SEAN DRISCOLL: banjo, bouzouki, botton accordion.
with
Larry Egan: accordion
Dave "The Admiral" Hennessy: melodeon
Patrock Egan: concertina
Ciaran Coughlin: piano
Maurice Crumb: piano
Donncha Moynihan: guitar
Johnny Neville: guitar
So There You Go is the exciting new tenor banjo album from Cork's Seán O'Driscoll. Featuring many of his wonderful compositions, the banjo is shown in a variety of different musical combinations and styles. From the jolly honky-tonk feel of the double tracked banjo on the opening polkas, to the powerful banjo and bouzouki air of the 'Dear Irish Boy', this is a unique and beautiful recording.
Although the banjo is up front and centre at all times, there are duets with Larry Egan, his good friend from The Kitchen Recordings on accordion; with 'The Admiral' Dave Hennessy on melodeon; and Patrick Egan on concertina.
The backup also spans a spectrum of styles. There are two very different piano approaches from Ciarán Coughlin and Maurice Crumb, and contrasting guitar backups from Donncha Moynihan and Johnny Neville. Seán also contributes much of his own distinctive bouzouki backing.
On the last track of the album, perhaps to remind us that he is a man of diverse musical talents and tastes, Seán switches to accordion for a lovely waltz of his own composition. Accompanied by John Daly on fiddle, Wilcil McDowell on piano and piano accordion, Lendrum's Waltz is a deceptively simple gem that has already inspired some dancing in the kitchen.
Audio
The Long Sleeve:
Winnie Hayes:
Smoke and Mirrors:
Track Listing
- The Saloon / Diamond Jim's / The Long Sleeve. 2.45 (polkas)
- The Comical Bargain / Bare Faced Lies 2.37 (reels)
- The Pinkeman's March / The Eagle's Whistle 3.29 (marches)
- The Twin Cities / Winnie Hayes' 4.08 (jigs)
- Well Now / You Might Be Right / Contrary Times 3.32 (reels)
- The Dear Irish Boy 3.33 (air)
- Fifty In The Ashtray / Cnoc na GCarach 2.07 (slides)
- The Clare Hornpipe / Pol Halfpenny 3.05 (hornpipes)
- Kathleen Collin's / Paddy Cronin's / Rita Keane's 2.41 (reels)
- Smoke And Mirrors / The Cloak-And-Dagger 3.18 (jigs)
- Farewell To Whiskey /The Gypsy Queen 2.45 (barndances)
- Lendrum's Waltz 2.38 (waltz)
Biography.
Seán O'Driscoll hails from Blarney, County Cork and comes from a very musical family. His father was a respected accordion player, who along with his three brothers made up the well-known O'Driscoll Ceili band, who played widely throughout County Cork in the days before amplification.
Seán is one of the most versatile musicians playing Irish music today. Although he first gained recognition for his virtuoso banjo playing, he is equally adept on guitar, accordion, bouzouki and mandolin. His natural musical ability extends to composition with many excellent tunes and songs to his credit. Playing strictly by ear, his memory holds a massive repertoire.
Seán's compositions have been recorded by Laurence Nugent and Kevin Burke among others.
He has played widely in the United States, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. For many years he toured America with noted accordion player and tune collector, Paddy O'Brien, and is a member of the well known band, The Irish Rovers.
The impressive list of other musicians he has played and recorded with include: Larry Egan, Vince Milne, James Keane, Martin Hayes, Larry Nugent, James Kelly, Liz Carroll, Jerry O'Sullivan, Jimmy Crowley, Dave Hennessy, Mick Daly, Peter Ostroushko, and Seán Maguire.
When Seán returned permanently to Cork in 1997, he discovered that all the popular Sunday afternoon sessions that he remembered had disappeared. With his wife, Mary, who plays fiddle, he started a 12.30 session in the Ovens Bar, Cork City. Many local and well-known musicians have helped anchor the tunes over the years, including the sadly missed, Seamus Creagh on fiddle. Some years ago the session migrated to Charlie's Bar on Union Quay, and now almost sixteen years since that first Ovens session it has become an institution. Starting at 3pm, the session features guest musicians from anywhere and everywhere and continues until 6pm, although sometimes much later if the right combination of musicians, singers and listeners appear. There is never a dull Sunday in Charlie's!
Also featuring Sean and available from Copperplate: CICD 155 Sean O'Driscoll & Larry Egan: The Kitchen Recordings
The Kitchen Recordings are just that, a refreshing and lively collection of tunes recorded in Seán's kitchen with the terrific young Wicklow accordion player, Larry Egan.
It began as an experiment, Larry using BC fingering on Seán's grey C#D Paolo Soprani accordion and Seán using a capo on the banjo. The resulting sound was so bright and fun that they didn't stop playing until it turned into an album.
On this Cló Iar-Chonnachta CD there's no cutting and no fixing, giving it the energy and life of a live recording; a feel good album and one that even non trad fans go back to time and time again
Press Reviews
The Living Tradition June/July issueSean O'Driscoll is a fine tenor banjo and bouzouki player from Blarney in County Cork. So There You Go is his second solo album, on which he is supported by Larry Egan on accordion; Patrick Egan on concertina; Dave Hennessy on melodeon and Donncha Moynihan and Johnny Neville on guitar.
This excellent album opens with a lively set of polkas played in American 'honky-tonk' style. In sharp contrast, on the slow air The Dear Irish Boy, the bouzouki and banjo arrangement is D unusual and hauntingly beautiful.
In addition to traditional jigs, reels and hornpipes, So There You Go features several of Sean's own compositions. The Comical Bargain/Bare Faced Lies pair of reels and The Twin Cities jig are fine tunes worthy of being played in any good session. The CD concludes with Sean's lovely Lendrum's Waltz, on which he plays button accordion, harking back to his ceili band days.
Some years back, I had the great fortune to play in a session with Sean in Friel's bar, Miltown Malbay. What struck me then was Sean's uniquely subtle banjo style
Hello Sean!
My name is Clare Donovan. I believe you came to Newburyport, Massachusetts. I believe I was very young. You stayed with my grandmother, Mary O’Leary Donovan. My grandfather was James F. Donovan Sr. My father James passed. I do remember you playing the banjo at my parents house on 210 Storey Ave. I remember my grandmother, Mary, losing her shit on you after a night out at Michaels Harborside. I also remember me helping you get on her better side. You were a handful!
So, you could email me back if you remember I was like 10 and really scrawny.claremdonovan18@gmail.com
Not me Clare