A visit from the incomparable Mark O'Connor

We recently had the pleasure of welcoming the virtuoso violinist and composer Mark O'Connor to our offices to talk about his incredibly ambitious plans for the coming year, which include debuts of new symphonic and chamber music works, a stepped up initiative to educate the next generation of musicians, several CD releases and re-releases, and... well, more than I can possibly recap here.

It was an honor and a pleasure. I'm not sure when I was first introduced to O'Connor's music -- since I rushed out and bought as much as I could get my hands on so quickly. I think the intro came from the bluegrass/newgrass landmark album The Telluride Sessions and work with David Grisman, and other early favorites that were perennially in the CD changer in college include The New Nashville Cats release, and later a semi-rare album -- Markology -- entirely composed of Mark's performances on guitar when he was just 16 (!!). But I think it was hearing Appalachia Waltz that gave me a sense of the full range and breadth of his diverse talent, not just as a blazing performer, but as a composer and vanguard for a new movement in Classical music, drawn from American forms. What can I say, I'm a major fan.

Well with that gushing out of the way, it's a pleasure to be working with Mark on his next set of releases, and an honor to have him stop by.

Here's Mark with members of the Shore Fire gang at our offices in Brooklyn. From left, Andy Silva, Chris Chafin, myself, O'Connor, and Nancie S. Martin.