The afternoon started with four members of the Aristodemo’s rehearsing in Aristo’s bar. They will be presenting some new songs later on this week when they play at the Barga Jazz Club on Friday.
They moved outside at the end of the rehearsal to relax around the wood fire which has been burning outside Aristo’s more or less all winter. Here they were joined by Giuliano the accordion player. The music then changed from Italian swing into more traditional Italian accordion songs.
Four members of the Aristodemo’s rehearsing in Aristo’s bar
Darkness fell, more logs were put on the fire, the accordion player left to visit his mother and more musicians arrived to take his place.
This time it was the Scottish cellist, Linsey Aitken and guitarist Ken Cambell who took their places around the fire and played until late.
Linsey Aitken
A highly regarded ‘cellist, pianist and vocalist crossing genres from classical to folk. Trained on ‘cello and piano at the RSAMD, she has performed professionally all over the UK from the Royal ALber Hall to the sands of Calgary Bay in Mull.
Collaborating regularly with composer Alan Craig, flautist/composer Louise Burnet, member of classical trio ‘Trois Femmes’ and various quartets.
Founding member of folk band ‘The Cross Borders Band’ she played and sang her way round Scotland, the Edinburgh Festival and other international festivals before joining ‘The Ideal Band’, and subsequently touring with Ken Campbell as a duo.
Ken Campbell
Scottish singer/songwriter with a well established pedigree over 25 years, with five albums to date, festivals, concerts, TV and radio throughout Europe and beyond. Starting with Glasgow band “Molindinar”, then a much commended duo with Chris Miller [‘Pipers Maggot’ – Topic Records, London]
He then established the highly successful “Ideal Band” following in the footsteps of Glasgow’s “Bob Smith’s Ideal Band” of the 1930’s.
He subsequently toured with Cauld Wind Piper Hamish Moore, recorded two solo albums [“Going Solo” – Fellside & “Hand Pict” – Watercolour] whilst also working with ‘cellist/singer Wendy Weatherby, Stevie Lawrence [Rallion/Red Hot Chilli Pipers/Iron Horse] and Blair Cowan [Lloyd Cole and the Commotions] before re-forming ‘The Ideal Band’ in 2009, and subsequently touring with Linsey Aitken as a duo.
Their site is here