DISKAN

Traditional Music & Song from Ireland, Brittany & beyond

 

 

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Text Box: The name DisKan comes from Brittany: Kan Ha DisKan is the traditional question & answer duet singing which leads the dance at ‘Festou Noz’, which are informal ceilis (literally ‘night festivals’). Most of our material derives from the Breton and Irish traditions, but we wanted to keep an open mind about musical sources and arrangements, so English and Scottish songs & tunes and Balkan music have found their way into the repertoire. Mark and Ivan’s introduction to traditional music was via the Birmingham Irish scene of the 1980’s, with its notorious weekend-long sessions in pubs in Digbeth, Oxford, Manchester and all over the place. It was there that they first met Karen Tweed, friend and accordion virtuoso, who performs with Diskan at select venues. Ivan was a founder member of Long Acre, with Kevin Crawford, Mick Conneely, Joe Molloy, Brendan Boyle & Bernadette Davis, and has since performed with Jean-Michel Veillon of Kornog & Penou Skoulm, amongst others. Mark performed and toured in Ireland & Britain with Smoky Chimney duo Eoghan O’Sullivan & Gerry Harrington, before spending time in the US, where he played with Billy McComiskey, Zan McLeod, Andy Thurston, Eliot Grasso and Jim Eagan. It was with this group of musicians that he recorded his acclaimed CD ‘A Rival Heart’ in 2003 (see www.rivalheart.com). Nick leads a music ‘double life’: as well as a highly accomplished traditional fiddle player, he is also a rock drummer and much in demand as a studio musician. Nick & Mark have played together for years, developing a close understanding & meshing of musical styles, a cohesion mirrored in the Miletitch rhythmic boiler room of guitar, bouzouki, double bass. In his formative years, Marc played bass for various rock bands (the Purple Turtles, Platform 2), before moving on to fretless & double bass. He also formed the trio ‘The Arquettes’, playing what the BBC described as ‘stripped down acoustic songs about football, the seaside and terrible first dates’! DisKan is based around the Welsh borders. We have a great time playing together and hope you enjoy our first CD.

Click titles below to listen to tune/song samples
 
   Diskan CD tray rear copy.jpg

Nick Jones - Fiddle
 
 

 

 

 

Track 1: Entre la Riviere et le Bois/Bold DohertyRacenitsa

Track 3: Scarborough Fair (song)

Track 5: Plinn/Ballintore Fancy/An Dro

Track 6: Lady Frankllin’s Lament (song)

Video (You Tube) Fisherman’s Song , Diskan with Karen Tweed (composed by Andy M Stewart)

 

     Ivan2, sm.JPG      Nick1, sm.JPG  

    Ivan Miletitch – Guitar, Bouzouki                           Nick Jones - Fiddle

 

 

    Mark, Diskan   marc3, sm.JPG

I am honoured to know and to have played with DisKan over the last few years and am delighted that their music is now here on CD.  I have known Ivan Miletitch and Mark Evans since the 1980s, when we regularly played sessions in Birmingham & Oxford.  This was such an important part of my musical development:  Ivan's playing & arrangements have been some of the most influential in my whole life. Here they combine musics from different parts of Europe beautifully & respectfully.  I trust this CD will bring them the success they so deserve.  Enjoy the superb arrangements & playing!

Karen Tweed
 

Sometimes musicians are brought together and their music makes you believe in providence.  This group of men play with a deep sense of empathy, comradeship, understanding and musicianship.  The years of dedicated listening to their predecessors, practising and understanding their music is evident from the first note of this CD.  Irish, Breton, Balkan and English traditions are presented in such a flowing way that it's almost possible mentally to journey to a time when the world had no borders.  I loved this CD for its songs, which are sung and arranged wonderfully, and its tunes, which are played with great respect and knowledge.  If any band can, DisKan!  Enjoy.                              

Siobhan Peoples
 

Few bands today can compare in virtuosity and versatility with DisKan.  A group of truly dazzling individual talents, playing a variety of instruments from flutes, fiddles and whistles to bouzoukis, guitars and double bass.  Incorporating wonderful melodies and songs from Ireland, Brittany, Scotland, England and the Balkans, DisKan lead the listener on a new and exciting musical journey.  Each track offers up something completely new and full of lovely surprises.  A wealth of songs and tunes to be savoured, portrayed with a depth of understanding and feeling few bands achieve.  Throughout the album there is evidence of their virtuosity, allowing personalities to shine and highlighting their unique styles and influences.  However, the sum of DisKan is far greater than their impressive parts.  As a collective they produce a powerful, spirited and textured sound, rich in imagination, innovation and tradition.  A mighty debut album from one of the most exciting traditional bands to emerge from the UK in a long, long time.

Kevin Crawford, Lunasa
 

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                                                                                                                                                  Mark Evans –Flute, Whistles, Bouzouki, Vocals   Marc Miletitch – Double Bass, Guitar

 

 

DisKan are joined at selected performances by Karen Tweed on Accordion
 
       Diskan + KT, Worc, Jun07        Karen Poster