71 f
2Jess Hall Bookshelves (Own label, JH001CD). Nine elegantly melodic originals and one unaccompanied traditional song on this impressive debut by captivatingly-voiced English singer. Instrumental support comes from producer Barney Morse-Brown’s cello and the banjo, harmonium and hammered dulcimer of Stornoway’s Jon Ouin.
www.jesshallsongs.co.uk
1 Various Artists 25 Versiones Clásicas De ‘El Manisero’ (Tumbao Cuban Classics TCD801). Definitive, 25 non-stop renditions of The Peanut Vendor, aka El Manisero, the universally familiar Moisés Simons son- pregón – continuously restyled by Louis Arm- strong, Stan Kenton, Xavier Cugat and every classic Cuban ensemble, chronological since 1928! Via Discovery –
discovery-records.com
2Allan Yn Y Fan Cool, Calm & Collected (Steam Pie, SPCD1017S). This lovely introduc- tion to the courtly elegance of traditional Welsh music is a digital re-mastering of favourites from AYYF’s five previous releases. The instrumental dances have a graceful French quality, and Lisa Lân is a traditional song of beauty.
www.ayyf.co.uk
1 Josie Lloyd One More Time... (Own label, no cat no). This Devon-based acoustic guitarist / singer got turned on to country blues at age fifteen, acquired a shiny Nation- al guitar and built a repertoire of old blues and some self-penned numbers. Pretty good, nice clean fingerpicking, but she could well lose some irritating vocal mannerisms.
www.josielloyd.co.uk
1 Winston Mcanuff And Fixi A New Day (WAGRAM B00G6PS690). Gruff-toned Jamaican vocal vet meets up with French accordeon player for an unlikely and on the whole surprisingly fruitful collaboration. Reg- gae, Afrobeat and more delivered with an unusual Parisian twist.
www.facebook.com/wmcanuff/
1 Skylark Song Relent (Roseberry RBR003). English duo whose finger-style guitar and close vocal harmonies evoke early Simon & Garfunkel. Emma Davis has a powerfully dis- tinctive voice and Alex McRae is a terrific pick- er, but they’re probably more gutsy live than in the studio.
www.skylarksong.co.uk
1 Dave Byrne With The Guss & Crook Band And Chorus Cheer Up! Ye Poor British Miners (Own label, SN6). Subtitled Mining Songs From The North Somerset Coal- field And Beyond, this promises interesting and unusual repertoire but only partially delivers.
davidwbyrneuk@yahoo.com
@ Dobet Gnahoré Na Drê (Contre-Jour CJ031). Extraordinary airy-voiced Ivorian singer poorly served by clever, over-fussy pro- duction. Too many sound effects – police cars, children’s voices – go along with rhythms that chop and change in midstream, arrange- ments that don’t settle.
www.contrejour.com
2Odetta Odetta Sings Ballads And Blues / At Carnegie Hall (Soul Jam 600833). Two landmark LPs from 1956 and 1960, remastered and attractively packaged together on single disc. Martin Luther King Jr called her the queen of American folk music and Bob Dylan “learned all the songs”. Every folks’ home should have this.
www.souljamrecords.com s
2 The SoulJazz Orchestra Inner Fire (STRUT 115CD). Enticing jazz, Afrobeat, Latin and funk sounds from Canada. No messing, no noodling, just full-fat brass, rock solid rhythms and fiery playing throughout. Not as daringly diverse as their last album, but a joy none-the-less.
www.souljazzorchestra.com
1 Mick Fitzgerald & Ralf Weihrauch Trio The Piper And The Púca (Hidden Tracks, HTCD0025). Storytelling CD of Irish fairy tales recited by actor Mick Fitzgerald, including three enjoyable traditional Irish songs (plus another composed by Mick), performed by Mick and the Ralf Weihrauch trio (fiddle, accordeon, vocal).
www.claddaghrecords.com
1 Various Artists Tumbao All-Stars (Tum- bao Cuban Classics TCD501). Reissue of a 1997 recording directed by flautist Richard Egües, seven extended Cuban jazz tracks with piano greats Frank Emilio and Chucho Valdés, bassist Orlando López ‘Cachaito’ and percus- sionist Tata Güines, covering mostly their own well-known, indeed classic compositions. Via Discovery –
discovery-records.com
1 Willy Gantrim Alone & Adrift (Wind Some Lose Some WSLS0413). A drifter who grew up in Houston, raised on “old-time reli- gion hymns, golden oldies and bad country music” which he’s distilled into a personal brand of original whimsy that goes with his throwaway vocal style. His songs are quirky, his music a tad repetitive, but he’s a nice guitarist (especially on slide).
www.willygantrim.com
1 Gavin Pennycook Octave Fiddle – Baritone Violin (GCP, GCPCD003). Glaswe- gian fiddler plays baritone violin, a regular acoustic fiddle strung with octave strings, a range between viola and cello, and a dark, mediæval sound. Mainly Scottish, Irish and Scandinavian traditional tunes, with occa- sional guitar.
www.gavinpennycook.com
2 Various Artists Mash It: (More) Jamaican R&B and the Birth of Ska (Fan- tastic Voyage FVDD178). A second impossible- to-resist double disc compilation of rare doo- wop influenced R&B and early ska from down Jamaica way circa 1959-62. Jimmy Cliff, Laurel Aitkin, Rico and Derrick Morgan all feature.
www.fantasticvoyagemusic.com
1 Ana Alcaide Como La Luna Y El Sol (ARC EUCD 2483). Toledo singer-nyckelharpa player’s Sephardic-inspired second album, from 2008. 2012’s La Cantiga Del Fuego was the big one, but this, her attractive voice floating over her and La Musgaña’s elegant arrangements on a rich variety of stringed and wind instruments, deserves its interna- tional re-release.
www.arcmusic.co.uk
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