Damien O'Kane & Ron Block - Banjophony (2018)
BAND/ARTIST: Damien O'Kane, Ron Block
- Title: Banjophony
- Year Of Release: 2018
- Label: Pure Records
- Genre: World, Folk
- Quality: MP3 320 kbps / FLAC (tracks)
- Total Time: 1:11:18
- Total Size: 165 / 397 MB
- WebSite: Album Preview
Coleraine native Damien O’Kane and California’s Ron Block have been sharing their mutual love of the banjo for some years now, and over those years both have hinted at the chance of a duet album at some point. That time is with us at last, as the pair release their debut studio album together – Banjophony. If the prospect puts you in mind of some sort of transatlantic duelling banjos extravaganza, though, be assured that what’s on offer is far, far more enticing. The whole idea of Banjophony was to bring together the 5-string banjo of the American tradition with the Irish style of tenor banjo, and in breathing life into that idea, Damien and Ron have enlisted some remarkable talent from both sides of the Atlantic to create an album of original tunes, in an equally original setting.
In Banjophony the sound of the banjo is without a doubt the star, but each of the fifteen tracks on the album features an impeccable cast of musicians, eager to explore the original melodies and delight the listener. Although most of the tracks on the album come from Damien, Miller’s Gin/Potato Anxiety which opens the album with the steady beat of Steven Byrnes‘ guitar is a Ron Block original. For Miller’s Gin Ron’s banjo begins to pick out a melody alongside a soft fiddle, before Damien’s tenor banjo joins in. The double bass from Barry Bales adds a contrast, and then a joyful low whistle from Michael McGoldrick. It’s a perfect blend of Irish and American spirits that leads to Damien’s more sprightly Potato Anxiety, and a duet with McGoldrick’s whistle, driven eagerly along by Stuart Duncan‘s fiddle.
Californian multi-instrumentalist Ron Block is best known as banjo player (and guitarist/singer/songwriter) with Alison Krauss & Union Station, since 1991. Deeply rooted in bluegrass music, Ron first played the guitar at age 11. At 13, his Dad bought him a banjo – and has joked that he didn’t come out of his room until he was 21. He has recorded a string of acclaimed solo and collaborative albums and has no fewer than 14 Grammys and 6 International Bluegrass Awards. Although Damien wrote most of the melodies on the album, there are a few exceptions. Ron’s Battersea Skillet Liquor opens as a catchy banjo duet, is soon lead on a mountain journey by Stuart Duncan’s fiddle, and powered by Sierra Hull‘s mandolin. That same mandolin provides some perfectly placed harmonies later in the album as Damien swaps his banjo for his tenor guitar in Ron’s warm and comforting homecoming melody, Leiper’s Fork.
As well as a busy schedule writing, recording and touring with his wife, Kate Rusby, Damien O’Kane has a flourishing solo career. His 2010 solo debut, Summer Hill showcased, along with his vocal skills, his own new melodies for traditional songs and his exceptional talent on banjo and tenor guitar. Two further albums, Areas of High Traffic (which earned Damien a nomination for Best Album at the Radio 2 Folk Awards) and Avenging & Bright, took his own ideas a step further with innovative, contemporary interpretations of traditional songs in an edgy, electronic setting. Still fond of the acoustic approach, Damien also recorded a beautifully crafted duet album with guitarist David Kosky, The Mystery Inch.
It isn’t only the merging of banjo styles from either side of the Atlantic that makes Banjophony such a special, and enjoyable, album. In The Midleton Thief/The Lobster, Stuart’s old-timey fiddle and Sierra’s bluegrass mandolin provide a fine backing for a trad Irish tune (The Lobster) brought to the album by the aforementioned David Kosky, following on from an opening banjo duet that can hardly contain its spirit. In contrast, Crafty Collette has an opening that’s more akin to Damien’s recent brace of solo albums. In a song dedicated to his Mum, Colette, there’s a beautifully rich bowed double bass from Ethan Jodziewicz (The Milk Carton Kids) as banjos tumble along assuredly beside the quiet flow of bass, guitar, and co-producer Josh Clark‘s percussion.
The title track, Banjophony, keeps things lively with a slightly funky bout of “Banjo rock & roll” written with Ron’s explorative style in mind. No Harm Done adds an element of mystery in the gentle opening but soon bursts into life with Michael McGoldrick‘s flute and Duncan Lyall‘s bassy Moog adding to the atmosphere. In Trip to Portugal/Guiseppe’s both tunes are a tumbling, cascading delight full of light and energy. Duncan’s double bass does a sterling job of keeping pace with the brace of banjos in Trip to Portugal, as does Sierra’s mandolin in Guiseppe’s, a tune for Damien’s Dad. In over an hour of music, there’s ample space for more reflective passages too, such as Damien’s sensitive, gentle duet Ode to Aunty Frances, featuring Ron’s 5 string banjo and Damien’s tenor guitar.
