REVIEW FROM www.livingtradition.co.uk

EAMONN COYNE & KRIS DREVER - Honk Toot Suite
COMPASS RECORDS 4448

Eamonn Coyne is probably best known as the banjo player in the amazingly popular Salsa Celtica - they are also the amazingly busy Salsa Celtica.  Kris Drever is best known for being Kris Drever, who is the name around at the moment.  He has just made an excellent solo CD on Reveal records, which is selling well; he is part of Lau who are an exciting new band-about to establish themselves.

Put these two talents together and you have ‘Honk Tonk Suite’ Eleven tracks of original and traditional music and song expertly played and sung and reflecting the two players’ musical influences and styles.  There is a great selection of banjo tunes on which Eamonn shows himself to be well in command of, what I always feel is an instrument with a mind of its own!  He is able to vary the mood at will, but also shows that he is pretty good on mandolin as well.  Kris provides sympathetic accompaniment, a bit in the Ian Carr style, but steps to the front to show off his talent either on guitar or as a vocalist.  I especially like his version of his dad’s song ‘The Viking Bride’ but prize for best lyric goes to ‘Cock A Doodle’, an old timey song which manages to find a rhyme for doodle! Amazing stuff.

The album took a long time between recording and release due to other commitments, but it was well worth the wait.  We are, on the strength of this release, going to hear a lot more of Eamonn Coyne and Kris Drever.  I just hope they can find time to tour so we can hear them live.  An enjoyable release which is available on the Compass website, but should be in all good record stores.

Dave Beeby