Fiddle

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  • Dezi Donnelly: Familiar Footsteps

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  • Donncha O’Briain: Irish Traditional Music on Tin Whistle

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  • Eilis Kennedy – Time to Sail

    Press Reviews

    Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2 presenter 18.9.02

    I think this is one of my albums of the year so far, because it’s got some of the finest versions I’ve ever heard of Crazy Man Michael, Lord Franklin and the Nic Jones song, Canadeeio. I want to play now what I think bar Sandy Denny’s version of Who Know Where The Time Goes. I think this is 100% gold.

    BBC Radio 2 Folk Web Site

    Kerry-born Éilís (say Aylish) Kennedy comes of an Irish family where both music and the Gaelic language were part of everyday life, a happy fact reflected in this debut album. Time To Sail was recorded in her home town of Dingle and features, apart from her own pure, natural voice, a ton of top Irish artists including Máire Breathnach (fiddle, viola), William Coulter (guitar), Virginia McKee (clarinet), Bruce Abraham (slide guitar) and Séamus Begley (vocal).

    Subtle and lush arrangements woven around traditional songs in two languages are the order of the day. Most of the ten tracks have been round the block many a time but Kennedy reworks them with a freshness that belies any qualms of pastiche. The Factory Girl, bouncing along on Gregg Sheehan’s funky percussion, dives into two slide guitar and kalimba-drenched barn dances; gorgeous layers of cello and clarinet drive away any echoes of Sandy Denny in Crazy Man Michael and Who Knows Where The Time Goes; Black is the Colour’s characterful phrasing and spooky slide guitar/woodwind soundscape prevents it neatly from stepping on Cara Dillon’s justly acclaimed version. Of the less familiar material, two Gaelic songs in particular tug the heartstrings – Amhrán na Leabhar (The Song Of Books), an 18th century poet’s lament for the loss of a boatload of beloved books to the sea and a song of loves’ tribulations, Tá Mé ‘mo Shuí.

    Whatever it is, that indefinable quality that raises one singer above the many in these days of talent glut, Éilís has it. A great debut from a major new talent, Time To Sail is making big waves on both sides of the pond. Let’s hope some UK gigs are in the offing – I hear she’s really stunning live. Mel McClellan – November 2002

    Live Ireland Web Site Nov 02

    What a discovery Eilis Kennedy is! We have been stunned by her debut album, Time To Sail.

    Eilis lives in Dingle, Co. Kerry and runs a music bar with her husband John. Also a high school teacher, Eilis is currently on a career break. We are the lucky ones.

    This album showcases a major new voice in Irish traditional music. Some of the country’s best musicians have gathered around to appear on this album. The guest list includes the likes of Maire Breathnach, William Coulter, Seamus Begley, and Bruce Abraham on a great slide guitar.

    There are more. Here’s the point. This woman can sing. Really sing! A lot of the female voices currently heard in Irish music are very similar, and they must be listened to closely to hear any difference. The great ones–Triona and Maighread ni Dhomnaill, Cathie Ryan, Maranna Mc Closkey and Fionola o’ Sciochru can be identified by voice in a storm! Different. Clear. Strong.

    And, now, we add Eilis Kennedy to that very special list. This is a wonderfully produced album, with a really striking cover. Lovely. Also on offer here is the definitive version of “Franklin”, the song about the 19th century explorer, Lord John Franklin, lost in a polar expedition in 1845. We heard Altan and others do this, but Eilis’ version stopped us dead in our tracks.

    A gob- smacking stunner. Great other tunes–uptempo, ballads, airs, a really lovely mix. Get your mitts on this one! and be prepared to listen and fall in love.

    This is an incredible new talent on the international scene following recent tours with William Coulter. WOW! Bill Margeson

    Pay The Reckoning Web Site Review

    A major new talent emerges!

    Kennedy’s debut is a thoughtful, intelligent and well-balanced collection of songs (and the odd tune), delivered by a singer whose control, phrasing and ability to communicate are a delight and whose backing musicians provide tasteful and sympathetic arrangements which complement her approach perfectly.

    Kennedy evidently has an affection for the material which emanated from the folk revival in England in the 60s and 70s, as four of the tracks on offer attest. Her version of Sandy Denny’s often-covered “Who Knows Where The Time Goes?” in our opinion manages to surpass the fragile beauty of the original. Her rendition of “Crazy Man Michael”, another song which will be forever associated with Denny from her performance on Fairport Convention’s “Liege and Lief”, is yet another case in point.

