ENTHRALLED
In January of 2007, I did a show in Glasgow at the Celtic Connections Festival with a talented traditional flute player called Nuala Kennedy. We had got to know each other teaching at the Sunshine Coast Celtic Music camp the previous summer, and I was very happy when she asked me to be part of the show. Every year, Celtic Connections sponsors three up and coming artistes to create an hour’s worth of new music and present it at the festival. Nuala’s show Astar (Journeys) was a part of this programme.
We talked about doing more collaborating, and started to exchange tunes and ideas. In March, she came over to Canada and we went into the studio to record. The idea was to do a CD of her music and mine, using backup musicians from both sides of the Atlantic. We did a lot of work in the studio with Bill Brennan on piano – I love Bill’s lyrical style and he happened to be in Toronto from Newfoundland where he currently resides. Also joining us in the studio was Joe Macerollo who has worked extensively with R.Murray Schafer, as well as groups such as Quartetto Gelato. Nuala is currently recording with Scottish musicians, and I will be adding my fiddle and doing the editing and mixing as soon as I am able.
The sound of this CD is more traditional, but full of surprises – both of us have a whacky sense of composition which is grounded in the tradition but at the same time pushes the envelope.
Release due in early 2008
Check out some sound bytes
- Green Lady (Nuala)
- The Whispering Wind (Oliver)
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