Andrew Finn Magill’s “Roots” is an album of “pure drop” Irish music.
By Daniel Neely
The hot, muggy days are finally upon us, which means that the summer festival season is finally well underway. As you read this, the Catskills Irish Arts Week (catskillsirishartsweek.com) is going full tilt in East Durham (it runs through the 16th) and we’re just a couple short weeks away from the Augusta Irish Week (augustaheritagecenter.org), which takes place July 24-29. There is incredible music to be had all over this and every summer.
In between these two weeks is Musical Arts & Dance Week. Taking place in Bethesda, Md., from July 17–22, “MAD Week” (as it’s popularly known) is a summer school and music festival with the primary goal of building the local Irish music community.
Although MAD Week has a local focus, it presents an astonishingly strong staff. This year, students will be able to work with Brendan Mulvihill, MacDara Ó Raghallaigh, Dylan Foley, Joan Hanrahan, Joe DeZam and Donna Long (fiddles); Betsy O'Malley and Keith Carr (banjo & mandolin); Nuala Kennedy and Eileen Estes (singing; Kennedy will also teach flute); Dr. Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin & Brian Ó hAirt (concertina); Billy McComiskey & Peter Brice (accordion); Desi Wilkinson, Ben Power, Laura Byrne, Tina Eck & Karen Ashbrook (flute and whistle), Jesse Winch (bodhrán); Joey Abarta (uilleann pipes); Josh Dukes & Zan McLeod (guitar); and Shannon Dunne, Seosamh Ó Neachtain, Kevin Doyle, Máirtín de Cógaín & Jackie O’Riley (dance). In addition to the musical offerings, there’s Irish music and history lectures, introductions to Irish language and sports, Kids Music and Games to be had, and much more!
Among the week’s many highlights will be a pair of faculty concerts, a ceili, a student concert, a celebration of the National Heritage Fellows in McComiskey and Doyle, and a centenary commemoration of the Easter Rising of 1916.
Sponsored by the O’Neill-Malcom Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, MAD Week has something for everyone and is an invaluable resource to the Irish community in the Maryland/DC area! For more information, visit the week’s webpage, www.ccemadweek.org.
Playing with drive and life
In the player this week is Andrew Finn Magill’s “Roots,” a lovely album of “pure drop” Irish music that leaves listeners with a strong impression of a fantastic young musician’s abilities.
Magill is an outstanding and accomplished fiddle player who is proficient in many styles. He grew up attending the Swannanoa Gathering (where his father Jim Magill is program director) literally awash in music. There, he learned the nuances of not only Irish music, but bluegrass and old time music as well, all of which he plays with great flair. These abilities led him to explore other musical traditions, notably Brazilian “choro” music, which he plays in his group “O Finno” (www.theandrewfinnquartet.com). (These days, Magill is living in Brazil, where he is an in-demand musician.)
Magill’s musical abilities are apparent from the album’s very first track. His playing has impressive drive and life, which is enhanced by the elite group of guest artists with whom Magill has surrounded himself, including John Doyle (guitars, mandolin, bouzouki), Sean Earnest (guitar), Cillian Vallely (uilleann pipes), Vincent Fogarty (bouzouki), and Duncan Wickel (fiddle). Together with these musicians, the musical bar is set very high.
And the tunes themselves? Exemplary. The reel set “Miss McDonald's / …,” positively pops out of the speakers. Magill takes “The Castle Hornpipe / …” at a beautiful, unhurried tempo and his fiddle pairs with Vallely’s piping very well. “Maurice O'Connor Third Air,” a Carolan piece, is an standout track. Magill’s rendition is beautiful and is nourished by Doyle’s sensitive backing. “The Green Fields of Glentown / …” is another excellent, driving track that features the electrifying playing of Doyle and Duncan Wickel to rounds things off. There is a lot to enjoy here, musically.
“Roots” is a strong, exceptionally well executed album that should attract the attention of traditional music fans. It is, in fact, disc one of a two disc concept funded, in part, through a successful Kickstarter campaign. While “Roots” explores Magill’s traditional Irish musical background, the follow up, “Branches,” will probe his other influences and original compositions; it is due out this fall. Ultimately, the careful work Magill has put into this project shows. The arrangements are strong, the tune selection exemplary, and the guest musicians spectacular – definitely one to check out. For more information about the album and how to order, visit www.andrewfinnmagill.com.
Daniel Neely writes about traditional music each week in the Irish Echo.
