Charlie Lennon: Turning the Tune

CHARLIE LENNON: TURNING THE TUNE (2-CD)

Charlie Lennon: fiddle, viola, piano, harpsichord, bass, keyboards

Brian Lennon: flute

Eilis Lennon: fiddle

Emmett Gill: uilleann pipes

Johnny Og Connolly: accordion

Johnny Connolly: melodeon

Brian McGrath: banjo, piano

Steve Simmons: guitar

The striking cover art of the new Charlie Lennon album “Turning the Tune,” which looks like it might have resulted from the collaboration of Magritte and Catherine Kingcome, has to be one of the more original illustrations ever used on a recording of Irish music. Yet it makes perfect sense when one reads Lennon’s “word of advice” to the learners of the tradition, in which he advocates twisting and turning a tune in one’s head many times to uncover its potential before even trying to play it. And of course, Lennon’s own fiddle playing is a direct application of this belief. An experienced musician well-versed in the stylistic nuances of the Leitrim tradition, he can turn a tune as convincingly as any, and his reputation as one of the finest composers of tunes in traditional style is well deserved. It’s unfortunate, therefore, that his lack of consistency in pitch on the fiddle adversely affects too many of the performances here to make this a truly enjoyable listening experience throughout. Some of the better moments involve guest musicians like Eilis and Brian Lennon, on fiddle and flute respectively, and father and son Johnny and Johnny Og Connolly, on melodeon and accordion. This is a 2-CD set, with the second CD being devoted to new compositions by Lennon, and there are definitely some gems to discover there. But you might want this one for the tunes more than for the playing.

Rating: ***

Price: $36.99