If it’s the middle of July then it means it’s time for the Catskills Irish Arts Week, which at this very moment is in full swing up in East Durham, N.Y. Director Paul Keating has once again assembled an exciting group of tutors who I’m sure are keeping everyone stuck into the music till all hours, as is tradition. It’s always a great time and is one of the key events on the traditional music calendar each year – best wishes to everyone on having a memorable time!
In the media yoke this week is “Across the Atlantic” by Andrew Caden and Conor McDonagh. Caden and McDonagh are two young musicians who have a very bright future in the music in front of them and this, an outstanding album of dynamic flute and fiddle music, is an extraordinary start. If you love straight up traditional music played with impressive spirit, this is an album you’ll want to make an effort to hear.
Caden, who grew up in Maryland, is a top-class, All-Ireland winning (U18, 2017) fiddle player. There’s incredible expression in his music, which is stylistically rooted in County Sligo, particularly through the playing of his teacher Brian Conway and also that of Conway’s teacher Martin Wynne. Although a widely respected musician, one the most intriguing things about Caden is how deeply informed he is by the music’s history. It’s a passion he’s developed over the years on his own, but also through a research fellowship at Boston College's Irish Studies department and an internship at the Irish Traditional Music Archive in Dublin.
McDonagh is also an All-Ireland champion (U18 Duet, 2022, with Aoife Johnston), and an exceptionally gifted young musician. Hailing from Killavil, in the heart of Coleman country in County Sligo, he has crafted a distinctive personal style that pairs beautifully with Caden’s playing. Already making his mark in the most discerning circles of traditional music, McDonagh’s reputation is set to grow rapidly with the release of this recording. Together, Caden and McDonagh are a formidable duo.
Backing them on this recording are piano player Catherine McHugh, a widely appreciated pianist who is perhaps best known for her work with Frankie Gavin and John Blake, one of the great musicians in the music who has contributed to many fine albums over the years. They both provide a more than solid harmonic foundation.
The album is fabulous throughout. Caden and McDonagh’s music is crisp and expressive and they’ve made some absolutely fascinating tune selections. “The Rambling Sailor / Follow Me Down to Carlow / Captain Rock” is an excellent example. They’re firing on all cylinders playing wise, but the tunes, the first tune coming from the playing of Paddy O’Brien & Seamus Connolly, the second from Joe Burke, and the third a version of “The Old Bush” sourced from a 1925 Michael Coleman and Tom Morrison record, are unusual and very tasteful. Another track that fits this description is “The Bowling Green / Desperate Housewives.” Comprised of a tune sourced from Boston banjoist Jimmy Kelly and the great John Carty (who is also the album’s producer), it’s a standout as well. Other great tracks with cool little wrinkles include the lovely pair of hornpipes “The Galway Bay / Jim Coleman’s,” the jigs “The Pullet Wants a Cock / Do It in Jig Time,” and “The Belles of St. Louis / Seán McGuire’s” where they’re joined by Ryan Sheridan on bodhrán. They’re all a pleasure to listen to.
Each musician features on a solo track, Caden with “The Woodland Flowers,” a tune Michael Coleman recorded as “Mrs. Kenny’s Barndance,” and McDonagh with “The Widow’s Daughter / The Gentle Dentist / Speed the Plough,” tunes that come from Patsy Hanly, Desi Wilkinson, and Mick Woods, respectively. Caden has brilliant bite and expressive feel on his, while the thing that stands out to me about McDonagh’s playing is his sweet tone and gorgeous flow. Just fiendish playing on these tracks.
“Across the Atlantic” is a lively, finely wrought collection of traditional tunes driven by Caden and McDonagh’s combustable energy. Their playing is full of life, precision and deep respect for the tradition, and although rooted in the past it never feels anything less than fresh. This album isn’t just a promising first step for these two musicians, it’s a powerful arrival. If you’re into really well informed traditional music played with grace, grit, and heart, consider this one essential listening. Highly recommended! For more info and to purchase, visit https://racketrecords.bandcamp.com/.
