Pat Donohue, Diane Perry play the Minstrel Oct. 16
It started as a happy accident.
Guitarist Pat Donohue and violinist Diane Perry were attending the 2015 Spring Acoustic Getaway sponsored by the nonprofit Folk Project.
Perry had admired Donohue’s work and wanted the chance to play something – anything – with him. But a number of other music fans and musicians kept approaching him with similar requests, and the chance to meet him never materialized.
However, toward the end of Getaway, Perry spied Donohue by himself. She introduced herself as a fan and asked if he would mind doing a song with her.
“We sat down under a couple of trees,” she recalls. “It was a gorgeous day. Other people started joining in. We ended up playing for about an hour.”
Donohue, for his part, remembers that they started by playing the song “Secret Love.” “It was completely impromptu,” he says. “She sang the heck out of that song, and she played it well, too.”
“It was marvelous,” Perry says. “When you do something that’s not planned, the accompanist determines the groove and the setting of the song. He did that song in such a different way that I am used to.”
Both musicians so enjoyed that jam session that they will attempt to recreate it on the stage of the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship tonight. The concert is part of the Minstrel acoustic concert series sponsored by the Folk Project.
Perry (backed by piano and bass) is scheduled to do an opening set, with Donohue as the headliner. But partway through Donohue’s set, Perry will join him on stage and the two will play.
Though they may discuss some ideas before the concert, neither musician wants to overthink what they will perform. “I’m used to working spontaneously,” Donohue says. “I’d like to see us arrange something on stage in front of the audience.”
Donohue says they might or might not repeat any songs from the Acoustic Getaway jam. “I just enjoy hearing Diane sing,” he says. “I had only heard her play fiddle before. When she started singing, her voice was so beautiful it knocked me out.”
Perry says she was flattered just to be able to perform with Donohue. She is a particular fan of his work in the house band for the Garrison Keillor radio show “Prairie Home Companion.” (Donohue also appeared in the film version of the show.)
“Playing with Pat felt like a conversation,” she says. “That’s one of the reasons I got into jazz. It felt very comfortable.”
Donohue has won plenty of enthusiasts over the years, including Leo Kottke and the late Chet Atkins. His songs have been covered by Suzy Bogguss and Kenny Rogers, among others.
The fingerpicking style for which Donohue is known comes from several sources. Donohue cites early blues players such as Blind Blake, Skip James, Robert Johnson, and Big Bill Broonzy among his inspirations.
“The Piedmont blues musicians influenced me,” Donohue says. “They had a melodic style, almost a ragtime style.”
Though Perry considers herself more of a jazz artist, she finds common ground with acoustic blues and folk artists such as Donohue. Since 2009, she has been a member of the Folk Project, which includes both performers and non-performers.
For her opening set at the Minstrel, Perry will play some of the songs from her upcoming album. “After that, I’m going to be in audience, enjoying Pat’s performance, until I have to join him. I’m not sure what will happen. I’ll be as surprised as anyone.”
PAT DONOHUE AND DIANE PERRY
WHEN: 8 tonight
WHERE: Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown
TICKETS: $9 admission, plus a free-will offering after the performance.
INFORMATION: 973-335-9489 or www.folkproject.org