"...Real Blues
Reel..."
Brendan Power is a 63-year
old virtuoso Harmonica blaster from Auckland, New Zealand (born in Kenya) now
living in England that mixes in Blues, Celtic, Kiwi, Dixie Jazz and all manner
of World influences into his musical palette. And what a sound he makes...
Blowing Diatonic and
Chromatic harps - 2004's "Tradish" on Tethnik Records TETHNIK 109
(Barcode 829667018629) appears to be a self-published effort (62:28 minutes total playing time) that features 15 Tracks (14 BP
originals and one cover) all sporting an impressive guest list of International Trad players
(especially from Ireland and the UK). Names like...
STEPHEN COONEY - Guitar
IAN CARR - Guitar on
"Hakanoa Hideaway" and "Farewell To Muswell Hill".
CHRIS NEWMAN - Guitar and Bass
on "Tom's Tune" and "Monaco Madness"
ANDY IRVINE - Mandolin on
"The M1 Reel"
GARY VERBERNE - Guitar and
Bass
GERRY O'CONNOR - Tenor Banjo
on "The Bloom Of Youth" and "20 Out Of 10"
DECLAN MASTERSON - Flute on
"Hakenoa Hideaway" and Uilleann Pipes on "20 Out Of 10"
BOB SHEPHERD and NEIL
HARLAND - Bass
STEVE GARDEN - Drums
GREG SHEEHAN - Tambourine
MICK KINSELLA - Diatonic
Harmonica on "The Real Blues Reel"
The all-original
instrumentals were recorded across 8 years in three different studios (Dingle
and Kildare in Ireland, Ilkley in England and Auckland in New Zealand) with the
above list of musicians as impromptu guests (Power also plays Mandolin and
Mandola on "Tom's Tune"). Only "The Bloom Of Youth" is a
cover - a Traditional arranged by Power.
A very cool album with
amazing harp blowing – technically brill but still with feeling and panache – a
sort of Irish Trad vibes meets Rock meets Real World Records. The final tune
"Lament For The 21st Century" has just him and his Chromatic wailing
away like he was born to impress. A fabulous CD album then that deserves better
attention...
