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Album is fitting tribute to Andy McGann Andy McGann
was born and raised in New York to Sligo parents and became one of the
key figures in traditional Irish music in the US.
He grew up in a community that was loyal to the Sligo-American style of
music that had been established in the US a generation earlier by immigrants
from Sligo including Michael Coleman and James Morrison.
Andy began playing the fiddle at the age of seven. He was tutored by Michael
Coleman, a family friend, and he played with him many times until Coleman’s
death in 1945.
McGann’s playing was beautifully sweet, deeply expressive and elegant
and it is a style that many young musicians have tried to emulate.
He would eventually become the standard-bearer of the Sligo-American style
made famous by Coleman and indeed pass the tradition on to other players
including his protégé Brian Conway.
In 1965 Andy and musical friends Joe Burke and Felix Dolan recorded the
album A Tribute To Michael Coleman.
More than 40 years later, on April 1, 2006 in the Irish American Heritage
Centre in Chicago, Joe, Felix and Brian performed together in a concert
titled A Tribute To Andy McGann, honouring a great musician and friend
who had passed away in 2004.
It was entirely appropriate that the two musicians who had played with
Andy on the landmark Coleman album should have chosen Brian, Andy’s
protégé, to play with them on this occasion.
Four tracks recorded live at that concert are included on this CD together
with several other tracks chosen to commemorate and celebrate the life
of Andy McGann and to represent the Sligo-American style.
Joe is a master box player from east Galway while Felix Dolan is from
New York and is the leading Irish-American piano accompanist.
Brian is a fiddler from New York and is the leading player in the Sligo-American
style.
The 17-track CD includes extensive notes on Andy and on the three musicians
on the album and has many musical gems. Copperplate Mail Order,
68 Belleville Rd, London SW11 6PP phone/fax 0207 585 0357
E-mail: copperplate2000@yahoo.com
Web: www.copperplatedistribution.com
Also available from Cló
Iar-Chonnachta
Web: www.cic.ie |
