Litha

Is this the first time in almost four years of Fiddlefreak reviews that I’ve let an entire month pass without a post? Gack! So here we go with the first review of 2012, and by God it was worth the wait. Scotland’s Aaron Jones and his partner Claire Mann make up half of a brillant new Celtic-German group called Litha. They just released their new record with an official launch at Glasgow’s huge annual music festival Celtic Connections.

Dancing of the Light (on Artes Records) contains 8 songs and 6 instrumentals from Scotland, Ireland and Germany that range from introspective contemporary folk to raging sets of traditional jigs and reels. Words cannot express the beauty evoked by Litha in this brilliant release. With excellent choice of material, impeccable performances, and exquisite production values, this is a master work of artistic creativity and execution.

Litha did not spring to life fully formed. In fact, the quartet released a previous album titled “Until the Cows Come Home” under the moniker of 2Duos. From the band’s website:

The 2Duos started out as a collaboration between Claire Mann and Aaron Jones from Scotland and Gudrun Walther and Jürgen Treyz from Germany. Although initially 2Duos started out as an experimental collaboration, we enjoyed playing and touring together so much that we decided to take the ‘project’ further and form a permanent band with a new name. ‘Litha’ is an old Anglo-Saxon word for the month of June, the time of light and the summer solstice celebrations. The band first met at Wimborne Folk Festival in England during the height of the summer in 2006 and so Litha felt like the perfect name for the band.

Dancing of the Light

Litha consists of Gudrun Walther (accordion, fiddle, vocals), Claire Mann (flute, fiddle, whistles, vocals), Jürgen Treyz (guitar, dobro, vocals), and Aaron Jones (bouzouki, guitar, vocals). Jürgen did all engineering, mixing, and mastering, and the band did all its own arranging and production for Dancing of the Light. Simply amazing.

LISTEN: Rosie´s Reels

LISTEN: Gypsy

LITHA WEBSITE

LISTEN/BUY

Bua

Another Victory for Bua. Guest review by Patrick Fitzell, Program Director at AccuRadio, an Internet radio station based in Chicago.

In the spring of their musical careers, Chicago-based trad group Bua is in full bloom. After a hectic summer festival tour schedule, it’s amazing they somehow found time to spend in the studio. The result, their sophomore release Down the Green Fields is a wonderful compilation exemplifying each musician’s years of dedication to their craft.

Down the Green Fields

Brían Ó hAirt provides pristine vocals on songs “shrouded in mystery” like “My Parents Reared Me Tenderly.” He is also a skilled sean-nós or “old style” Irish dancer and can liven up any crowd with a stomp of his foot. Séan Gavin breaths new life into “The Happy Days of Youth,” a tune popularized by flute player John McKenna back in the 20s. Brian Miller, whose picking skills are in high demand, executes perfect accompaniment on bouzouki to Ó hAirt’s vocals for the playful minstrel-like songs “Baba ‘con Raoi” and “Bó na Leath-Adhairce.” Just as Gavin plays a piper’s tune and shines, so too does Devin Shepherd on fiddle performing “Hughie Traver’s Jig.”

Having only released two full-length studio albums, Bua’s contributions to the trad scene are invaluable. (Previous Fiddlefreak review is here.)  The liner notes of Down the Green Fields list the origin of each song and tune. It’s a testament to their level of commitment to preserving and furthering traditional Irish music. Look for them on tour in 2012. –Patrick Fitzell

LISTEN: Eddie Maloney’s / Micho Russel’s (Mason’s Apron)

LISTEN: The Happy Days of Youth / Lucky in Love

BUA WEBSITE

LISTEN/BUY

Photo by Dan Tappan

Friends of Fall

East Coast alt-bluegrass band Crooked Still is in the middle of their 10th Anniversary Tour, currently on the West Coast and heading south. (I’m planning to attend their show this Friday in Arroyo Grande.) Their new 7-song EP titled Friends of Fall was released October 11th on Signature Sounds.  Since their early days, the kids have wandered a bit from the traditional pieces that were the raw material for their modern explorations. This release features creative covers of the Beatles, Paul Simon, and John Hartford as well as original pieces and a musical adaptation of a Wendell Berry poem. Yet they remain rooted in old-time Americana, with a lovely rendition of When Sorrows Encompass Me Round, and a soulful take on Pretty Bird, from the pen of West Viriginia’s legendary Hazel Dickens, who left us behind on April 22 of this year. Her songs are in good hands.