    However Denny is not the only troubadour of that era to inspire Kennedy. She manages to knock us for six with a poignant reading of the classic “Canadeeio” (which puts the versions by both Nic Jones and Bob Dylan in the shade). And still she finds time to resurrect, dust down and polish to a high lustre “Lord Franklin” – a song which John Renbourn and Jacqui McShee placed their stamp on many years ago.

    Elsewhere you’ll find yourself tapping your foot along to the sparse (but dramatic!) “Factory Girls” – a nod to the song tradition “across the pond”. And you’ll be captivated by the Australian song “Andy’s Gone”.

    Her version of “Black Is The Colour” invites comparisons to the recent revival of the song by Cara Dillon. The critics went wild over Dillon’s rendition on its release. However they hadn’t heard Kennedy at that stage and we respectfully suggest that anyone who rates highly Dillon’s reading of the song ought to give Kennedy a listen. Perhaps they’ll agree with us that Kennedy’s version is a much more characterful rendition.

    Three songs in Irish complete the set. “Nead na Lachan” is a jaunty jig which serves as a great introduction to the album. “Amhran na Leabhar” and “Ta Me ‘Mo Shui” on the other hand are much more complex and moving numbers which show off Kennedy’s voice to great effect.

    A mighty album, then! One which will find its way to your CD player time after time and whose nuances and subtleties will become more revealed on each playing.

    Net Rhythms Web Site

    I know next to nothing about Éilís, aside from the facts that she hails from Dingle in County Kerry and that Time To Sail is, astonishingly, her début album. It is a very fine collection, mixing traditional and contemporary material in a thoroughly engaging manner and with an equal affinity for either category of song.

    Admittedly, the track-list contains some over-familiar titles — Lord Franklin, Black Is The Colour, Canadee-I-O and two associated with Sandy Denny (Who Knows Where The Time Goes?, Crazy Man Michael) — but it’s to Éilís’s credit that her versions of the vast majority of these turn out to be among the finest available (notwithstanding my personal hobby-horse about some spurious words in CMM); and I’d even rate Éilís’s version of Black Is The Colour (which closes the album in fine style) above Cara Dillon’s then-matchless reading of only a year or so ago.

    Éilís is an exciting singer, who is clearly inspired by the texts she sings. She has a real flair for communicating expressively but not over-ornately, and possesses an enviable control of phrasing and dynamics. Her degree of accomplishment is uniformly impressive, on slower and faster material alike — her lightness and vocal control on the jig-paced opener Nead Na Lachan and the energetic Factory Girls contrasts well with the emotional impact of the Henry Lawson setting Andy’s GoneA-Droving, forinstance.

    All of which makes it all the more surprising that her name was not previously known to me. She manages to be both moving and tasteful in her interpretations, and to this end she is aided considerably by her choice of supporting tone colours and accompanying musicians, which includes Máire Breathnach (fiddle), Virginia McKee (clarinet), William Coulter (guitar), Barry Phillips (cello) and Bruce Abraham (slide guitar).

    This is a superb album, with a well-defined character and a stamp of real lasting quality, and a credit to all concerned. David Kidman

    Folk Roots Magazine

    Eilis Kennedy from Dingle Co Kerry is a quietly growing presence on Irish singing circles. Her debut album Time To Sail unveils a massively underrated vocal talent with a quiet mastery of her craft. Her voice is a thing of gentle sublime beauty, the like for which mothers would be sold and kings ransoms exchanged.. Her sweet, clear, and flowing tones make short work of demanding songs in both English and Gaelic. The material chosen includes some demanding songs from traditional epics Amhrán Na Leabhair and Ta Mé Mo Shuí, Canadee I O and Lord Franklin both hallowed pages from the Nic Jones and Martin Carthy songbook and Sandy Dennys seminal Who Knows where The Time Goes. While some of these approach standard status , Eilis not only handles these songs with care but also infuses them with a fresh buoyancy and relevance. . Two classic examples are Who Knows Where The Time Goes, a hard choice baring in mind the mighty shots Sandy, Judy Collins and Mary Black have had at this simple yet sublime allegory to Trevor Lucas. With William Coulters steel string guitar and Barry Phillips mournful cello, Eilis supple voice exhibits a steely yet reserved emotional strength. Likewise, Ta Mé Mo Shuí is equally minimalist in approach with her vocal performance shining in the quiet majesty of comfortable songs and arrangement. Its not all heavy weather though as Nead Na Lachain skips merrily along on waves of enthusiasm and a feisty percussive treatment of The Factory Girl mixes afro-American idioms with Irish vocal nous. Exhibiting a sense of restraint and care she brings a freshness to her performances suggesting comparisons with Kate Rusby, Bill Jones or closer to home Mary Black or Cara Dillon. Time To Sail is a work of gentle yet firm vocal majesty and adroit choice of material a sweetly beguiling affair the like of which falling in love with is not only just possible but inevitable.

