Rugadh agus tógadh Andy McGann i Nua-Eabhrac agus b'as Sligeach dá thuismitheoirí. Bhí sé ar dhuine de laochra móra cheol traidisiúnta na hÉireann i Meiriceá. Bhí an pobal inar tógadh é an-lách do stíl cheoil Shligigh-Mheiriceá, a bhí cruthaithe ag imircigh as Sligeach glúin roimhe sin, leithéidí Micheal Coleman agus James Morrison ina measc. Bhí ceol iontach binn ag Andy, gan é a bheith iomarcach, ceol corraitheach agus grástúil, agus is iomaí ceoltóir óg a rinne iarracht aithris a dhéanamh air. Sa deireadh, ba é an ceoltóir eiseamláireach i stíl Shligigh-Mheiriceá é, an stíl ar chuir Coleman tús leis, agus chuidigh sé leis an traidisiún sin a sheachadadh chuig glúin eile ceoltóirí, Brian Conway ina measc. I 1965 thaifead Andy McGann an t-albam A Tribute to Michael Coleman lena chuid cairde, na ceoltóirí Joe Burke agus Felix Dolan. Beagáinín le cois ceathracha bliain níos déanaí, ar 1 Aibreán 2006, san Irish American Heritage Center i Chicago, thug Joe Burke, Felix McGann agus Brian Conway ceolchoirm dar teideal ‘A Tribute to Andy McGann', i gcuimhne ar an sárcheoltóir agus dlúthchara dá gcuid a cailleadh i 2004. Ba é Brian Conway an rogha chuí le teacht i gcomharbacht ar Andy McGann ar an ócáid seo, ceoltóir a raibh ardmheas aige ar Andy agus a d'fhoghlaim an-chuid uaidh. Tá ceithre rian a taifeadadh beo le linn na ceolchoirme le cloisteáil ar A Tribute to Andy McGann, mar aon le rianta eile a roghnaíodh le ceiliúradh agus comóradh a dhéanamh ar shaol Andy McGann agus ar an stíl cheoil a chleacht sé. Tá nótaí cuimsitheacha ar Andy McGann agus ar an triúr ceoltóirí ar an albam le fáil sa leabhrán.
Andy McGann was born and raised in New York to Sligo parents and became one of the key figures in traditional Irish music in the US. He grew up in a community that was loyal to the Sligo-American style of music that had been established in the US a generation earlier by immigrants from Sligo including Michael Coleman and James Morrison. McGann's playing was beautifully sweet without being saccharine, deeply expressive and elegant, and it is a style than many young musicians have tried to emulate. He would eventually become the standard-bearer of the Sligo-American style made famous by Coleman and, indeed, pass the tradition on to other players including his protégé Brian Conway. In 1965 Andy McGann together with two good friends and musicians, Joe Burke and Felix Dolan, recorded the album A Tribute to Michael Coleman. More than forty years later, on 1 April 2006 in the Irish American Heritage Center in Chicago, Joe Burke, Felix Dolan and Brian Conway performed together in a concert titled ‘A Tribute to Andy McGann', honouring a great musician and friend who had passed away in 2004. It was entirely appropriate that the two musicians who had played with Andy on the landmark Coleman album should have chosen Brian Conway, Andy's protégé, to play with them on this occasion. Four tracks recorded live at that concert are included on A Tribute to Andy McGann together with several other tracks chosen to commemorate and celebrate the life of Andy McGann and to represent the Sligo-American style. The CD booklet includes extensive notes on Andy McGann and on the three musicians on the album. |
A Tribute to Andy McGann
Dlúthdhiosca / CD €20.00
