This album is titled "Mouth Box" and features the masterful harmonica and whistle playing of a young Illinois based musician called James Conway.
James leads the playing on a variety of Diatonic/Chromatic harmonicas and his playing throughout is nothing less than astonishing. An album of Harmonica playing would not be my first, or second ,choice of listening but this breaks all my previous conceptions of Harmonica music wide open.
There is a perfect sense of timing and an unrivalled understanding of ornamentation on every track. All of the tunes are well known session standards. The arrangements are faultless in as much that they never intrude on the music,a trap that a lot of Bands-including those who really should know better- often fall into.
James is joined on this album by an even dozen other fine players though only a small few play together at any one timewhich,as I stated earlier,gives the Music plenty of room to breathe.
Each and every track is a joy to listen to and as much as I would like to discuss each one individually I will just mention the ones that blew me away.
"Carolans Concerto" is stunning.Most renditions of this tune tend to turn into a bit of a heads down race to the finishing line but James slows the tempo down to a crawl,thus bringing out the often overlooked elegance of this piece.This tune was,after all,composed as a riposte to the seventeenth century composer Corelli.
As if James harmonica work on this track was not enough to break ones heart,the accompaniment on Hammered Dulcimer played in a very Hapsichord type style will do it anyway.Superb.
Another favourite would have to be "Tabhair dom de Lamh" listed here in its English version of the name.Planxtys version casts a very long shadow but this is a much more gentle version aided and abetted by some beautiful piano.If only all pianists had this taste the world of ITM would be a much better place.'Tis a shame that this track only lasts for 2'28", I wish they had of brought it round another two or three times.
Apart from the two tracks I've mentioned,the rest of the album is made up of Jigs,Reels and Hornpipes.James is also a fine whistle player - Burkes being used throughout.
This man has been involved in the playing of ITM from a young age and it shows.He has a great understanding of Fiddle,Pipes,and Accordian music and uses ornamentation associated with these instruments with great taste and skill.He also has a great love of the Blues and this also shows up in the music -or "Between the notes" to borrow Peter Labans delightful phrase.A lot of Blues playing ornamentation pops in and out with the speed of Mary Bergins taps and adds greatly to the overall playing.This juxtaposition of two styles comes as no surprise to me as what ITM is to one much maligned and persecuted race, the Blues is to another.This would suggest to me that James is a man very much at ease with himself and his music and his playing comes from somewhere deep in his Soul.
The sound quality of the album is excellent considering that these people did not have the huge budgets and high tech studio facilities available to the Altans and Lunasas of the world.
I would urge people to get a copy of this wonderful CD.It is a delight to listen to,and would also be a great teaching asset as the tunes are all very well known and regularly played in Sessions.
Many thanks to all concerned.
Slan,
D.
PS.
just to add the usual disclaimer that I have no connection to any of the people involved in the making,sale or distribution of this album...
..though if i ever get to Illinois i'll be looking for a few free pints..
PPS.
This post looked a lot neater before I posted it.I'll have to check out some keyboard lessons
Edit:James plays Burke whistles on this recording and not Dixons as I originally posted.No offence to either maker,it was a slip of the fingers..
"It might be a bit better to tune to one of my fiddle's open strings, like A, rather than asking me for an F#." - Martin Milner
