Quare
Imagination is an exuberant tour de force from Donegal
fiddler Liz Doherty that reveals her pure love and
joy of the music and playing. The heady mix of energetic playing,
a selection of rare tunes, and innovative arrangements that
include trumpet, drums, banjo, and piano all combine to make
an album that is imaginative and thoroughly musical.
The word "quare"
is the Ulster parlance for good, nice, odd or strange depending
on the context. In choosing the tunes for the album Lizs criteria
was that they be not only musically good but also have that
extra something that is best surmised as "quare."
From the opening
reels Johnny Sunshine/The Blue Lamp through to the final
track Annsacht nan Annsacht Liz takes us on a musical
journey of tunes from Donegal, across to Scotland and further
afield to Cape Breton and Quebec. Some tunes are old but most
are relatively new compositions such as Freds Favourite
(Track 6) by Peter Mohan and The Ba' Rag (Track 10) by
Jennifer Wrigley.
As Liz herself says
"The album is a combination of the many musical experiences
I've had over the years, from the fast and furious Nomos days,
to the more light-hearted Bumblebees, big band Fiddlesticks,
not to mention the many, many sessions over the years in all
corners of the world. All have had their influences and have
gone a long way in helping me to make informed choices about
the music. In making this album I got to recreate some of those
great times as well as getting the chance to work for the first
time in studio with some amazing musicians."
Indeed the musicians
Liz invited to join her on the album are all distinguished players.
Manus Lunny of Cappercaille fame lends his muti - instrumentalist
talent to the arrangements as well as acclaimed guitarist Tony
McManus from Scotland and John Joe Kelly, the musicians
bodhran player. Lesser known in Ireland is the stunning trumpet
playing of Canadian, Daniel Lapp, the gusty busty, Cape
Breton piano playing of Ryan MacNeil, the gentle accordion
of Martin Green and Sarah Roberts on guitar and
the assured beat of Matt Foulds drumming. Not forgetting
the additional fiddles of Eilidh Shaw and producer Gerry
O'Connor who also joins in on the fun with his famed banjo.
Quare Imagination
truly marks Liz Doherty as a major player of maturity who continues
to enthral and impart her great sense of fun and music.
