Brian Conway
First Through The Gate
Smithsonian Folkways SFW CD 40481; 56 minutes;
2002
Born in New York, Brian is widely acknowledged as
one of the best Irish-style fiddle players in the US and as a leading exponent
of the so-called New York Sligo style, inherited from great players of the
1920s like Michael Coleman, James Morrison, Paddy Killoran, and Lad O'Beirne
through the next generation of players represented by Andy McGann and Martin
Wynne. Conway's highly ornamented, fluid, yet bouncy playing is in evidence
throughout, and his choice of tunes makes frequent references to the early
sources of his music, the 78 recordings of the great Sligo masters.
A magical sound is heard
on the duets with Andy McGann, one of his mentors, or Patrick Mangan, a former
star pupil who won the All-Ireland title at age 10, and on the trio tracks
where Conway combines forces with both McGann and Mangan. Conway pays tribute
to the late Martin Wynne, another most important influence in his development
as a fiddle player, by playing four reels composed by Wynne. Throughout,
stellar accompaniments are provided by Felix Dolan (piano), Mark Simos and John
Doyle (guitars), Pat Kilbride (cittern), and Myron Bretholz (bodhran, bones).
An exceptional album of genuine traditional music.
This review was written originally by Philippe Varlet for
his Celtic Grooves newsletter – www.celticgrooves.com
– and the CD is available from Philippe at that site.