Partiality alert! This concert had several of my favorite Gaelic singers performing at my very favorite venue, St. Andrew’s in the Square, and a superstar Breton group. If you want the short version of this review, it can be summed up in one word: GREAT!
Whoever came up with the idea of combining the talents of Rachel Walker, James Graham, Fiona Mackenzie and Brian O’hEadhra into a group was brilliant. The group put on a smooth show for their debut performance. And what a debut! The harmonies these four manage are glorious. Strong vocal performances from all four are supported by O’hEadhra on guitar or shruti box and Walker on accordion or piano. They breathed new life into the waulking song “Fhalbh Oirre Ho,” sang a KZYX favorite “Tàladh na Beinne Guirme” (Lament of the Blue Mountain), and finished their set with “Fuigfidh Mise an Baile Seo,” a song about a woman who flees an arranged marriage, leaving the audience ready to take on the world. We wanted more!
Four of the greatest Breton talents have come together in Empreintes. Led by guitarist Gilles Le Bigot, Empreintes started the second half of the show with two sets of jazzy marches and dances, showcasing the skills of master flautist Jean-Michel Veillon and saxophonist Bernard Le Dreau. Then singer Marthe Vassallo took the stage and wowed the audience with her strong vocals. The combination of mesmerizing Breton tunes and Vassallo’s powerhouse vocals produced an amazing performance that the audience did not want to end. The band was kind and gave us a wonderful two-song encore, ending a magical night on just the right note.
– Catherine Keegan
Artists’ websites:
Empreintes
Gilles Le Bigot gilleslebigot.com
Jean-Michel Veillon www.jmveillon.net
Bernard Le Dréau www.skolvan.com/eng/ledreau.htm
Marthe Vassallo www.marthevassallo.com
Cruinn www.cruinn.net
James Graham www.jamesgraham.net
Fiona Mackenzie www.fionamackenzie.com/
Brian O’ hEadhra www.brianoheadhra.com
Rachel Walker www.myspace.com/rachelwalkergaelicsong
Catherine Keegan is a perceptive critic indeed. Her summation of the ‘combined talents’ of Cruinn would agree with my own and confirms what I suspected – I haven’t yet heard the! – but I had felt that they would work out. Thanks, for beraing me out, Catherine.