This is a long-awaited album from a very talented musican. Corrina has a foot in several camps; as a harp-player of international renown, an interpretive singer equally at home in the repertoires of Scottish traditional music and jazz and as a composer. In this 12 track CD, traditional slip jigs and reels sit happily alongside the beautiful Sandy Mason standard "When I Dream" and a gorgeous version of the Robert Burns classic "Ae Fond Kiss". Then their is Corrina's "My Favourite Place" and an improvisation on a traditional tune "The Bear Dance" all making for a fascinating album from a fine musician.
Guest Musicians: Karine Polwart - voice, David Milligan - piano, Donald Hay - drums.
Media Reviews
After 10 years as a full-time musician, and having already appeared on albums by some 20 different artists and groups, Scottish harpist and singer Corrina Hewat hasn't exactly rushed into releasing her debut solo CD...
...But she's not been idle, either, emerging as a performer, composer, arranger and tutor of equal note, with a touring schedule that's taken her across three continents. She's also been a key figure in several landmark Scottish ventures of recent years, including the 2002 Scottish Women tour, Linn Records's Complete Works of Robert Burns series, and the 31-strong Unusual Suspects concert at this year's Celtic Connections festival. The central trait unifying Hewat's multiple gifts is her fondness and facility for exploring interfaces -- chiefly between folk and jazz, but also in among blues, soul and classical influences. All this breadth of experience and style finds marvellously concentrated yet spacious expression on My Favourite Place, complemented by David Milligan on piano, percussionist Donald Hay, and Karine Polwart's backing harmonies. On the vocal front, tracks range from a bold, spiky updating of Sheath And Knife to an understated take on the jazz standard When I Dream . Hewat's own compositions -- such as the brilliantly wayward Traffic and the soulful, title track -- feature prominently among the tunes, together with a handful of beaut-ifully wrought traditional numbers...........Sue Wilson The Sunday Herald 27/04/2003
glowing reputation as one of the most original artists on the contemporary Scottish music scene......
First solo release from singer and harp player Corrina coming on the back of a growing/glowing reputation as one of the most original artists on the contemporary Scottish music scene. Joining Corrina are Karine Powart on vocals, David Milligan on piano and Donald Hay on drums. ŒThe Banks Of The Nile¹ features Corrina and Karine un-accompanied, two wonderful voices. while the improvisation between electroharp and drums on ‘ The Bear Dance¹ is superb. Recommended.
I'd suspected that whenever she got around to a solo CD, it'd be really good. It surely is!.....
It's a real pleasure to hear someone so utterly-free-of-twee, whose originals are such interesting, quirky compositions (without being cutesy-"quirky"), who is so genuinely {inter-}playful & who's just so "centred" a singer. The unsuspecting could literally be lulled into believing that "Ae Fond Kiss" had only just been written. I'd suspected that whenever she got around to a solo CD, it'd be really good. It surely is!
..a delicious, mellow, richly satisfying fusion of jazz/roots/blues styles..
.... like a jam session between Thelonius Monk, Michael Hedges and Robert Burns
Although this is her first solo album, Hewat has been a firm fixture of Scotland’s folk scene for at least a decade. She is best known for her work with the combo ‘Bachue’, alongside superb pianist David Milligan, and the more recent formation ‘Shine’, with Mary MacMaster and Gaelic singer Alyth MacCormack. "My Favourite Place" is like a jam session between Thelonius Monk, Michael Hedges and Robert Burns: a rich and effective blend of cool jazz, modern ambient music and traditional Scots song. Hewat’s sultry smooth voice is a perfect foil for the sonorous and slightly surreal quality of her electric harp, on which she seems able to conjure anything from a slip jig to 9th chords over a walking bass line. On balance, the tracks are slow and spacious, which makes it a superb ‘chill out’ album, but there is plenty to focus on. Edinburgh itself makes a great comparison; its hoary old roots shoot up constantly through the steel, discarded bottles and cobblestones. If you like music that is simultaneous urban and ancient, then "My Favourite Place" will be yours as well.
an elegant and at times moving collection
My Favourite Place showcases the versatile style and panache of harpist and vocalist Corrina Hewat, in a dozen tracks ranging from Burns (Ae Fond Kiss) and traditional tunes that pipers rather thn harpists would perhaps claim, like “Brose and Butter” and “Drops of Brandy”, to up-to-the-minute self-penned songs like “Raft of Oak” and tunes such as “Traffic”, depicting the terror of learning to drive.By the way, the “Favourite place” that gives its name this elegant and at times moving collection appears to be Lanark. Well, whatever lights your candle I suppose…….
