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BECKY TAYLOR
Becky Taylor
BTBR1102
Becky Taylor is one of the few female uilleann pipers in England today. Initially making her mark on the Northumbrian pipes, she has played on stage with some big names in her time including The Chieftains, Suns of Arqua, Lindisfarne and the Breton Krampouez Lipous Orchestra. In total, her playing career has run to some twenty years to date and this is her "much awaited debut album". So, not one to rush into things then! Or maybe she's continuing the much-vaunted myth of twenty-one years to make an Irish piper. Whatever, the outcome is a happy one, with an album packed full of cracking tunes played with real panache by Becky on uillean and Northumbrian pipes, fiddle, viola, whistle and duet concertina.
The supporting cast of guest musicians can take a bow as well, with fine accompaniments and rhythmic drive that are reminiscent of Lúnasa and much-missed Manchester Irish band Céile. In fact, the whole album has the musical texture of the Manchester Irish scene that has produced so many fine young musicians in recent years. What's more Becky has continued the pattern of drinking deep from the traditions of Ireland, Brittany and England whilst at the same time dropping in outstanding new tunes that simply fall into place as though they had always been there. It's hard to choose standout tracks but the opener Elizabeth Kelly's Delight/Baby Rosey's Slip Jig and the eight-minute wonder Air for Buda followed by a glorious Breton dance mix are sublime examples of how to make music to lift your spirits. Her harmony whistles on The Maple Leaf is a wonderful tour de force, my only regret being that without some form of cloning we'll never get to see it live. So you'd best buy the CD while you can!
Paul Saunders - June 2003
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Folk & Acoustic
