed to be in everyone's mind, apart from learning new techniques and having fun, was to make a quilt each year to raffle for a local charity."
The lucky winner, Sara from Port Charlotte, brought her prize along for Islay RNLI volunteers to see. They were amazed to see the detailed and intricate work that had gone into the beautiful piece. It is only the third time one of the group's charity quilts has remained on Islay in over 30 years. The money raised from the raffle will go a long way to help the RNLI continue to save lives at sea.
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Music review
Acoustic Guitar Duets. Louis Stewart and Martin Taylor. Livia Records.
Louis Stewart and Martin Taylor first worked together in the mid-1980s as members of Stéphane Grapelli's quartet, and this album of duets was recorded in Dublin in July 1985, first released on cassette and vinyl.
Louis Stewart passed away in 2016, since when his genius on the guitar has been brought to a new audience through the efforts of Gerald Davis of Livia Records, several of which have been recently reviewed in these pages.
This latest re-issue, where Stewart is paired with Britain's Martin Taylor MBE ('Europe's finest guitarist' - Jazz Times), it's possible to see just how versatile the acoustic guitar can be in the hands of virtuosos.
Yet, according to Taylor, several of the tunes were new to him, even at the recording sessions. You would never know. Apparently Stewart simply showed him the chord changes and, as they say, the rest is history.
The track listing features an impressive series of compositions by the likes of Jerome Kern (Pick Yourself Up), Count Basie's Jive at Five, Billie's Bounce by saxophone icon, Charlie Parker, and even an arrangement of the Robert Burns penned, 'Coming Through the Rye'.
The latter provides a few moments of tranquility, before both dramatically increase the tempo with Ray Noble's 'Cherokee'.
The empathy and sixth sense displayed by both guitarists can be evidenced on all eleven tracks, but especially 'Billie’s Bounce' and the above mentioned, 'Cherokee'.
Of Martin Taylor, world-renowed guitarist, Pat Metheny said, "He is one of the most awesome solo guitar players in the world." Evidenced by this recording, he's no slouch when it comes to duets either.
According to Irish Times Jazz correspondent, Ray Comiskey, who attended both the recording sessions, the first twenty minutes of music were completed in two hours, without any retakes.
To listen to 'Acoustic Guitar Duets' is to simply sit back and listen to pure mastery, the fluency of which ensures nothing gets in the way of the music.
Though first featured on track seven, the album is perfectly rounded off with an alternate take of 'Stompin at the Savoy'.
Timeless.
bp
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