R - Comhaltas Archive

Bronx Box Brilliancelistening, tunes both antique andrecently composed, all played w ithtechnical brilliance, infectious goodhumour and impeccable traditionaltaste.Don Meadef you wanted to learn to playg,: traditional Irish music in the1970's, Th e Bronx was the rightplace at the right time. The boroughwas full of Irish-America ns youngsters,the daughters and sons of post-WorldWar II immigration wave. Many of thesekids got a head start on the music fromparents who played fiddle, buttonaccordion or flute. Others tookadvantage of the instruction offered byMartin Mulvihill (RIP), a wonderful oldtimeLimeri ck fiddler who served asmusical mentor to a whole generation ofyoung players in the Bronx and beyond.Patty Furlong stands out as one of thecream of the bumper crop of BronxIrish musicians. Her late father JimmyConway got her started on her own.Martin Mulvihill then took her in handand helped Patty develop the skills andstyle that won her three All-Irelandchampionships, including a solo title.Martin gave Patty her first recordingexperience on an LP of his studentsrecorded by folklorist Mick Moloney.Mick also called on Patty to take part inthe original 'Cherish the Ladies'. Now aprofessional touring group, 'Cherish'started as a concert series andrecording featuring Patty together withflute player Joanie Madden, fiddlesEi leen Ivers and Liz Carroll and othertop Irish-American female musicians.On the debut solo album by PattyFurlong, the life and fluidity of herbutton accordion playing are bothdistinctive and impressive. Her choiceof tunes is tasty and unerring, and themusicians, and in one instance, dancerwho perform with her expertlycomplement her playing. It's a solorecording to cherish, a cause forcelebration, from one of New York'sfinest Irish musicians.Earle HitchnerThroughout the 1980's and 90's ~~~:;==::;:7~~~~-----:-;-:--=:--__Patty has been a regularperformer at traditional musicfestivals, concerts, sessions andce ili dances. Her mostmemorable gig was surely aseries of 1995 concerts inwhich she performed withIreland's world renownedChieftains and their guestsinger, pop star MarianneFaithful I.Unlike most contemporaryIrish button accordionists inNew York, Patty prefers theC#/D tuning, a systemchampioned by the lateGalway great Joe Cooleythat lost favour in the1960's. But as Patty proveson th is, her fi rst solo disc, ~~~...",,,,,,,;;;;;;;.,~~~~!!~!!!!~!![~""""~there's still plenty of life in the oldschool'press and draw' style!, thisrecording is music for dancing or forJq------------------------------------------------------------------------------------