Folk for instruments

Folk for instruments

Fiddling Around

Kilmarnock

Produced by Henk de Weerd

Recorded by Ian Coulls

Hard Yacka Records and 5EBI-FM

Reviewed by Gail Lord

Larrikin has announced a new distribution agreement for the Adelaide-based Hard Yacka label, beginning with this instrumental CD from Kilmarnock.

Kilmarnock is the performance name for Bill Grose (guitar) and Catherine Fraser (violin, teardrop fiddle), who are joined here by Bob Allan (fiddle), Peter Titchener (double bass), David Grose(drums), Ernie Dowler (bagpipes) and Kevin Jolly (electric bass).

Most folk music is based on personal experiences, and some of the reels and jigs here are no exception. One reel, written by Catherine, is in honour of the teardrop fiddle Bob Allan made and gave to her on her 21st birthday.

This CD, with a mostly Scottish flavour, diversifies with a hint of America, French-Canada and Ireland, from the traditional "Reel of Thuilleachan" to "The Butterfly", an Irish slip jig arranged by Kilmarnock for jazz quartet.

The music ranges from the haunting "Mairi Bhan Og" to toe-tapping jigs and reels. And Ernie Dowler on bagpipes with his own "The Hills of Delamere" is a must.

The 17 tracks on this CD will delight regular listeners and entice newcomers to play it again and again.

From GLW issue 135