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The Modesto Highland Games and Cooking With Turf
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The third group from the Modesto Highland Games that I want to discuss is Cooking with Turf. This group is usually a quartet but their wind player was not able to attend this event. The group is made up of Julia Horner on hammer dulcimer; Steve Kenworthy on violin and guitar; Dave Chadwick on violin, guitar, and banjo; and Richard Ferry on wooden flute and penny whistle. Steve, Julia, and Richard also perform vocals. Cooking with Turf performs more traditional Irish and Scottish music and songs. Their repertoire includes jigs, reels, hornpipes, polkas, waltzes, and strathspeys. At the Modesto games the trio had to contend with an under-powered PA system which ran from a small generator. It was necessary to be directly in front of the group to truly hear their talent. There were many times when they were drowned out by passing piper bands and the groups from the main stage. They are accomplished musicians and added equally to the musical performances of Paul Espinoza and Avalon Rising.
In spite of this, the group rewarded all that took time to stop and listen. I tend to be a purest at heart and I prefer to hear music performed as closely to the manner as it was intended by the composers and musicians at the time. Cooking with Turf provided this satisfaction and enjoyment. They are based in the San Jose area and perform regularly at O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub. I recommend you stop by and listen whenever you are in the area. Visit their Web sitefor more information about their up-coming performances or to book them for a special occasion. You will also learn where the got their name from. It has nothing to do with your lawn.
An overall note of the musicians in Cooking With Turf and the other two groups, Avalon Rising and Paul Espinoza, is their ability to play at least two instruments and to play very well on these instruments. It is beneficial in that you need fewer musicians to attain musical colors. On the other hand, it places a financial burden on one musician to purchase these instruments and then spend the time to learn to play them. So, to all three groups played at the Modesto Highland Games, I say a job more than well done.
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