Review by Barry Gordon
Celtic Connections 2010 – The Mhairi Hall Trio
Strathclyde Suite, Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 29 January 2010
IF THERE’S one trio to keep your eye on this year it’s Mhairi Hall’s. The Aveimore-born pianist has, for what seems like eons, been content carving out a career as an accompanist for others, tinkling the ivories for the likes of Lauren McColl and Shona Mooney amongst others. Now, though, she’s stepping out on her own, finally taking the plunge to front her own outfit. And my, has it been worth the wait.
Mhairi Hall Trio (photo -Allan Law)
The modest Hall put on an exemplary performance here, showcasing a plethora of highly inventive, innovative tunes inspired by the many people and places centered around the mountains of the Cairngorms.
From ‘The Source’ (which features one of the finest aural representations of what falling rain sounds like) and the self-explanatory ‘Strathspeys From Strathspey’ (groove-laden tunes in an easy-to-count 4/4 time signature), to the jaunty rhythms of ‘A Good Winter’ (where notes hang in the air like snowdrops from a tree) – soon it will be hard to think of the Cairngorms, or indeed Strathspey, without hearing these tunes repeat in your head.
She can’t do it all on her own, though, so credit must also go to drummer Fraser Stone (also from Strathspey) and acoustic guitarist, Ullapool-bred Mike Bryan, who, despite being session musicians themselves, have taken on Hall’s tunes as if they were their own.
Indeed, between Stone’s polyrhythmic percussive skills and Bryan’s subtle-yet-effective strumming patterns, Hall is even given ample opportunity to show off some fine mazy jazz runs, conjuring up flashes of Steely Dan-esque brilliance. However, it’s the delicately handled reworkings of tunes from a hundred years ago or more that made up the majority of this short, compelling set.
A giant screen behind the back of the band projected a slide-show of images from the Cairngorms, complimenting the music to great visual effect. Close your eyes, though, and you could just as well imagine yourself wandering up Spey Valley on some shiny Spring morning, or witnessing a sunset from a Badenoch hill.
Visual aids or not, this was a great start to what one hopes will be a fruitful year for Hall. Having released her debut album, Cairngorm, just a few short months ago – produced, incidentally, by Planxty and Bothy Band alumni, Dónal Lunny – if there’s any justice, Hall and her two fine lads will go on to entertain and inspire anyone who comes under their fine spell. We wish them well.
© Barry Gordon, 2010
