Elaine Reilly: Epiphany
Elaine Reilly - Tenor Banjo & Tenor Guitar
With
Brian McGrath - Piano
Brian Mooney - Bouzouki
Daithí Gormley - Accordion/Melodeon
Elaine Reilly is widely regarded as one of foremost tenor banjo players of her generation. In June 2024 she released her remarkably accomplished, debut album 'Epiphany - Irish Traditional Music on the Tenor Banjo' bringing an expressive mix of old and new tunes played with an attention to detail conduit to past masters of Irish traditional music.
'Elaine Reilly’s much anticipated debut CD, ‘Epiphany,’ is a refreshing, uplifting and inspiring masterpiece.' Angelina Carberry
'This is a great album of Irish traditional music played on tenor banjo by one of the outstanding young exponents. Every track offers you a glimpse of Elaine’s interpretation and understanding of the tradition. She is true to that tradition all the way yet puts her own definite stamp on every tune. This is a superb album of Irish Traditional music on the Tenor Banjo from Elaine Reilly. 'Kieran Hanrahan
From Granard, Co Longford, Elaine Reilly is one of the foremost tenor banjo players of her generation. She is in high demand as an accomplished and much sought after performer and tutor. She has taught at many events including The Willie Clancy Summer School, IMBOLC, Fleadh by the Feale, and Scoil Eigse and has toured extensively in Ireland, Britain and North America. She has recently performed at The Ace & Deuce of piping concert, The Return to London Town festival, The Patrick O’Keefe festival, Sessions with the Pipers, and featured on Tg4 programmes Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy and Geantraí. Elaine’s much anticipated debut solo album “Epiphany” was released in June 2024.
Audio
Track 1: The Bunch of Keys
Track 2: The Galway Jig
Track 3: The Kiss Behind the Door
Track 4: Sheridan's Tap Room
Track Listing
- Leddy from Cavan / Tim Fitzpatricks (Reels) 02:27
- Brackens / The Green Blanket (Jigs) 02:45
- Miss Lyon’s Fancy / Lough Mountain (Reels) 02:25
- Seán Quinn’s / St Stephen’s Day (Hornpipes) 02:57
- The Grouse on the Hill / Reidy Johnstons (Jigs) 02:14
- Sheridan’s Tap Room / Sheridan’s (Reels) 01:48
- The Kiss Behind the Door / Bonnie Annie (Barndances) 02:51
- The Fergus Reel / The Girl that Broke my Heart (Reels) 02:26
- The Galway Jig / The New Concert Flute (Jigs) 02:13
- Madame Bonaparte / The Boys of Ballysadare (Set Dance/Reel) 03:21
- The Bunch of Currants / Grandpa Tommy’s Céilí Band (Reels) 02:24
- The Jig of Port Fleadh / The Pride of Sliabh Aughty / Tapping Toes (Jigs) 03:20
- The Groves (Hornpipe) 03:37
- The Bunch of Keys / Hughie’s Cap (Reels) 02:57
Press Reviews
The Irish Echo
From Granard, Co Longford, Elaine Reilly is one of the foremost tenor banjo players of her generation. She is in high demand as an accomplished and much sought after performer and tutor. She has taught at many events including The Willie Clancy Summer School, IMBOLC, Fleadh by the Feale, and Scoil Eigse and has toured extensively in Ireland, Britain and North America. She has recently performed at The Ace & Deuce of piping concert, The Return to London Town festival, The Patrick O’Keefe festival, Sessions with the Pipers, and featured on Tg4 programmes Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy and Geantraí. Elaine’s much anticipated debut solo album “Epiphany” was released in June 2024.
In the media player this week is Elaine Reilly’s new album “Epiphany – Irish Traditional Music on the Tenor Banjo.” We’ve had a good streak of fine banjo albums of late and I have to say this one might top the heap. Reilly is a next level banjoist – something of a “player’s player” even – but her approach isn’t so technical that it loses touch with an extraordinary musicality that makes her music really easy to enjoy. Sound intriguing? Then read on!
Reilly hails from Granard, Co. Longford. She cites Peter and Angelina Carberry as having had a far-reaching influence on her music, she won the senior All-Ireland in 2014, and she’s a widely respected performer and teacher who has appeared on television and has taught at places like Scoil Eigse, the Willie Clancy Summer School (where the album was recently launched) and elsewhere.
“Epiphany” is her solo debut and a dazzling one at that. Reilly’s playing sets a high bar and joining her are three truly great players who round out the album’s sound, backers Brian McGrath on piano and Brian Mooney on bouzouki, and accordion/melodeon Daithí Gormley, who is featured on a pair of tracks. It’s an auspcious set of musicians, for sure.
On first listen, a few things immediately stand out about Reilly as a banjo player. The first is the tone she’s able to pull. She’s clearly in full control of her instrument and brings the best sort of sound out with her playing, bold, full and not unlike Angelina Carberry’s. The clarity in her right hand technique reveals both the inviting lilt in her flow and the layers of nuance in her left hand. Reilly is an outstanding musician and her playing absolutely cooks.
When I dig into the tunes themselves, I’m struck first by Reilly’s great good taste. She’s made some really discriminating choices that give the album a smart, studied feel. But it’s the execution that I feel gives this album its brilliance. Sets of reels like “Leddy From Cavan / …,” “The Fergus Reel / …,” or “Miss Lyons Fancy /…” are all exceptionally well played and have a magnetism that really draws the ear. Each one possesses magnificent drive and creativity, and the rhythm that is as good as it gets.
Reilly brings this elevated approach to all the tracks here. The hornpipe set “Seán Quinn’s / …” is not only great because she’s grouped some interesting, not-often-played tunes, but she’s done them brilliantly, with tons of lift. “The Grouse on the Hill /…,” a set of jigs, is outstanding as well, again for both the selection and performance.
In her testimonial in the album’s liner notes, star banjoist Angelina Carberry, had this to say: “Elaine Reilly’s much anticipated debut CD, ‘Epiphany,’ will bring sheer joy to tenor banjo players, musicians, and Irish music lovers far and wide.” And you know what? That’s really the shape of it – it’s a sentiment upon which my words can’t really improve. “Epiphany” is indeed a tremendous album of traditional Irish music played on the tenor banjo by an utterly superb musician. The music here sparks joy for me, both as a banjo driver and as a lover of Irish music, and I don’t think I’d be alone there in that opinion. I give this one a “wholeheartedly recommended, eleventeen thumbs up, rush out and pick it up,” because it’s a great album – you will not be disappointed. The Irish Echo Dan Neely
