SUNDAY NIGHT'S concert by Deiseal was a joyous night of music making by one of the finest groups of its kind in the country. If the language was basically that of traditional Irish music, it was articulated with a freshness, brilliance and, in a couple of instances, sheer virtuosity that was breath taking. And be hind an openness that extended to taking on a leavening of jazz lay an exuberance and intelligence that was utterly persuasive.
The concert saw the original trio of Cormac Breatnach (whistles), Niall O Callanain (bouzouki) and Paul O'Driscoll (bass), augmented by Richie Buckley (tenor/soprano) and Conor Guilfoyle (drums) to form the quintet featured on Deiseal's new CD, Sunshine Dance. Breatnach, O Callanain and O'Driscoll are the trio responsible for the marvellous - and hard to find - CD, The Long Long Note, issued a couple of years ago; this new quintet is a superb continuation of the creative possibilities evident on the earlier trio CD.
Music from both CDs was featured in the concert in a mixture of hornpipes, jigs, reels and slow airs. Among the savoury foretastes of the new CD were reels Sporting Nell; The 8th Of October; Ali, Ali; The Wise Maid; The Cup Of Tea; The Pinch Of Snuff and The Newly Mowed Meadow; jigs - Out With The Boys and The Rocky Road To Dublin; a gorgeous version of the slow air, Marbhna Luimni and superb performances of horn- pipes - The Flowing Tide and Biddy Walsh's.
In fact, sparked by Breatnach, Buckley and Guilfoyle, the group hit a groove on Biddy Walsh's that was extraordinarily compelling - disciplined, yet loose, with each member responsive to the direction the soloists took the music.
