VARIOUS ARTISTS Banquet Of Boxes: A Celebration
Of The English Melodeon Mrs Casey Records MCRCD1102
of limiting its audience but this really is an accessible, exciting and beautifully recorded album which illustrates the tenderness, sensitivity, dynamism and utter joy of the squeezebox in equal measures.
Banquet Of Boxes isn’t shy to acknowledge its past (as emphasised by the rather romantic cover art) and the dominance of traditional tracks refl ects this. The vitality of the instrument’s future though is highlighted through the selection of new tracks (mainly waltzes, jigs and morris dance tunes) by Simon Bannister, Simon Care, Nick Cook, Matt Quinn, Ed Rennie, Simon Ritchie and John Spiers. Its diffi cult to pick out highlights on such a fruitful album but Spiers’ selection of hornpipes (kicking off with a sprightly version of George Green’s College Hornpipe) are particularly beautifully played as is Saul Rose’s tender Banks Of The Dee and Care’s own playful Last Of The Winter Wine Gums/Schottische de Catinaux/Shootin (aka the Beaux Of London City).
Instigated by Tickled Pink’s Simon Care and co-ordinated by Lioux Heap, Banquet Of Boxes is, as its subtitle suggests, a celebration of the English Melodeon, and a passionate and enticing work it is too. Originally inspired by the 1986 album English Melodeon Players, which Care recognises as a major infl uence on his own development, Banquet Of Boxes is intended to be a similarly stimulating and infl uential album - presenting a number of the most vital and inspiring melodeon players around today. With an album devoting itself to a single instrument there is always the risk
The range of musicians who took part in the project are fi rst rate and emphasise the quality of today’s talented melodeon players; Simon Bannister & Cate Bannister, Mark Bazeley (with Rob Murch on banjo), Simon Care (with Will Pound on harmonica) Nick Cooke, Andy Cutting, Katie Howson, John Kirkpatrick, Dan & Matt Quinn, Ed Rennie, Simon Ritchie, Saul Rose and John Spiers all feature.
The love and sheer pleasure of the squeezebox is evident throughout and it’s clear that in the
hands of these accomplished and fervent squeezers the box has a rich and vibrant future. Personally I’m already looking forward to the much hoped for Banquet of Boxes 2!
Billy Rough CEILIDHDONIA
Circadian Rhythms Brechin All Records CDBAR012
The term “ceilidh” has evolved in many ways from its original meaning of “a meeting”, but in modern Lowland Scotland there is an expectation that a ceilidh will involve a meeting of music and song, more often than not traditional, but also incorporating more modern material. By that defi nition, then this is the perfect CD.
Final Concert Uncut + The Good Old Days
“Superb” • “brilliantly produced” • “excellent”; “superb production and perfect program” “the quality is stunning” •“wonderful archive footage” “great moments captured” • “great - just great” • “perfect memento”
“It has got to be the best music DVD of all time”
DVD £15.00 DVD & brochure £20.00 DVD & Brochure & Greentrax Years £30.00
ALSO AVAILABLE
‘Farewell to the Macs’ a 24 page brochure and The Greentrax Years • CDTRAX350
For Special Offer packages of the DVD, Brochure and Greentrax Years CD visit
www.the-mccalmans.com
The Macs Final Concert plus... The DVD has a run-time of 2 hours 45 minutes,
High Defi nition pictures (too much detail), plus old Macs’ archive footage.
Available from The McCalmans website, from Nick Keir and Stephen Quigg at their solo and duo gigs and also from The Living Tradition •
www.livingtradition.co.uk
Sponsored by BIrnam CD
The Living Tradition - Page 49
FINAL CONCERT UNCUT + THE GOOD OLD DAYS MACS DVD 131
FINAL CONCERT UNCUT +
THE GOOD OLD DAYS (archive footage)
5 star “Scotsman” review. Run-time 2hrs 45mins
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