Here’s a taster of Aidan O’Rourke’s new album Hotline due out on Reveal Records on 8th April 2013. If the track ‘TAT-1‘ (listen below) is anything to go by then we’re in for a mighty big treat.
The vintage interview recordings that open this offering are a tongue in cheek twist: an interviewer asks about the weather in Scotland and how to join the Clan MacDougall…a perfect analogy of what Scottish culture is not about…the Scottish nation didn’t invent so much from sitting on their arse and accepting the status quo as O’Rourke along with his comrades in arms prove…
what follows went well beyond my expectations, it left me ecstatically happy…imagine if Courtney Pine and Martyn Bennett were best buddies…contemporary jazz lines blend amongst the tradtional…I’ve heard plenty of Trad / jazz fusions but this is so stylishly brilliant. O’Rourke allows all of his talented counterparts to shine: Catriona McKay is no stranger to improvisation as are Bancroft and Harrison whilst O’Neill holds it together on those incredible beats…this is uplifting and great…bring on that album I want more! Martyn Bennett would have wanted in on the action!
The players
Aidan O’Rourke – Fiddle
Phil Bancroft – Sax
Paul Harrison – Piano/Keyboards
Catriona McKay – Harp
Martin O’Neill – Bodhran/Percussion
Hotlines will be released by Reveal Records on April 8th 2013