MICK CONNEELY & DAVID MUNNELLY - ’Tis What It Is
Cló Iar-Chonnacht CICD190
Fourteen superb sets of tunes from this Irish duo – 57 minutes of pure gold on mostly just accordion and fiddle, with forays over the border into melodeon and bouzouki land. Both well known individually and from other bands, this pair complement each other brilliantly, and if it’s Irish tunes that float your boat there’s a fine selection here. Mostly popular session tunes, and almost exclusively traditional, there could have been a danger of sounding a bit samey – but not here, as they have been carefully selected and sequenced delightfully, and the fine musicianship carries them throughout. The pinnacle is the final medley – The New-Mown Meadow / Big John McNeill / The Silver Spur, all three of which are also known by other titles, in common with most Irish session tunes. Not only is the music great, but the packaging is superb, with comprehensive notes to each track (in English and Irish Gaelic).
When needed, the guys have recruited Johnny ‘Ringo’ McDonagh (Conneely’s band mate from De Danann) on bodhran, Jonas Fromseier on banjo and Ryan Molloy (from the David Munnelly Band) on piano – all of whom offer vital contributions.
Great to hear two guys at the top of their game, musically, and who are obviously thoroughly enjoying playing with each other. Their UK dates are few and far between, but on the basis of this album, I would say make the effort and travel to see these guys, if you love those standard issue Irish session tunes. They do it for me.
Grem Devlin
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this CD online from The Listening Post The Listening Post is the CD mailorder service of The Living Tradition magazine. This album was reviewed in Issue 93 of The Living Tradition magazine. |