Listen to This…The Scots Magazine …November 2003
Skillful playing, innovative composing, a lovely voice, red hair, and a blue harp. What’s not to like?..
Corrina Hewat is what June Tabor would be if she were a harper. Like Tabor, Hewat’s repertoire is as broad, deep and cool as the North Sea. She does everything except what you might expect. A Scottish standard like Robert Burns’ Ae Fond Kiss is transformed into a sleepy torch song, with Hewat’s voice leaking smoke and the low strings of her electroharp buzzing like basso bees. She takes a Sheena Wellington favourite “Sheath and Knife and sings it straight, but makes her harp sound like a cross between an acoustic bass and a tabla. Hewat revels in mixing innovation and tradition. For example, “Harmonics” is an experimental piece that sports namesake ringing tones, but to it she appends “Martyn’s Jig” which she plays in classic Celtic style. That mix is indicative of the album’s thoughtful presentation of material. Hewat is aware that improvisational jazz can stretch an audience, but also tax it. Thus she usually follows innovative compositions with something more conventional. “Sheath and Knife”, for example gives way to a delightful a cappella duet with Karine Polwart, and “Ae Fond Kiss” to a bouncy instrumental version of “Brose and Butter”. Much of her jazzy side is also tempered with hints of pop, as on “When I Dream” or “Raft of Oak”, the latter of which is also a smart meditation on a Scott Skinner tune. Skillful playing, innovative composing, a lovely voice, red hair, and a blue harp. What’s not to like?.. R. Weir…….Sing Out!..Winter 2004.
...creating something that is both old and absolutely new.
Sticking to the electroharp, Hewat plays a handful of instrumentals, some traditional tunes and some originals, but she also uses the harp as a background for her singing. The old ballads “Sheath and Knife” and “The Banks of the Nile” get nice edgy arrangements with electroharp riffing on the first and haunting harmonies from Karine Polwart on the second. On a few tracks, David Milligan’s brilliant jazzy piano playing and Donald Hay’s drums blend perfectly with the funky harp stylings, creating something that is both old and absolutely new. Bruce E. Baker…….Dirty Linen. Dec 2003/Jan 2004 edition.
She delivers the traditional "Sheath and Knife" with suitable intensity and is eloquently plaintive with the poignant "The Banks of the Nile," and she repeats this masterful performance with Robert Burns' "Ae Fond Kiss."
My Favourite Places is an enchanting CD, presenting a balance of traditional songs and tunes, mostly rearranged by performer Corrine Hewat, and several instrumental pieces composed by her, with a lovely rendition of "When I Dream" blending seamlessly with the other tracks on the album.
Hewat's own compositions, played with panache and skill on the electro-harp, range from the rather stately and powerful title track to the merry "Harmonics/Martyn's Jig," evocative of spring, to the definite foot-tapper "Sharon and Mark," written for two friends.
Hewat has previously proven her vocal skills (I still regularly play Shine's Sugarcane). She delivers the traditional "Sheath and Knife" ("the broom blooms bonnie, the broom blooms fair") with suitable intensity and is eloquently plaintive with the poignant "The Banks of the Nile," and she repeats this masterful performance with Robert Burns' "Ae Fond Kiss." "Banks of the Nile" lingers in the mind long after the CD stops playing, which proves the strength of her singing, as it is the third track on the album. She livens up the mood with jigs: "Brose and Butter/Drops of Brandy," and later "Hogties Reel/Baltic Square Jig." She closes with her vocal composition "A Raft of Oak," which she sings to a tune she based on Scott Skinner's "Twist Ye, Twine Ye" melody, accompanied by piano, and a strong drum presence.
This album is perhaps a little on the somber side, but is easy to listen to and tempting enough to just press replay -- by which time you find yourself singing along on a couple of songs, even if you lack Hewat's clear and dulcet tones!
- Rambles written by Jenny Ivor published 17 January 2004
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