Allan Henderson composed many of the tunes on this fine CD, but there are many traditional offerings which also gladden the heart. A gorgeous slow air Maighread’s Tune written by Allan for Maighread Stewart is a particular favourite and always, one can't help but be impressed by the fantastic musicianship and spirited playing. The album has taken some time to complete and he has enlisted the help of several other excellent highland musicians. As Allan himself writes: “This CD was only supposed to take a month to record, and ended up taking two years from start to finish. In fact, it is at this point that I should maybe offer a word of warning to all ‘would-be’ producers. When I started this project my co-producer, Iain MacDonald, and I were good friends. He is now my brother in law and I am the Godfather of his second child. There is nothing much more to say, other than I hope you enjoy the music.”
Allan Henderson, Ingrid Henderson, Iain MacFarlane, Ross Martin.
Media Reviews
ALLAN Henderson’s long-threatened solo album is every bit as polished and expressive as we have come to expect from the Mallaig-born fiddler.
ALLAN Henderson’s long-threatened solo album is every bit as polished and expressive as we have come to expect from the Mallaig-born fiddler. Henderson is accompanied by either his sister, Ingrid, on piano and clarsach, or Ross Martin on guitar, with additional contributions from Iain MacDonald on pipes and whistles and his fellow Blazin’ Fiddles mainstay Iain MacFarlane on fiddle. Henderson’s own tuneful compositions in a traditional idiom make up more than half the disc, which is filled out with a varied selection of both traditional and contemporary tunes from Scotland, Ireland and Cape Breton.
Kenny Mathieson ****
Okay so he's only 28. Big deal: just because he's mastered three instruments (fiddle, pipes and piano) and written loads of brilliant tunes (fifteen on this album). It's taken him two years to finish his debut CD, so he does have his faults.but that means
Okay so he's only 28. Big deal: just because he's mastered three instruments (fiddle, pipes and piano) and written loads of brilliant tunes (fifteen on this album). It's taken him two years to finish his debut CD, so he does have his faults.but that means he started it when he was only 26!.........Allan Henderson has been no slouch in his short life. He and his sister Ingrid produced a couple of albums in their teens, and Allan has been involved i in several major musical projects since, including supergroup Blazin Fiddles.... The music on this CD is brimming with energy and passion, fierytraditional reels on trackone contrasting with a gorgeous piano version of Farewell My Love . A couple of sets of Allan's own tunes follow, jaunty little numbers which grow on you like the well-named Fungus Reel. Sleeve notes notwithstanding, track five is a set of stirring strathspeys and track six brings Allan's pipes to the fore on a roller coaster set including Welcome Home Griainne and the Pipers Ceilidh...........Estd 1976 is a very pleasant CD, and a treasure trove of great tunes.
Customer Reviews
Beautifully played Tommy El
It may have taken two year longer than expected to finish but you can see why, the love of the music is clearly evident in every track. Buy it!
|