Merry Christmas everyone! I hope everyone reading this has their holiday preparation in line and is gearing up for a lovely, relaxed time with friends and family.
First up: the other night I put on “Spinal Tap 2” – which is a very well done sequel to the first – and was delighted to see a bit of traditional music in it, particularly because I recognized Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s own Pete Dawson, playing away. Dawson’s one of the stalwarts down there and I reached out to him with – perhaps with a bit of jealousy – to find out who else was in the scene. He told me that it was bouzouki player Beth Patterson who got the gig and invited Frank Bladen (bodhrán), Matt Rhody (fiddle) and himself to join in. So, congrats to everyone on being involved in such a cool film and for having the opportunity to work with the great Rob Reiner (RIP). Outstanding stuff, indeed.
Next up: have you heard about the Christy Moore documentary that’s will release on New Year’s Eve? It’s called “Cartlann Christy Moore” and it will explore the man whose art and leadership has had a massive influence on Ireland for well over 50 years. I’m sure I don’t need to remind any reader that Moore is a defining presence in Irish music, his influence extending beyond his work with the seminal groups Planxty and Moving Hearts and his solo career to encompass decades of political advocacy and social activism – this film will be a must-see.
It’s an interesting approach. Director Ciarán Ó Maonaigh, who also directed “Brendan Gleeson’s Farewell to Hughes’s,” has not only conducted extensive new interviews with Moore, but he’s used Moore’s expansive personal collection of manuscripts, recordings, letters, and lyrics (that are now held by the Irish Traditional Music Archive, to structure the story. It’s an excellent and elegant way to explore the life of one of Ireland’s most consequential artists.
“Cartlann Christy Moore” will premiere on December 31 on TG4. Definitely one to check out!
In the media yoke this week is “Rian / Trace: Traditional Irish Music on the Bouzouki” the debut solo EP from Ruairí McGorman. An album of solo bouzouki music, it’s a lovely offering from one of the finest traditional musicians in Ireland today.
From County Meath, McGorman is of important musical stock. He grew up with musical parents, his mother Catherine McEvoy and father Tom McGorman both being very fine flute players. In addition, his uncle John McEvoy is an important fiddle player whose new album “The Boyne Mist” I’ll write about in the near future. This background’s given him superb musical instincts and has made him a first call accompanist for folks like Aidan Connolly, Diarmuid Ó Meachair, Dan Brouder & Angelina Carberry, his brother Fergus and others. He’s also a member of the group Keane Connolly McGorman, whose 2023 debut on Raelach Records I loved and garnered them RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Award nominations for “Best Folk Group” and “Best Folk Album.”
“Rian” consists of six tracks that do an excellent job of showcasing McGorman’s fine playing. The Greek bouzouki (which has three double courses and a bowl-shaped back, as opposed to four double courses and a flat back, which is the other sort of bouzouki typical to traditional Irish music) is the center of attention here, but McGorman adds layers of guitar, harmonium, and bodhrán that round out the sound. He has a unique musical voice and uses it well in realizing a sophisticated artistic vision. This, combined with a lovely tune selection, make this a truly compelling album. There are a couple of very nice O’Carolan tunes in “Maurice O’Connor” and “Sí Beag, Sí Mór,” both of which are done well and I feel capture the spirit of O’Carolan’s music. One of the album’s standouts for me is “An Coisir,” a sean nós song he’s taken from the singing of Nell Ní Chróinín, but I think the album’s finest track is “An Ciarraioch Mallaithe,” a song he’s adapted from the singing of the great Seamus Begley. He manages to adapt the tender quality of Begley’s music to bouzouki very well here.
“Rian / Trace” is a brilliant entry into the solo spotlight and a full album is in the works for 2026. McGorman’s a sensational backer and fans of not only the instrument but traditional music in general will want to check this one out. Highly recommended! For more information and to purchase, visit Bandcamp.
