DEZI DONNELLY: FAMILIAR FOOTSTEPS
Dezi Donnelly: fiddle
Andy Jones: guitar, piano, mandola
In recent years, fiddle player Dezi Donnelly has made a name for himself as one of the brilliant musicians to come out of the Manchester Irish scene. His aggressive, Sean-McGuire-tinged fiddle playing has been featured on a few obscure recordings on the German label Magnetic Music--this includes a duet recording with flute player extraordinaire Michael McGoldrick made after the two won the All-Ireland duet competition as teenagers. Donnelly's style has antecedents in the family. His uncle was the legendary Des Donnelly, also a fiddle player of uncommon abilities, who died tragically young in a construction site accident. Interestingly, this first solo album, while having plenty of zest and brilliance, shows a Dezi Donnelly who puts finesse and subtlety over histrionics. Which is fortunate because Donnelly has a great touch and sense for variation. This is a terrific fiddle recording, which I would recommend to anyone who is interested in Irish fiddle playing. In my mind, it ranks up there with Paddy Glackin's fabled first LP.
Contents:
1. Reels: Paddy Ryan's Dream / Dowd's Favourite / Phelim's Frolic
2. Jig: Padgin O'Rafferty
3. Reels: Conor Tully's No. 1 / Maud Miller's / Sean McGuire's
4. Jigs: Tommy Peoples' Jig / The Kilfenora
5. Gan Ainm
6. Hornpipes: The Second Star / The Sunshine
7. Reels: The Spey in Spate / Cape Breton Welcome to Shetland
8. Jigs: The Knocknagow Jig / The Maids on the Green
9. Reel: Lord Gordon's Reel
10. Jigs: Tone Rowe's / Trip to Athlone / Cathal McConnell's
11. Reels: Conor Tully's No. 2 / The Cogger's Quilt / Humours of Westport
12. Reels: Fisherman's Island / The Lads of Laois
13. Air: Paddy's Rambles through the Park
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