    The Irish Times December 2001

    Without a lick of paint or a blast of fanfare, Eilis Kennedy ( one time member of the Melting Pot from Baile na nGall) has released a spectacular solo debut. Kennedy, a singer whose vocals need neither searchlight nor scaffolding to bore holes into the soul, belongs to a select company of singers (alongside Karan Casey and Virginia Rodriguez) possessd of the finesse of a seamstress and the precision of a neurosurgeon. Tá Mé ‘Mo Shuí straddles the folk/trad divide effortlessly, Kennedy’s guileless vocals hammocked by Barry Phillips’ perfectly-judged cello. Her re-working of The Factory Girl , funkily imbued with a new-found hip-swivelling optimism, gels startlingly with a pair of barndances that lift and seperate the sentiment and rhythms as though they were genetically engineered for one another. A magnificent collection. “. Siobhán Long, The Irish Times

    Irish Music Magazine

    Every once in a while, an album comes along which heralds a potentially, major yet underrated vocal talent. My first exposition to Eilis Kennedy and her debut album Time To Sail was through hearing Nead na Lachan sail through the radio waves, her clear sparkling voice and a clever arrangement made me want to checked out this Dingle based native. Now having listened to Time To Sail several times, my thoughts are unchanged Eilis Kennedy is an untapped major vocal talent waiting for the moment to shine. Why? For starters, she has a soft yet lyrical voice, which clearly sails through the albums ten, tracks and is equally at home with traditional and contemporary material. Some of the latter chosen is quite daunting including Sandy Dennys classic Who Knows where the Time Goes, Fairport Conventions Crazy Man Michael and Nic Jones s Canadee -i-o.

    In the case of Who Knows where the Time Goes where lesser hands would have made a histrionic meal, Eilis interprets Sandy Dennys wistful allegory to her then lover Trevor Lucas with a quietly impressive authority and Canadee -i-o emerges as a fresh delightful performance. Where Eilis Kennedy scores is in the subtle arrangements framing her sparkling vocal chords and a tasteful choice in material. Time To Sails success is due to taste on all fronts- a gorgeous record no more no less.

    Hot Press

    Currently on furlough from a teaching career, this fine singer has taken her time in releasing her debut album. It has been quite a while in the planning, but is well worth the wait. An engaging mix of the traditional and comtemporary, it showcases to strong effect a warm voice and also a talent for picking damn good songs. The opening track Nead Na Lachan sets the tone; bouncy and full of movement, it demonstrates an easy relationship to rhythm. The real test of an album such as this

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  • Eilis Kennedy: So Ends The Day

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  • Eilis Kennedy: Westward

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  • Fleadh: The Peacock’s Feather

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  • Frank Cassidy – Nil Gar Ann!

    Níl gar ann!- Is the title of the new CD from Cairdeas na bhFidiléirí featuring the fiddle playing of Frank Cassidy from Teelin, Co Donegal.

    The CD consists of 35 tracks running just over 59 mins playing time, it includes mostly the solo fiddle playing of Frank Cassidy and also 5 duet tracks featuring Frank playing with another Donegal fiddling great, John Doherty.

    The CD features some speech items, the voice of Frank himself also his cousin Con Cassidy, Séamus Ennis and Dr Malachy McCloskey voicing their opinion of Frank’s playing.

    The recordings cover a period in time from 1946 to 1967 and are drawn from a number of sources, The Folklore Commission, the BBC Archives, TCD and private collections.

    Some of Frank Cassidy’s music has been heard on radio but much of this material will not have been heard by most fiddle fans before.

    Although Frank Cassidy died in 1971, he is still often spoken of in traditional music circles, with very high regard. This album will be of great interest to Donegal music fans, since the fiddle playing of Frank Cassidy has not been generally available until now.

    This is an important collection of music of the man who Séamus Ennis often said was the best fiddle player that he had ever met! In a roundabout way Séamus Ennis is also involved in the title of this CD, Séamus was very keen to record Frank Cassidy however when he would eventually persuade Frank to play for him, he might play a few tunes and then put the fiddle down again exclaiming Níl gar ann! ( ” It’s no use”) he wasn’t happy with the way he was playing.

