Dezi Donnelly: Familiar Footsteps

DEZI DONNELLY: FAMILIAR FOOTSTEPS

Dezi Donnelly: fiddle

Andy Jones: guitar, piano, mandola

In recent years, fiddle player Dezi Donnelly has made a name for himself as one of the brilliant musicians to come out of the Manchester Irish scene. His aggressive, Sean-McGuire-tinged fiddle playing has been featured on a few obscure recordings on the German label Magnetic Music--this includes a duet recording with flute player extraordinaire Michael McGoldrick made after the two won the All-Ireland duet competition as teenagers. Donnelly's style has antecedents in the family. His uncle was the legendary Des Donnelly, also a fiddle player of uncommon abilities, who died tragically young in a construction site accident. Interestingly, this first solo album, while having plenty of zest and brilliance, shows a Dezi Donnelly who puts finesse and subtlety over histrionics. Which is fortunate because Donnelly has a great touch and sense for variation. This is a terrific fiddle recording, which I would recommend to anyone who is interested in Irish fiddle playing. In my mind, it ranks up there with Paddy Glackin's fabled first LP.

Rating: ****

Price: $27.99 Recommended