“Baaro Saadhanakerige” • with Raghu Dixit

“Baaro Saadhanakerige” • with Raghu Dixit

I met and immediately locked with the amazingly powerful and soulful singer Raghu Dixit in Bengaluru, India. We played a piece of poetry by Dr. Da. Ra. Bendre that he had set to music — a traveling song of of leaving your home to search for what may be better, only to return to your home and find that it has been the true place for you all along.

Streets of Kolkata • "Manyota dao Jibonke" with Arko Mukhaerjee

Streets of Kolkata • "Manyota dao Jibonke" with Arko Mukhaerjee

Introduced by a friend of a friend, Arko Mukhaerjee and I would hang and make music together multiple times during my days in Kolkata, India. This video is an original song of his, speaking about how respect for life can get you to life’s next levels.

Wooden Doll Village Festival • with Debalina, Arpan & Pritam

Wooden Doll Village Festival • with Debalina, Arpan & Pritam

Less than 12hours after arriving to India, my family and I were heading north out of Kolkata towards Natungram, a small village known for their wooden doll carving tradition. It was our first time in the country and just about everything would be new — including two of the three people I was to be playing with.

Got an Old Upright in the AirBnB • with Michael Biggins

Got an Old Upright in the AirBnB • with Michael Biggins

Michael and I met at my first few jam session down in Glasgow. His rhythm, harmony, and left hand bass saved the day for me, and we planned to get together after the holidays. Luckily, my AirBnB came with an upright piano that was relatively in tune—5 stars for amenities.

Tunes in the Arisaig House Bar with Eilidh Shaw & Ross Martin

Tunes in the Arisaig House Bar with Eilidh Shaw & Ross Martin

When I mentioned to friends I was heading up to the western Highlands of Scotland, I kept hearing that I should meet fiddler Eilidh Shaw and guitarist Ross Martin. They were right. We met on many different occasions and were able to record in an amazing location.

"Peggy Gordon" w/ Tommy O'Sullivan

"Peggy Gordon" w/ Tommy O'Sullivan

Back in 2013, I was headed down the west coast of Ireland and landed in Dingle for a day. As I order a drink at the Courthouse Pub, the man behind the bar asks, "Do you play the fiddle?" Yes. "Is your name Casey?" Yes. This man is Tommy O'Sullivan and he runs the pub with his wife Saundra. It turns out we had met in Texas. When planning to return to Ireland with my family, a stopover in Dingle was a must.

Pub Session with Blackie O'Connell & Cyril O'Donoghue

Pub Session with Blackie O'Connell & Cyril O'Donoghue

Six years ago, I randomly met uilleann piper Blackie O’Connell and bouzouki player Cyril O’Donoghue while traveling through Doolin, Ireland. We had a memorable pub session night and reconnected on my Otherlands travels…at the very same pub! It was a wild night of tune energy.

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OTHERLANDS: Spain [Recap]

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OTHERLANDS: Spain [Recap]

Our travels kicked off in September 2019 with six weeks in the Iberian Peninsula. During our time living in Valencia, Spain, we had the chance to do some exploring but hadn’t yet made it to Andalucía or Galicia as a family, so that is where our Otherlands journey begins…

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"K" with Anxo Pintos

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"K" with Anxo Pintos

Two days before leaving Spain, I met with Galician master hurdy gurdy musician and composer Anxo Pintos. Instrumental and personal synergy were immediate and before we knew it, the sun had gone down.

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"Muiñeira de Negros / Noitébrega" with Begoña Riobo

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"Muiñeira de Negros / Noitébrega" with Begoña Riobo

For collaboration #4, I received my first Galician fiddle lesson from Begoña Riobo. She showed me the ways of muiñeiras, xotas, and ornamentation. I showed here the way of the hórreo.

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"A Miña Burriña" with Xosé Liz & Hugo Franco

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"A Miña Burriña" with Xosé Liz & Hugo Franco

While in up in the northwest Galicia area of Spain, I prepared material for a trio gig with Xosé Liz (bouzouki) and Hugo Franco (guitar). Here is an arrangement of A Miña Burriña from our collaboration.

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"Elzic's Farewell" with Javi Gómez

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"Elzic's Farewell" with Javi Gómez

On my final afternoon in Seville, I was able to meet flamenco guitarist Javi Gómez. We twisted up an old American fiddle tune with a standard flamenco farruca guitar melody for a lovely melding of our traditions.