    The album comes with extensive notes and maintains the high production standards set by the previous releases from Cairdeas na bhFidiléirí.

    Copperplate is very proud to have this title on our roster and to help it achieve its full potential will be supporting this release with a full-scale promotional mail out to media and retail. Contact Copperplate for all your PR needs. Please copy us on any reviews/features/airplay. Feedback always welcome.

    Also available from Copperplate

    Con Cassidy: Traditional Fiddle Music from Donegal

    Danny Meehan: The Navvy on the Shore

    Press Reviews

    The Wall Street Journal

    “NIL GAR ANN!” by Frank Cassidy: Donegal has a long legacy of brilliant fiddlers, and Frank Cassidy (1900-1971) from Teelin was one of the best. Among the 35 tracks are two sterling fiddle duets by Cassidy and John Doherty from 1946 and three more by the pair from 1953. The CD title, “Nil Gar Ann,” means “it’s no use” and refers to Cassidy’s comment to Seamus Ennis about making music after the deaths of his brothers Johnnie and Paddy, with whom he loved to play. There’s some spectacular fiddling on this release. Earle Hitchner

    SKU: 709 Category:
    £14.99
  • Garadice

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  • Garadice: Sanctuary

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  • Garry Walsh – Uncovered

    Press Reviews

    Folk World Web Site

    Of Cork and Louth parentage, fluter Garry Walsh learnt his music from the Irish exiles around Manchester. He’s now returned to Ireland with a store of tunes which have been forgotten by the auld sod. Names such as Narrow West Street and Under the Tholsel refer to Drogheda landmarks, while Back to Skibbereen and Around Lough Ine are from the other end of the country. All the material here is played in a fine style which manages to be both fluid and rhythmic.

    Among the jigs and reels, Garry has slid in a couple of hornpipes and an enchanting slow air. There are also three Walsh family compositions here. Garry’s grandfather wrote Eileen Fahy’s Reel, a lovely flowing tune. Garry himself wrote The Travelling Lamp, and his daughter wrote Ciara’s Reel. There are so many new tunes here that it’s hard to absorb them all, but my current favourites are Casey’s Jig, deep and meaningful on the Bb flute, and Robbie’s Welcome on the high whistle.

    Garry’s flutes and whistles are joined by Dave Hennessy on button box, Clare Fitzpatrick on fiddle, Johnny Neville on guitars, Colm Murphy on bodhrán, and Ilsa De Ziah on cello. The overall sound is rich and varied, complementing the powerful earthy tones and high floating sweetness from Garry. Uncovered may be a little short on quantity, but its quality is never in doubt. An excellent debut, with more to come I’d say.

    Alex Monaghan

    TAPLAS, The Welsh Folk Magazine Aug / Sept.05 Adolygiadau / Reviews.

    THIS interesting, if rather brief, album of tunes from Co. Cork and Co. Louth is well worth a listen. The unfamiliar material is the main source of interest as, excepting three (one by Walsh’s maternal grandfather, one by himself and one by his daughter), all the tunes are traditional and have been handed down from both sides of his family, seemingly preserved because of the family’s emigration to Manchester, as they appear not to have survived in their region of origin! They certainly deserve to survive and Walsh’s persuasive renditions of them will assure this.

    Brought up in Manchester, but now living in Cork, Walsh is a fine player of flutes and whistles. His playing is assertive, without being strident or flashy, and his approach is well-judged; brisk and rhythmic enough for drive and excitement. But it’s unhurried and retains a sense of leisure and pleasure in the melodies, particularly in the jigs.

    He is ably, and tastefully, supported by Clare Fitzpatrick on fiddle and Dave Hennessy on melodeon and restrained use of bodhran and cello, in addition to solid guitar backing from John Neville.

    My sole reservation about this album is its short duration. Otherwise, highly recommended. Jem Hammond

    www.netrhythms.com.07.05

    Perhaps the biggest clue to the principal intended selling-point of this release lies in its title – the uncovering of a number of tunes which have either never been recorded before or are rare or almost forgotten (many previously existing only within the confines of Garry’s own family). The “old music from Counties Cork and Louth”, learnt from Garry’s parents over the years, indeed. The only exceptions to this are three individual tunes composed by family members, including one by Garry himself. But then again, Garry himself is only just being “uncovered” – ie discovered – as a musician, for this is his debut release.

