End Of A Longer Day by James Blennerhassett

CD: G2-10072

$15.00

 
Tracks: End Of A Longer Day (poem), Blue Sky Bare Branches, Emily SkipS, Just A MomenT, The Heron, Women of Ireland (Mna na nEireann), An Evening By The Sea (Trathnona cois farraige), The Loudest Floor Gortarowey, Old Stones Standing, A Wood Without Trees (Coill gan crainn - poem), A Wood Without Trees

Irish multi-instrumentalist James Blennerhassett is one of contemporary music's most talented and versatile bassists, and his way with a guitar has also made him one of its most in-demand artists. His work with Mary Black has earned him fans on both sides of the Atlantic, while his long list of credits includes studio and concert work with artists as diverse as Brian Kennedy, Sharon Shannon, Mairtin O'Connor, Kieran Goss, Frances Black, 4 Men and a Dog, Andy White and Green on Red.

Now, with his first solo outing, James Blennerhassett not only showcases his undeniable talent as a musician, but emerges as a writer able to weave melody and texture into music that defies easy categorization.

Opening and closing the album are two poems, the title cut and "A Wood Without Trees (Coill Gan Crann)," written by his sister Susan, well-matched bookends to the musical journey in between. Celts will claim an uptempo "Emily Skips," "the Heron," a graceful waltz with timeless appeal, and "Women of Ireland (Mna na nEireann)," Sean O'Riada's jewel given new turns here.

But Blennerhassett's musical roots and rhythms are firmly planted in more than a few genres, and cuts such as the jazz-tinged "Just A Moment," the mood-evoking "An Evening By The Sea (Traithnona Cois Farraige)" with its touch of bright whimsy, and a centerpiece for his guitar wizardry "Old Stones Standing" showcase his remarkable diversity. "Gortarowley" unfolds in irrestible horizons of piano and strings, while the mood-driven textures of "The Loudest Floor" invite contemplation and reveal an artist able to meld his wide-ranging knowledge, expertise and talent into a sound that is truly his own.