CD Reviews for Penny Trumpets - Garry Walsh

 

Penny Trumpets CD

This is a lovely and impressive traditional album from Garry Walsh...for me at least, this is certainly one to listen to after a hard day with your feet up and a nice glass of your favourite...The story behind this album is equally impressive as the majority of the tunes have been in Garry's family for generations. He also includes two of his own recent compositions: "Dancing with Movita" and the song "Purple Lady".

The album is pure musicianship and exudes it's own magic thanks to Garry's master playing of the flute and whistle and the accompaniment by his friends, Marie Breatnach, Fiddle and Viola, Colm Murphy, Bodhran, Jim Murray, Guitars, Cyril O'Donoghue, Bouzouki and Garvan Gallagher on Double Bass.
Alex Gallacher, Folk Radio U.K.

"Penny Trumpets, flute and whistles, Phaeton records, In association with Claddagh Records Garry Walsh has a special claim to fame: he has music on both sides of the family, from his grandfathers, so he has a store of material unknown to anyone else. John Joe Fahy from Skibbereen gave him the Munster lilt and John Walsh from Drogheda both had tunes, which have not been recorded until now. If you ve ever seen a craftsman at work, there s a delight in noting the sure and deft use of tools and material, and then there's a separate delight in appreciating the finished product. That's the way it is here, a fine collection of material that you think you ve known for ages.

Principal guest artist is Maire Breathnach, and her fine tone is a perfect complement to the flute tone, and the varied array of whistles. Garry also shows he has a pleasant voice, and his own composition, Purple Lady, is a fine example of lyric love-song. It would be unfair not to credit the backing team: Jim Murray on guitars, Cyril O Donoghue on Bouzouki, Colin Murphy on bodhrán and Garvan Gallagher on double bass, and bass guitar. There's only 11 tracks, well ordered, and with playing of such unhurried strength and musicality, I'll be looking for more.
John Brophy, Irish Music Magazine.

The music and playing on this cracking album speaks for itself from one of Traditional Musics (rising stars) best Flute and Whistle players.
West Cork People

Mancunian flute player Garry Walsh follows his 2004 debut, Uncovered, with another unusual collection of tunes. Penny Trumpets is from a store bequeathed to him by both his grandfathers. His fluent, unforced flute style is suited to the marriage of a Scottish jig, The Black Bear, with a pair of reels: a suitably impish version of The Rocky Road to Dublin and Down the Twenties.

Máire Breathnach's fiddle and viola bring an earthy quality to the mix, and Jim Murray's guitar underscores rather than leads or drives Walsh's confident playing. A pair of songs (one a Walsh original) are adequate, if unremarkable additions to this flute player's canon.

The slow air, Oileán na nAnam, is a standout, Walsh's woody tones countered by an unmistakeably Spanish undertow on guitar.
Irish Times

Most of the tunes that make up Penny Trumpets, Cork-based flute and whistle player Garry Walsh's most recent album have, like the previous one, been floating about his family for generations, picked up through members of his family in Manchester, unrecorded until now. His father Tony, who played accordion and piano, passed down an impressive collection of rare tunes which ended up being recorded for the Irish Traditional Music Archive.

There are two new tracks on Penny Trumpets, Dancing with Movita and the song Purple Lady, both written and composed by Walsh. The latter, simple but effective, marks the musicians debut as a singer. This album contains few technical flourishes, which is a good thing - because its stripped back nature allows the beauty of Walsh's rich, unhurried playing to come to the fore. One of my favourite tracks on this first-class collection is the haunting air Oilean na nAnam (Island of the Souls).

Joining Walsh, a relative newcomer on the scene, are some top musicians, giving you an idea of the kind of respect Walsh has garnered with his excellent playing. Marie Breatnach is on fiddle and viola, Colm Murphy on bodhran, Jim Murray on guitar, Cyril O'Donoghue on bouzouki and Garvan Gallagher on double bass.

Though raised in Manchester, Walsh followed the pull of his roots and has been living for some years in Cork. A budding musician from the age of 11, Walsh's father taught him how to play the whistle, and then the flute at 21. Influences were all around the flute player as he progressed at his instrument, but the biggest was his father, and both of his grandfathers. When he was little, Walsh learned the highland pipes with the Kerry Pipers, transferring those same techniques to the whistle and then flute.

Currently, Walsh is planning an exciting collaboration with none other than the lovely Irish World Award winner, fiddler Niamh Ni Charra, who he plans to play a series of shows with. The first is on 7th August, at St Barrahane's Musical Society, in Castletownsend, West Cork. It should be an exciting mix.
Shelley Marsden, Irish World Newspaper

WHERE TO BUY Penny Trumpets

Available from all usual music outlets and online as follows

Ireland go to Claddagh Records
U.K. go to Proper Music Distribution
U.S.A. go to Ossian Records

CD Reviews for Uncovered - Garry Walsh

 

Uncovered CD

"There’s effortless technique and great life. And so it goes, track after track, and they get better on each listening."
Pat Ahern, The Irish Examiner.

"A gem of a CD from the very fine flute playing of Walsh. Uncovered has a gorgeous sense of warmth which permeates right through."
Paul Dromey, Evening Echo.

"It is fresh and clear with Walsh’s tremendous flute playing over the album awe inspiring. The music completely speaks for itself. It truly is Walsh uncovered. His first solo outing and no doubt not his last."
Tara McWeeney, Irish World Newspaper.

"Uncovered is an album that salutes a great family musical tradition and unveils some hidden gems in the process and Garry Walsh’s playing marks him as an important new contender. Investigate."
John O’Regan, Irish Music Magazine.

"I received this album from Ossian and haven’t put it down since."
Hammy Hamilton, Hamilton Flutes.

"It’s Excellent. There are some wonderful tunes on this recording and Walsh has great breath control and phrasing in a smooth flowing style."
Brad Hurley, Guide to the Irish Flute, Montreal, Canada.

"This is an unhurried gathering of tunes tethered by Walsh’s rich musical inheritance, and at the same time is unbridled and free-spirited when the mood calls. His music breathes free and wide with balletic poise."
Siobhan Long, Irish Times.

"Uncovered is brilliant, great playing - tunes - wonderful."
Mike Harding, Folk on Two, BBC 2

"An Excellent debut album with more to come I’d say."
Alex Monaghan, Living Tradition Magazine.

WHERE TO BUY Uncovered

Available from all usual music outlets and online as follows

Ireland go to CIC
UK go to Play.com
U.S.A. go to Ossian Records