    Manchester-born but with strong family roots in Counties Louth and Cork, Garry plays flute – and superbly too. But as well as the D flute, he also plays the B-flat and E-flat instruments which are less often heard in the tune repertoire. His playing style is at once fluid and highly rhythmic, and sometimes possesses a wonderful quality of lonesomeness in tone that is often remarked as associated with parts of Counties Clare and Galway.

    Garry’s excellent playing is complemented on this release by some equally excellent musicianship courtesy of Clare Fitzpatrick (fiddle), Dave Hennessy (melodeon), former De Dannan-ite Colm Murphy (bodhrán) and Johnny Neville (guitar). These extra musicians are used variously and sparingly, and each track has a different instrumental complement, making for a stimulating variety of texture and atmosphere.

    Highlights for me were the set of reels (track 8) which team Garry’s D-whistle with Colm’s bodhrán, the hornpipes (track 7) on which Garry’s accompanied by Clare and Dave, and the sets on which Garry plays the B-flat flute (notably the jigs on track 11), where the eerie deep quality of the flute itself is given a beautifully mellow counterpoint by Ilsa De Ziah’s guest cello contribution.

    The final set brings the whole ensemble together on stage for a relaxed pair of reels. It’s great to be able to hear so many new tunes on an album for a change. My only criticism of this fine CD is its criminally short playing time (37 minutes); why oh why?

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  • Garry Walsh: Uncovered

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  • Gatehouse: Heather Down The Moor

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  • Gatehouse: Tus Nua

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  • Geantrai DVD

    £19.99
  • Gerry Diver – Diversions

    Press Reviews

    Live Ireland Web Site

    THIS is a young fiddler!!! Wow! Joined by a myriad of guest stars, this Manchester-based fiddler is overwhelming! All the energy, all the drive, all the talent!!

    This may well be our favourite album out of all these, and he is a serious contender for Newcomer Of The Year, or Musician of the Year! Now, go find this album. Get on it, and you will be rewarded.

    All the influences, Mc Goldrick, Carty, Mairin Fahy, this boy has done his homework, practiced and practiced and come up with his own deal! We are blown away. (God help us, he also plays a great banjo and a passable bass!!) Lots of diversity. Let’s repeat. Wow!! Bill Margeson

    Net Rhythms Music Web Site

    Donegal-born, Manchester-based fiddle player Gerry presents a very eclectic mix of tunes indeed on this his debut album.

    Opening with a stirring set of reels, followed by a Grappelli-style Hooley (mm, that tasty jazzy shuffle!), a fairly laid-back version of Bonnie At Morn (with vocal by Lisa Knapp, who also sings The Blacksmith later on), then a set of Roumanian Hora. Get the picture?

    Sure, Gerry excels himself instrumentally as you’d expect (principally on fiddle, but with occasional excursions onto banjo, guitar or bouzouki), always the musical virtuoso but without being over-flashy, and sometimes he’s multi-tracked.

    Variously, he enjoys instrumental support from Ed Boyd, Tim Edey, Ollie Blanchflower, Gino Lupari, James O’Grady and Richard Pryce (to name but a few), and there’s even a Pete Townsend credited on double bass on one track!

    Taken individually, each track is a gem; Gerry has the knack of pulling together disparate musical strands into a seamless whole, at any rate within the compass of each of the individual tracks; the drawback is that in the final analysis I can’t help feeling that the very Diver-sity of styles and material weakens rather than strengthens the album’s overall identity – but you may well disagree. David Kidman

    Froots October 2003.

    Belfast fiddler Gerry Diver’s debut album lives up to it’s name, with everything from Jazz, Western swing and homegrown traditions. While his approach is cheeky and competent, it struggles as times to make a definitive personal statement.

    However, its victories outnumber its defeats; potentially a major border crosser in embryonic form.

    Hot Press. Sept 2003

    This is a grand jolly debut CD. No slouch on the fiddle and banjo, Donegal’s Diver also plays guitar, bazouki, bodhran, bass, shaker and is a dab hand at writing new tunes, several of which feature on the album notably, Hot Summer Hooley, a bouncy tribute to the swing jazz style of Stephane Grappelli. A pair of Rumanian horas and two Peter Ostroushko tracks add an international element to the mix and Lisa Knapp sings a Northumbrian lullaby called Bonnie at Morn as well as an interesting waltz tempo version of the classic The Blacksmith. Sarah McQuaid

    Pay The Reckoning. Music Web Site September 2003

    Diver (fiddle, banjo, guitar, percussion, bass) is a major talent. No two ways about it. You don’t even need to listen to the album to know that he’s in the first division. Simply check out the list of people who’ve gone out of their way to guest with Manchester’s maestro. Lisa Knapp (vocals, fiddle), Tim Edey (guitar, accordion), Lucy Randall (bodhran, bones), Gino Lupari (bodhran, bones), Ed Boyd (guitar, bouzouki), Ollie Blanchflower (double bass), Jo May (djembe), James O’Grady (pipes), Ben Clark (drums), Edel Sullivan (fiddle), Pete Townsend (bass), Johnny Hennessy-Brown (cello), Les Hill (pedal steel) and Richard Pryce (double bass) contribute their various and varied talents to a smorgasbord of an album.

