Rachel Hair & Ron Jappy - Élan (2023) [gnodde]

Rachel Hair & Ron Jappy - Élan (2023) [gnodde]



Two of Scotland's most in-demand traditional musicians Rachel Hair and Ron Jappy have joined forces once again for their second duo album Élan, released on Friday 19th May 2023.

The instrumental album combines Rachel's skilled playing of the Scottish harp (clarsach) with Ron's talents on acoustic guitar, making them the only duo at present to combine the oldest instrument in Scottish music with the newest. The result is a refreshing and uplifting sound.

Élan – an ancient French word meaning "with energy, style and enthusiasm" – follows the pair's 2019 album SPARKS and marks their sixth year performing together. The new record showcases just how far they have come as a duo in that time.

The tunes on the album span a wide range of tempos and moods, but all allow the harp and guitar to shine together as equals. The instrumental pairing links each track, providing a far more rich and complex sound than you might expect from just two instruments, and lending a fresh take to some traditional tunes. Adam Brown (RURA, Ímar) also plays bodhrán on three tracks.

Tracks:
01 - The Transatlantic Proposal (The Transatlantic Proposal – The Maiden’s
02 - Daybrak (Dinan Dawn – Daybrak By Tom Anderson).
03 - Tom Toi’s Polka (Tom Toi’s Polka – Battle of Aughrim (Trad)- Harper’s Frolics(Trad)
04 - McLeods of Waipu
05 - Inverness Bridge (Mrs John MacColl By John MacColl- Inverness Bridge(Trad) – The Ferryman by PM Donald MacLeod)
06 - Irene’s (The Erigmore Waltz -By Graham Mackenzie – Irene’s Waltz)
07 - John Macdonald’s (Trad) by
08 - Cape Breton Jigs (Professor Delbert’s Birthday by Paul Cranford- The New York Jig by Alex Joe MacEachern -J.P Cormier’s Jig by Jerry Holland)
09 - Ceò na Cailliche (Bhannarach Dhonn a’ Chruidh (Trad)- Na Maraichean (Trad)- Ceò na Cailliche
10 - To the Rock (Inneen Kilkenny (Trad Manx) – Jerrey yn Theihll (Trad Manx)- The Answerer (Tomas Callister)

All in MP3 @ 320kbps