Jean’s reel

I learned this tune from an instructor at a fiddle camp. I found one version on the internet, but Shamma’s version rocked way more. It’s a really sizzling reel that sounds great played at a sizzling pace, but I can picture it slowed down and swung up a bit, too.

Written by Bobby McLeod of Mull, says Kathryn Tickell.

Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser frequently pulls this one out at performances too.

Wasn’t Sharon Shannon also pumping this one out all the time a while back?

I learned this tune from Canadian Grand Masters Champion Patti Kustorok. I think it sounds greta played in a set after Mason’s Apron. I can never really finf two ppl that play the same version though!

Jennilee

Quickly now, is it “Jean’s reel” as in the girl’s name or the French boy’s name? I never know how to pronounce it.

It’s Jean’s reel, as in the girl’s name - it was written by the late Bobby MacLeod of Tobermory (Isle of Mull, Argyll, Scotland).

Thanks for the information. I can now hold my head up in the session and pronounce clearly again. I didn’t realize it was a Scottich tune - I thought it might be one of those Canadian things, hence the French possibility.

I think Bobby McLeod actually wrote this in the key of F, rather than G. I also seem to remember that Sharon Shannon’s sleeve notes said that it was written by Bobby McFERRIN ! -
[ which sounds like a Phil Cunningham wind-up to me].

Orla McAuliffe on flute:
http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_209_1_orla_mcauliffe

Great fast version at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEGxWWctBtw&NR=1

play video

Cape Breton Live Radio
Show #43 (December 4, 2006)
Southwest Margaree & West Mabou Dances
http://www.capebretonlive.com/shows/show43.htm
=> It’s part of the Reels section at 44:03 of the show. It is performed by Troy MacGillivray (fiddle), Mac Morin (piano), and Jason Murdock (guitar).

2006 Leahy Music Camp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0DgQyVOTc8

play video

=> Performed by Natalie MacMaster and (some of) the Leahy sisters.

A fine rendering of the tune in DMaj here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWoM-WeRQno

play video

Love this tune

Nothing to do with the music but “Jean” was Bobby MacLeod’s wife.

As played at the session in O’Cealaigh’s in Groningen, the Netherlands.

Funny variation on the third part, recommended for solo performance.

Natalie MacMaster, Sharon Shannon, & Alan O’Connor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk5ErIW4r4c

play video

Phil Cunningham, Airs and Graces

Hi Jim. Jean’s is an awsome reel from the late Bobby MacLeod of Tobermory, Mull.

Submitting tunes can be a bit of a minefield at times. One of the first things you should do before submitting a tune is check to see if it’s here already. A popular tune, it’s been here almost as long as thesession.org has existed ( https://thesession.org/tunes/255 ), so if it’s significantly different from the previous versions, you should add your one as a setting on that page, as you did with“The Moving Cloud“. Good luck!

“Jean’s Reel” has 4 parts, and Phil plays all 4 of them.

Love this tune - first heard played by Natalie MacMaster and Sharon Shannon. Love the key of F (heard that Alasdair Fraser plays it in F but can’t find it.)

Improved and more traditional version of my key of F version

How is it “improved and more traditional” ? There are mistakes in the transcription with the repeats, if you listen to the playback.

To be fair, Jim was referring to his own previous submission rather than the tune itself.

I gave the “improved and more traditional” comment a second look too. It would indeed be a rather arrogant suggestion to make regarding the original tune itself… 🙂