This new album "One Way Journey Home" began long before I was
even born. During the 1930's in Dublin Ireland my Grandfather
Dave Page was a master Uilleann piper who played in Leo
Rowsome's famous piping quartet. Dave Page's Irish dance
band "The Siamsa Gael Celidhe Band" made two 78 RPM recordings
in the 1930's, some of the earliest recordings of Irish music.
These stories and songs were passed down to me like treasures
untold.
In the spring of 2014 I sat in front of a vintage microphone
with my 1942 Gibson Girl in my lap sharing these tall tales
and new found stories with
Jason Mraz who was documenting them in hopes that one day they
would be discovered and passed on to you. It is a collection
of songs which bring you closer to realize we are all on
journey: a longing to feel home and to find the blessings of
life. This is what I have tried to capture with the songs on
this record ranging from ancient traditional Irish songs
combined with my own written songs.
Me Mum Moyra once told me "It takes a village..." This
collection of songs is a collaboration of many gifted
musicians and friends. Eric Rigler who has been called the
most recorded Irish piper in the world along with masterful
maritime musicians Jeff Pekarek & Dennis Caplinger spent many
hours creating the soundscape to these stories. The cover
explains the beautiful metaphor for what the deep blue sea
stands for to me. Great open water has a certain attraction to
people, to stare at it so that their minds start wandering
off. I guess amongst others the concepts of space, motion and
the sound of waves are responsible for this and also the
history it bears in it depths is fascinating. Especially the
sea travels of the early days, it has an inspirational effect.
During my journey as a wandering performing songwriter I am
often asked "Where are you from?" The quick answer is I was
born in London though I have lived in many places I currently
reside in San Diego. The heart of that question is an easy one
to discover. On the other hand the question “Where are you
heading?” is sometimes harder to answer. As I travel onwards
with my guitar in one hand and a suitcase packed with dreams
in the other I am drawing a line and connecting dots along the
way that is slowly leading me back home.
~Gregory Page~