Damien’s tunes are often inspired by family, and his wife Kate was his muse for Brown Eyes. The melody even seems to echo her soft, lilting singing style that, you can almost imagine her adding words to this beautiful trad-inspired melody. In Phoebe’s/The Banjo Strikes Back, it’s their daughter who inspired the gently opening, featuring bluegrass innovator Sam Bush on mandolin, as it builds towards Damien’s celebration of a new Fairfield banjo with another arrangement that’s full of joyful spirit, and leaves plenty room for adventure and beguiling interplay between banjos, mandolin and fiddle. That interplay is perhaps best illustrated when almost all contributors come together for Lucky Rogues/Frantic Inspiration. Ron’s Lucky Rogues has more than a touch of mountain tradition about it, while the tempo just builds and builds for Damien’s Frantic Inspiration – not that anyone playing seems to have an issue with that!
The album closes with a David Kosky composition – Waiting for Erin. Duncan’s bass and Stuart’s fiddle (rapidly becoming one of my own favourite transatlantic pairings) lead off with David’s guitar in a tune that seems to offer something for everyone. The excitement of Sierra Hull‘s virtuoso mandolin, the sweet harmonics of Damien’s tenor guitar, and the full range of Ron’s banjo.
Banjophony really does seem to have something for everyone, it also seems to have far more than anyone expected. In an album running to 15 tracks, you might expect a collection of short, frenetic bluegrass sets coupled with a few traditional Irish airs. That, though, would have been far too easy. None of these tracks is under four minutes long, and each one represents an expertly executed blend of musical forms from both sides of the Atlantic. There’s a connectivity among the musicians that goes far beyond simply sharing a melody; it’s an exchange of ideas and influences and a platform to explore them. Individually Damien O’Kane & Ron Block are masters of their instruments. In Banjophony, they’ve taken a collective approach to create an album of incredibly captivating music.
Tracklist:
01 - Miller's Gin / Potato Anxiety
02 - Crafty Colette
03 - Battersea Skillet Liquor
04 - No Harm Done
05 - Banjophony
06 - Ode to Aunty Frances
07 - Trip to Portugal / Guiseppe's
08 - Brown Eyes
09 - The Midleton Thief / The Lobster
10 - Phoebe's / The Banjo Strikes Back
11 - Lucky Rogues / Frantic Inspiration
12 - Leiper's Fork
13 - Brian Boru's Reel
14 - Danish Horde / S. Mcgee Buys the Farm
15 - Waiting for Erin
In Banjophony the sound of the banjo is without a doubt the star, but each of the fifteen tracks on the album features an impeccable cast of musicians, eager to explore the original melodies and delight the listener. Although most of the tracks on the album come from Damien, Miller’s Gin/Potato Anxiety which opens the album with the steady beat of Steven Byrnes‘ guitar is a Ron Block original. For Miller’s Gin Ron’s banjo begins to pick out a melody alongside a soft fiddle, before Damien’s tenor banjo joins in. The double bass from Barry Bales adds a contrast, and then a joyful low whistle from Michael McGoldrick. It’s a perfect blend of Irish and American spirits that leads to Damien’s more sprightly Potato Anxiety, and a duet with McGoldrick’s whistle, driven eagerly along by Stuart Duncan‘s fiddle.
Californian multi-instrumentalist Ron Block is best known as banjo player (and guitarist/singer/songwriter) with Alison Krauss & Union Station, since 1991. Deeply rooted in bluegrass music, Ron first played the guitar at age 11. At 13, his Dad bought him a banjo – and has joked that he didn’t come out of his room until he was 21. He has recorded a string of acclaimed solo and collaborative albums and has no fewer than 14 Grammys and 6 International Bluegrass Awards. Although Damien wrote most of the melodies on the album, there are a few exceptions. Ron’s Battersea Skillet Liquor opens as a catchy banjo duet, is soon lead on a mountain journey by Stuart Duncan’s fiddle, and powered by Sierra Hull‘s mandolin. That same mandolin provides some perfectly placed harmonies later in the album as Damien swaps his banjo for his tenor guitar in Ron’s warm and comforting homecoming melody, Leiper’s Fork.
