On Six Days In Down, two cutting edge talents on the Irish music scene – the masterful uilleann piper John McSherry and fiddle virtuoso Dónal O’Connor, join forces with the globe-trotting slide-guitarist Bob Brozman, to explore fresh perspectives on the living tradition. Featuring the haunting vocals of Stephanie Makem, the trio deliver an album of startling beauty with splashes of gentle humour.
Bob Brozman is king of the Hawaiian slide-guitar and the world’s leading player of National steel guitars. He has spent a lifetime dedicated to playing, researching and recording music from numerous islands around the world, and on Six Days In Down, he collaborates with two up-and-coming Irish folk stars to bring his uniquely international sound to traditional melodies.
A composer, arranger and musician of world class renown, John McSherry was a founding member of top trad band Lúnasa and during his career, he has taken the art of uilleann piping to new heights. His critically acclaimed solo debut album Soma, was released earlier this year.
Dónal O’Connor is from a musical legacy of at least five generations of fiddle players and has toured extensively with bands such as At First Light, which also includes McSherry in its accomplished line-up. He is widely regarded as one of the best fiddle players of his generation.
This album features some wonderful traditional tunes that have been arranged by the three musicians such as ‘Cailleach A Shúsa’ (‘The Hag In The Blanket’), which dates to about 1850 and is about the Cailleach, a powerful hag in Irish mythology who rules the winter months between Samhain and Bealtaine. A well-known standard ‘Bean An Fhir Ruaidh’ (The Red Haired Man’s Wife’) is a story of unrequited love for a married woman and features two Kona Hawaiian guitars. ‘A Mháire Bruineall’ is a song from Co. Donegal that was originally composed by Tadgh O Tiománaidhe in the mid-1700s, in an effort to woo back his true love, and features the wonderfully haunting vocals of Stephanie Makem.
As well as beautifully arranged traditional pieces, this album also features several original compositions. ‘Beer Belly Dancing’ features Irish phrasing played in Arabic mode to create a funky mix and ‘Brelydian’ uses the Lydian mode typical to Malian music. ‘Róise Na bhFonn’ (‘Tuneful Rose’) is a slow air that was composed by Dónal in homage to his grandmother Rose, who was his first fiddle teacher.
Recorded in six days in Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick, this album is bursting with fresh and passionate music that draws beautiful soundscapes of unusual timbres and rhythms that support the traditional melodies.
Six Days In Down Tour (presented by Moving on Music)
20th – 27th October 2010
Wednesday 20th October
Doors 8pm
BELFAST
Empire Music Hall (as part of the Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s)
Thursday 21st October
8pm
ARMAGH
Market Place Theatre & Arts Centre
Friday 22nd October
8pm
BANGOR
North Down Museum
Saturday 23rd October
8pm
CASTLEWELLAN
The Lodge
Sunday 24th October
8pm
BRAY, CO. WICKLOW
Mermaid Arts Centre
Tuesday 26th October
8pm
LONDON
Café Oto (supported by Creative Industries Innovation Fund)
Wednesday 27th October
8pm
OMAGH
Strule Arts Centre
For further information please contact
Ailís Corey: Marketing Officer – Moving on Music
Email: ailis@movingonmusic.co.uk
Phone: +44 28 9024 8818