From left, Matt Molloy, John Carty and Arty McGlynn.
By Daniel Neely
You know it’s going to be a great week when a new album from banjo and fiddle player John Carty comes across your desk, but when there are actually two albums from him to savor you’re in for something really special. “Settle Out Of Court” is one of the delightful new releases I’ll write about this week. Here, Carty is paired with his daughter Maggie (banjo, vocal, piano) and the results are lovely. The other release is “Out of the Ashes” on which Carty is featured alongside legends Matt Molloy (flute) and Arty McGlynn (guitar). It’s a high-octane offering that trad fans will love.
John and Maggie Carty’s CD “Settle Out Of Court” is a cracker of an album. While many readers will be familiar with John’s playing, fewer will be aware of Maggie’s, who proves herself a tremendous talent and shines throughout.
As one might expect, the album features several attractive fiddle/banjo duets. The interplay on tracks like the barndance set “The Old Timer / …”, the slide set “The Turn / …”, and the polkas “Memories Of Ballymote / …” is superb and is broadly representative of the whole album’s music. I am particularly drawn to the double barreled banjo work on “The Frost is All Over / …”, which has a great sound and the kind of lift you’d expect from banjo drivers named “Carty,” but which also seems to possess a general spontaneity that gives it some a bit of headroom.
https://youtu.be/L7jTeuJjFMg
The instrumental tracks are balanced with several songs from Maggie. Included is a marvelous version “Down by the Sally Gardens,” as are several others, including “Loch Erne Shore” and “When the Breakers Go Back On Full Time,” which Maggie does tremendous justice with. The vocal tracks are indeed some of the album’s best.
The Cartys are joined on select tracks by Dónal Lunny (bouzouki, bodhrán, guitar), Shane McGowan (guitar), and Paul Gurney (bass), each of whom enhances the tracks on which they appear.
Overall, “Settle Out Of Court” is a satisfying album that’s long on charm and short on pretension – the two Cartys convey a real sense of fun. The tune selection is especially interesting and it opens the door for some great musical moments, particularly from Maggie who proves herself a great banjo player and an impressive singer. Recommended!
And then there’s the other one. Recorded live at Matt Molloy’s famous pub in Westport, Co. Mayo, “Out of the Ashes,” features Carty (who plays fiddle here, nary a banjo to be heard), with Molloy, and McGlynn, three of the finest musicians you’re likely to find. And they’ve done something exquisite here in an album that captures these three musicians together in the finest of lights. The lift and powerful conviction in each man’s music is clearly evident on every track and the result in an album that will absolutely captivate traditional music listeners.
John Carty, center, performing with daughter Maggie.
In particular, I’m drawn to the polka set “Francie Campbell / …” the jig set “The Geese in the Bog / …” and the reel “Green Fields Of Glentown” because the playing and the balance between the instruments is so nice. Tracks like “Twilight In Portroe / …” and “County Tyrone / …” are great because of their brilliant warmth, while the march “Napoleon Crossing The Alps” conveys the martial spirit of marches in a controlled and very expressive way. Just brilliant.
In the end, “Out of the Ashes” is a beautiful and sublime album that anyone who loves instrumental traditional music should own. Although recorded “live,” there’s great polish in the music. And while each player is at the top of his game, the whole here really is greater than even the sum of its parts. Molloy, Carty, and McGlynn’s music has great energy and conveys the kind of comforting “pure drop” feel you would hope to find were you out looking for tunes in the west of Ireland. Definitely one to check out! For more information about either CD or for information about how to buy, visit www.johncartymusic.com.