As well as a busy schedule writing, recording and touring with his wife, Kate Rusby, Damien O’Kane has a flourishing solo career. His 2010 solo debut, Summer Hill showcased, along with his vocal skills, his own new melodies for traditional songs and his exceptional talent on banjo and tenor guitar. Two further albums, Areas of High Traffic (which earned Damien a nomination for Best Album at the Radio 2 Folk Awards) and Avenging & Bright, took his own ideas a step further with innovative, contemporary interpretations of traditional songs in an edgy, electronic setting. Still fond of the acoustic approach, Damien also recorded a beautifully crafted duet album with guitarist David Kosky, The Mystery Inch.
It isn’t only the merging of banjo styles from either side of the Atlantic that makes Banjophony such a special, and enjoyable, album. In The Midleton Thief/The Lobster, Stuart’s old-timey fiddle and Sierra’s bluegrass mandolin provide a fine backing for a trad Irish tune (The Lobster) brought to the album by the aforementioned David Kosky, following on from an opening banjo duet that can hardly contain its spirit. In contrast, Crafty Collette has an opening that’s more akin to Damien’s recent brace of solo albums. In a song dedicated to his Mum, Colette, there’s a beautifully rich bowed double bass from Ethan Jodziewicz (The Milk Carton Kids) as banjos tumble along assuredly beside the quiet flow of bass, guitar, and co-producer Josh Clark‘s percussion.
The title track, Banjophony, keeps things lively with a slightly funky bout of “Banjo rock & roll” written with Ron’s explorative style in mind. No Harm Done adds an element of mystery in the gentle opening but soon bursts into life with Michael McGoldrick‘s flute and Duncan Lyall‘s bassy Moog adding to the atmosphere. In Trip to Portugal/Guiseppe’s both tunes are a tumbling, cascading delight full of light and energy. Duncan’s double bass does a sterling job of keeping pace with the brace of banjos in Trip to Portugal, as does Sierra’s mandolin in Guiseppe’s, a tune for Damien’s Dad. In over an hour of music, there’s ample space for more reflective passages too, such as Damien’s sensitive, gentle duet Ode to Aunty Frances, featuring Ron’s 5 string banjo and Damien’s tenor guitar.
Damien’s tunes are often inspired by family, and his wife Kate was his muse for Brown Eyes. The melody even seems to echo her soft, lilting singing style that, you can almost imagine her adding words to this beautiful trad-inspired melody. In Phoebe’s/The Banjo Strikes Back, it’s their daughter who inspired the gently opening, featuring bluegrass innovator Sam Bush on mandolin, as it builds towards Damien’s celebration of a new Fairfield banjo with another arrangement that’s full of joyful spirit, and leaves plenty room for adventure and beguiling interplay between banjos, mandolin and fiddle. That interplay is perhaps best illustrated when almost all contributors come together for Lucky Rogues/Frantic Inspiration. Ron’s Lucky Rogues has more than a touch of mountain tradition about it, while the tempo just builds and builds for Damien’s Frantic Inspiration – not that anyone playing seems to have an issue with that!
The album closes with a David Kosky composition – Waiting for Erin. Duncan’s bass and Stuart’s fiddle (rapidly becoming one of my own favourite transatlantic pairings) lead off with David’s guitar in a tune that seems to offer something for everyone. The excitement of Sierra Hull‘s virtuoso mandolin, the sweet harmonics of Damien’s tenor guitar, and the full range of Ron’s banjo.
Banjophony really does seem to have something for everyone, it also seems to have far more than anyone expected. In an album running to 15 tracks, you might expect a collection of short, frenetic bluegrass sets coupled with a few traditional Irish airs. That, though, would have been far too easy. None of these tracks is under four minutes long, and each one represents an expertly executed blend of musical forms from both sides of the Atlantic. There’s a connectivity among the musicians that goes far beyond simply sharing a melody; it’s an exchange of ideas and influences and a platform to explore them. Individually Damien O’Kane & Ron Block are masters of their instruments. In Banjophony, they’ve taken a collective approach to create an album of incredibly captivating music.
Tracklist:
01 - Miller's Gin / Potato Anxiety
02 - Crafty Colette
03 - Battersea Skillet Liquor
04 - No Harm Done
05 - Banjophony
06 - Ode to Aunty Frances
07 - Trip to Portugal / Guiseppe's
08 - Brown Eyes
09 - The Midleton Thief / The Lobster
10 - Phoebe's / The Banjo Strikes Back
11 - Lucky Rogues / Frantic Inspiration
12 - Leiper's Fork
13 - Brian Boru's Reel
14 - Danish Horde / S. Mcgee Buys the Farm
15 - Waiting for Erin
Year 2018 | World | Folk | FLAC / APE | Mp3
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