TONY MCMANUS & JULIA TOASPERN - Live In Concert
Greentrax Recordings CDTRAX405
The seventh Greentrax release from Tony McManus is a collaboration with the guitar/violin virtuoso, Julia Toaspern, recorded during a tour of her native Germany in early 2019. It is a real pleasure to hear the interaction of two superb instrumentalists who demonstrate a subliminal understanding of the material and who can present it in a live setting with such aplomb.
Complementary guitar styles are the backbone of this set, which swings between gypsy jazz to Irish traditional tunes seamlessly. The 6/8 medley (The Humors Of Kiltyclogher / The Kilfenora Jig / Seanamhac Tube Station) trundles along on guitar and violin at breakneck speed, but with pinpoint accuracy. Another tunes highlight for me is Dr.Stan Chapman’s / The Islay Ranter’s Reel / Wissahickon Drive, while a favourite song is The Road To Drumleman. Throughout, there is an obvious sense that here are two musicians who are absolutely on the same wavelength, and who treat all the material with the respect that only seasoned pros can nail. Julia Toaspern contributes two of her own songs, both of which demonstrate a mature use of the lyrical form, with the subtlest of arrangements – the gem of which is Penny.
The sheer variety of styles, from Breton to Greek and all points in between, could have been disastrous, but instead merely reinforces the musicianship of this pairing made in heaven. 64 minutes of delight that have been on repeat on my player ever since I received it. Knockout.
www.tonymcmanus.com
Grem Devlin
This review appeared in Issue 131 of The Living Tradition magazine