Ben Lennon & Friends
Charlie Lennon, Johnny Carty, Gary O'Briain, Ciaran Curran,
Gabriel McArdle,
Seamus Quinn, Maurice Lennon and Brian Lennon
The Natural Bridge
Ben Lennon & Friends
Charlie Lennon, Johnny Carty, Gary O'Briain, Ciaran Curran,
Gabriel McArdle,
Seamus Quinn, Maurice Lennon and Brian Lennon
The Natural Bridge
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Track Listing
1. Memories of Ballymote/Gurkin Cross 2. The Enchanted Lady/The Holy Land 3. The Donegal Mazurkas 4. The Blackberry Blossom/McFadden's 5. Song: Flora 6. Maguire's Fiddle/O'Donnell's Hornpipe 7. Rattigan's/The Collier's 8. Mick McNamara's/Touch Me If You Dare 9. Return of Spring/The Mountain Pathway 10. Johnny Henry's/Ryan's Rant 11. Cathleen Hehir's 12. Song: The Banks of the Clyde 13. McDermott's Hornpipe 14. The Lonesome Jig/The Tenpenny Bit 15. Batt Henry's Barndance 16. The Boys of Ballisodare/The Five Mile Chase 17. The Primrose Polka 18. Farrell O'Gara/Lucy Campbell 19. The Flax in Bloom Click on underlined titles to hear sound samples with Real Player |
Press Reviews
Irish Music Magazine. July 2000
Originally released in 1999 it's taken a while to pecolate it's way through
our review pages, but like that famous water, it's the pure drop bottled. The
wait only increased the thirst and pleasure from subsequent quenching.
For some of us, who have already clocked up four decades, this music will recall
the past masters and the sound we grew up with. Remember those old 78's of Coleman,
Morrison and Kiloran? Theirs was a regional style but was that qualitythey had
just a little to do with the recording equipment? Not a bit of it, this album
proves that gool old-fashioned music is as good as ever. And it can still be
made.Proof too that there is a lyrical voice from Leitrim that's accented and
eloquent.
Ben Lennon, the elder statesman of Leitrim music, brother of composer Charlie,
and father of fiddler, Maurice and fluter, Brian, (all of whom guest on this
album), is joined here by Garry O'Briain, John Carty, Ciaran Curran, (Altan)
and Seamus Quinn on piano. Gabriel McArdle who plays concertina gives us a song,
The Banks of the Clyde, collected from John Redhill, on an island in Loch Eirne.
The acompanying 20 page liner notes area a tastefully designed store of information.
I've now another classic recording to add to Milestone at the Garden, Paddy
in the Smoke and The Long Strand, The Natural Bridge links the tunes and styles
of two generations ago in a seamless road without a halt in the step, rising
above the turbulent waters of fashion with elegant grace. An architectural treasure
if ever there was one. You won't really know the tradition until you number
albums like this in your collection. Sean Laffey
Taplas
There's a wonderful lilt to the tunes, especially the polkas and the barn dances,
and a tremendous sense of fun and enjoyment. Not only is this CD a natural bridge
between the traditions of north Leitrim and south west Fermanagh, but also between
the present and the music of the past, like Paddy Kiloran, Johnny Doherty and
Batt Henry.
The Folk Diary #178 Aug/Sept 99
One of Ireland's best loved, most respected old fiddler's offers a
wonderful selection of his playing, mainly in the Leitrim/Sligo style of
his birth. Though the fact that he has lived in Donegal (and played regularly
with Johnny Doherty) also shines through. There are only a few solo moments
as Ben immerses himself in what sound like a variety of different sessions,
featuring his brother Charlie and friends. Mostly recorded in one takes
and using an empty pub as a studio, this is fine, varied playing. Ben also
shows himself to be a fine singer in a style that seems to derive from
the same inspiration as that of Cathal McConnell. Another triumph for the
company that are becoming THE company for Irish traditional music and song.
Vic Smith.
The Living Tradition #34
Ben and Charlie Lennon together should be enough to make you listen:
add Brian and Maurice Lennon, Gary O'Briain, John Carty, Ciaran Curran,
Gabriel McArdle and Seamus Quinn, and you really sit up and take notice.
This is a typical Clo Iar Chonnachta production; well balanced and with
twenty pages of comprehensive notes. There's one particular Irish label
that ought to take heed of CIC's thoroughness in that regard. "The Natural
Bridge" is north Leitrim style at it's best; flowing and unhurried, giving
the music elbow-room, yet with a strong assured rhythm. Maybe maturity
in traditional music comes when you don't play floridly and fast just because
you can? As the title implies, there's feeling for the styles of near neighbours
from South Leitrim, Sligo and Fermanagh. The bridge is also with the past,
because Ben pays tribute to the older musicians whose records influenced
him; Coleman, John and Mickey Doherty, Killoran, James Morrison, etc. There
are also tributes to musicians who are still with us, like Michael McNamara
of Aughavas, south Leitrim. McNamara's influence shows through on the reel
named for him. Instrumental balance in varied throughout 17 tracks of reels,
jigs, hornpipes, polkas and a great barndance, as well as two songs from
Gabriel McArdle. An inspired idea is Maurice Lennon's fine Viola. It fits
really well; "Rattigan's and The Collier's" rarely sounded so good. There
are rarely played tunes as well as old favourites; and the best version
of "Cathleen Hehir's" I've heard yet. This is great stuff; definitely one
for the ready-for-use rack. Mick Furey.
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