IT was the time once again when TransAtlantic Session, the star-studded ensemble led by Aly Bain (fiddle) and Jerry Douglas (Dobro, slide guitar) from Glasgow’s Celtic Connections, came to town.

Having them play the Sage is no small feat in view of the few venues visited.

Once again there was a huge wealth of talent on display with no less than 17 musicians involved – five of them vocalists, and all them aided by Irish, Scottish, English and American players (hence Transatlantic).

With vocalists and, to a lesser degree, players repeatedly switching roles the show ran on well-greased wheels. The opening 90 minutes were solid enough as Nashville’s Jim Lauderdale vocally laid down the gauntlet.

He would have stolen the title of top act if it weren’t for former Civil Wars’ act John Paul White producing some magic.

Special note must be made for the ensemble’s tribute to an early member of the TransAtlantic Sessions, the late Texas singer-songwriter Guy Clark. Huddled together, they performed a hearty version of his song Desperadoes Waiting For A Train.

As the show progressed, Douglas became more involved, and with diminutive North Carolinian Tiff Merritt blowing the audience away accompanying herself on piano, and Karan Casey singing like an angel, plus more good work from Lauderdale and White, the evening flashed by.

Impeccable playing, anecdotes and jokes were awash as Eddi Reader not only hit the heights with her song Hummingbird but Willie Nelson’s Back To Earth.

Other landmarks included Dirk Powell with Motherless Children. As for accordionist Phil Cunningham’s Ireland Beauty, it was the most exquisite piece of playing one could wish for. Pure genius.

Maurice Hope