IrishMusicInfo
The Sunday Tribune Weekly Traditional Music Column by Fintan Vallely
991121
Altan were the core players at the recent Eithne N’ Uallach‡in tribute concert in Vicar Street, Dublin. MairŽad N’ Mhaonaigh and Dermot Byrne were in terrific drive with Ciar‡n Tourish and Kieran Curran, Mark Kelly back on guitar, and fiddler Paul O'Shaughnessy as guest. Far from a token benefit this concert was a well-considered spread of good music. Paul Brady made art out of nostalgia ‡ la John Coltraine on The Homes of Donegal, soaring at high altitude with N’ Mhaonaigh in swapped verses of Gleannt‡in Ghleas Ghaoth Dobhair , magnificent on an a cappella Shamrock Shore. Donal Lunny kept a back seat, Maighread N’ Dhomhnaill delivered a superb Johnny Seoighe, and with sister Tr’ona N’l sŽ 'na L‡ and Spanish Lady. Flute player Desi Wilkinson's Cran emphasised the Northern slant of this celebration of the Dundalk musician, its singer Sean Corcoran noting the Louth provenance of the song Dœlam‡n, associated with Clannad and Donegal. Padraig’n N’ Uallach‡in reflected on her late sister's creativity in song writing and flute playing, this in local lyrics, a moving, plainchant-like ambience with superbly strong voice. Len Graham's Sweet Bann Water was a song he had contributed to the late artist's repertoire: 'After dawning there comes a morning, and after morning there comes a day'. These words, in the positive thrust of the recital, were empathised with in a strong fiddle performance by her children D—nal and Siœin with Gerry O'Connor, and in the Cuimhne Eithne composition played by M‡ire Bhreathnach. The wonderful evening marched out dancing to the taps of an exuberant Ira Bernstein matching ornament to superb, lifting tunes from a dozen and more players on stage. Another Donegal fiddler Liz Doherty cuts loose from the Bumblebee hive at the Harcourt Hotel tomorrow night with a new swarm that has bodhr‡n player Gino Lapari, Geordie guitarist Ian Carr, and Co. Derry fiddler Clare McLaughlin. The Harcourt too has re-launched its Young Musician of the Year heats on Tuesdays - promoter Donal Cassidy says that the still-outstanding bulk of the prize-fund for last year's winner - fiddler Dezi Donnelly - is tied into a recording deal with Cassidy for his Celtic Note enterprise, but is in process (soes such an obligation perhaps diminish the award?). Sprung last week too in time for Xmas stockings - in new ambience at Doheny & Nesbitt's of Dublin - was Phil Callery's Long Wave Band album, while more grandiosely at Ceol, Smithfield, Helen Brennan's long-awaited opus The story of Irish Dance arrived from O'Brien Press. Sliabh Notes, with fiddler Matt Cranitch and accordion player Donal Murphy, keep up their Sliabh Luachra momentum at Dolan's of Limerick on Wednesday next, with Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill in Wexford the same night. On Thursday Hayes is at Vicar Street, Dublin, on Friday at St. Anne's cathedral, Belfast, and Saturday at The Stray Leaf, Mullaghbane, Co. Armagh.
©Fintan Vallely, IrishMusicInfo.com
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