LISTEN: When Sorrows Encompass Me ‘Round (MP3)

LISTEN: Pretty Bird (MP3)

Thanks to motnovak.

LISTEN/BUY

BAND WEBSITE

Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum

Today marks the release date of Skippin’ and Flyin’ from Laurie Lewis (Spruce and Maple Music). Yes, this is yet another Bill Monroe tribute record on the 100th anniversary of his birth. God knows there were enough of those this year (and every year, in the humble opinion of ole Fiddlefreak). The Father of Bluegrass continues to spawn oodles of traditional bluegrass bands that adhere strictly to his original formula, and even his repertoire. But not Laurie. With her musical partner Tom Rozum, she has established her own smooth-yet-rootsy style that integrates West Coast bluegrass, folk, swing, old-time country and her earth-friendly originals. Kinda like Bill Monroe did.

Says Laurie: “It’s an ongoing thread in my musical life. I fell in love not just with the music, but with the vehicle for the music. I just love a string band,” she adds with a laugh. “A string band of versatile players can do just about anything — they can follow me just about wherever I want to go.”

LISTEN: Carter’s Blues

LISTEN: A Lonesome Road

Skippin’ and Flyin’ is an amazing and satisfying listen, chock full of bluegrass classics as well as little-known chestnuts that deserve the exposure. The album’s title comes from Old Ten Broeck, a signature Bill Monroe piece that Laurie reworked from various sources, and the opening track. Extensive liner notes reveal an essay from Laurie on her inspiration for this project, as well as lyrics and some surprising guest appearances (from Linda Ronstadt to Nadine Landry of Foghorn fame). With sources that include Flatt and Scruggs, Jimmy Rodgers, Maybelle Carter, Utah Phillips, Bill Monroe, and herself, she has produced a fine bluegrass record by inspiring top shelf string players to a new level. Kinda like Bill Monroe did.

Laurie Lewis Website

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The Kane Sisters

Traditional fiddlers Liz and Yvonne Kane are sisters from Letterfrack, a small village on the wild and scenic coast of Connemara, in County Galway.  They released their third album Side by Side in July 2010, and kindly sent me a review copy all the way from Ireland. This record deserves attention as a brilliant example of top-shelf Irish traditional fiddling from two internationally recognized masters of the art. Playing in unison as they would in a pub session, they weave an enchanting spell that can only come from musicians joined by family and blood. Lovely backing for the tunes is provided by Daithi Sproule on guitar, Mick Conneely on bouzouki, Patsy Broderick on piano, and Ottawa Valley stepdancer Nathan Pilatzke.

Side by Side

For material, Liz and Yvonne like to explore modern compositions from fiddlers such as Paddy Fahey and Paddy O’Brien, writers of  shifty tunes that don’t always stick within preconceived boundaries of minor or major scales. Their repertoire encompasses mostly reels and jigs with the occasional hornpipe or slow air. Recording in their home in the late hours of evening, they often play the tunes in unusual keys. In a recent interview in Irish Music Magazine, Liz said, “We changed a lot of normal keys to different keys. We prefer it; it sounds brighter and nicer.”

THE KANE SISTERS WEBSITE

LISTEN: The Starry Lane to Monaghan / Star of Ireland / Sean sa Ceo

LISTEN: Paddy Fahey’s Jig / Manorhamilton The 8th of May / The Wednesday Visit