Hello all,
I just spent the last few days listening to David Power’s new CD “My Love is in America”. I have a one hour commute every morning and I try to spend this time listening to CDs and field cassettes that I have collected over the years; mostly Seamus Ennis, Tommy Reck and many session tapes. Needless to say David Power was in good company. If you are a commuter be careful—a recording like this will space you out and you might have an accident.
This is a good solid piping album from the opening of the “Salamanca” to the “Bucks of Oranmore” at the end. If you are expecting a new CD of drums, bass, guitar or bozouki to fill out the weak spots then you will be sorely disappointed. David has chosen to do a straight solo piping album and I must say it is a welcome relief form the orchestral hob knobbing that so many of the new players seem to prefer.
David’s piping is controlled, tight and wonderfully in tune. The tonal quality of the “C” flat set makes one a believer in the old sound of 18th and 19th century piping. His style is the “middle of the road”, between very tight phrases, legato volume and tone control, lifting the pipes “off the knee”; underscored by hints of the Ennis and other older pipers that David admires.
Last year I had the great honor of meeting David at the Swannanoah Gathering in North Carolina. Drinking wine, smoking good cigars and swapping stories David my wife Cathy and I, sat and played tunes for hours, the two sets of C pipes blending so well that it sometimes caused one of the other of us to make mistakes. It was hard to tell who was playing what. Later we were joined my Martin Hayes and Tommy Peoples and it turned into a fantastic sharing experience.
Now with this new CD I can hear David clearly, without my own interference and openly steal as many of his licks as I can.
This is more than just a “piping CD”. It is all trad all the way - no New Age fluff. It is no-holds-barred piping, probably one of the best piping CDs to come out in the last ten years.
Just listening to David’s new CD, and find it very, very nice. Powerful and tight, sparkling and sweet. A good showcase for the Froment C set. One can tell that David has been at this for some time, as this is some really great piping…
Perhaps because this is a C set, these tunes, the whole CD has a wonderful Classical sound to it, or maybe because this is raw, unaccompanied, unembellished piping, in the old style.
An excellent selection of tunes as well, including a wonderful Fox Chase that is the best version I’ve heard yet, very expressive.
Great airs: St. Patrick’s Day is Tomorrow, Armaghdown, The Women of Loughrea, and The Bonny Bunch of Roses/The Sally Gardens as air and hornpipe. Considering my penchent for airs, these renditions are beautifully done!
PS: I’m not sure if “the old style” is the best way to describe David’s playing(?) Correct me if I’m wrong… djm maybe said it better, as “all trad all the way.”
Lately, I’ve been listening to piping CDs on my 45 minute drive to and from work. The rule I apply is that I listen to each CD once and once only. No matter how much I love or hate it, no repeating tunes and no skipping ahead.
So far, the highlight has been Brian McNamara, A Piper’s Dream. He makes it sound so damn easy.
I’ve been taking lessons from David now for over a year and can honestly say that I have by now well surpassed him. His playing is so pedestrian. The fingering is basic and his sense of style is well ..like a bowl of cornflakes. His CD is just oughhh…I would have added bodrhan myself and maybe some keyboards to rplace the regulator work. You traditionalist make me sick to my stomach
And they call him the Elvis of the Pipes!!!
Only FOOLS rush in!
Just because he thanked in the liner notes doesn’t diminish my crediblity here!