    Diver’s tastes are diverse. Eastern European influences feature at various points on the album, as does a Western Swing/country jazz aesthetic on the epic “Hot Summer Hooley”.

    However Irish traditional tunes form the album’s bedrock. Some quality sets here, grounded in the “pure drop” approach, but accommodating more than a little experimentation. “Ferny Hill/Rakish Paddy/Christmas Eve” is a real corker and leads into the compelling “The Orthodox Priest/Charlie Lennon’s/The Sailor’s Bonnet”.

    “Henry’s Jig/Calliope House/The Munster Buttermilk” gets our vote for the highlight of the album. The first jig was composed by Diver himself as a tribute to his dad. The closing jig is the first tune he ever learned. There’s a very real sense of the forces that drive Diver in this set; that, despite his love of exotic musical forms from other places, his roots are very much in the Irish tradition. A modern classic. Utterly contemporary and yet solidly traditional.

    Folking.com Music Web Site

    Gerry Diver brings to mind a young Kevin Burke from the opening track ‘The Shepherd’s Bush Reel/Goldhawk Road/

    The Procrastination Reel’ and it’s bound to set the listener in mind of The Bothy Band on heat (!) with its driving rhythm

    and soaring fiddle.

    The only problem I have with it is that all of the musicians seem to have a problem in keeping up and unfortunately nobody seems to have a chance to draw breath such is the unrelenting speed. There are quite a few clipped notes in order to attain

    the speed which is a shame really as Gerry is without doubt a fine musician.

    The second track, a more evenly paced Grappelli style jazz infused number called ‘The Hot Summer Hooley’ really swings

    and collaborator Tim Edey’s “Django” guitar is the ideal compliment but why, oh why the inclusion of the pedal steel guitar – more than a bit jarring for my tastes I’m afraid.

    No, I must admit that although I know the album is supposed to focus on the instrumental talents of Gerry it is on the songs

    that I am most impressed. The simplistic approach taken on bouzouki backing the delicate (but delicious) vocals of Lisa Knapp is a real coup.

    ‘Bonny At Morn’ has long been a favourite of mine and Lisa gives it depth without making it insipid. It has to be said that when he’s not going for gold in the speed stakes this talented multi-instrumentalist proves his worth either leading the field or accompanying.

    For me, Gerry has a lot of potential but it appears at the moment it’s a case of trying a bit too hard although hopefully by

    that all important second album he’ll achieve his ultimate goal. Pete Fyfe

    The Irish Post 19.7.03

    You’re unlikely ever to find yourself thinking: now, what I’d really like to listen to is some Irish traditional music mixed in with a bit of Stefan Grappelli/ Northumbrian/ Rumanian/ English/ Ukraine music. But should that mood ever descend upon you, I have the very album.

    Diversions contains all the above — plus a few self penned numbers as well.

    Of these, The Shepherd’s Bush Reel and The Procrastination Reel put me in mind of the old joke: How do you tell one Irish tune from another? Answer: by their names.

    The thing is there’s about 6,000 pieces in the Irish national store of traditional music stretching back these last 300 years or so.

    Now we’re talking here about a very precious music, the best in the world as far as I’m concerned, and I seldom listen to anything else.

    But one would have to say that being a fairly rudimentary music, as all folk music is, 6.000 pieces is really all we need.

    Everything you can do with the ‘ould music’ has more or less been done — and there’s nothing about any of the self-penned music on this CD to persuade me otherwise.

    Let me say here and now: there’s some absolutely terrific musicians on this album, not the least Gerry Diver on fiddle himself.

    There’s some exceptional accordion playing from Tim Edey, and of course, you can’t really improve on Gino Lupari on the bodhran.

    But by the end of the album you feel with all that musical firepower as his disposal, Gerry might have been better visiting just one or two places in the world and confining his musical style accordingly. Malcolm Rogers

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  • Gerry Hanley: In The Middle Of It

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