Rossinver Braes - Ben Lennon & Tony O'Connell

Rossinver Braes le Ben Lennon agus Tony O'Connell ag #6 ar Liosta Ceol Traidisiúnta 2008 ag Earle Hitchner.

In this impressive album Kiltyclogher, Leitrim, native fiddler Ben Lennon, now in his 80s, finds an inspired partner in Glin, Limerick, concertinist Tony O'Connell, who's nearly half a century younger. Any consideration of age dissolves in the youthful vigor both musicians give to their playing. Lennon draws out the melodic richness of a tune while executing ornaments with enviable control, and matching him in tempo and touch is O'Connell, who understands and follows Lennon's preference for playing unpantingly. 

Earle Hitchner, Echo Nation, Irish Echo, 21-27 Eanáir 2009
 

'Leitrim fiddler Ben Lennon cast his line outwards along with concertina player Tony O'Connell on their duet album, Rossinver Braes'.

12 Nollaig (December) 2008: The Ticket, The Irish Times

Albam nua le Ben Lennon, fidil, agus Tony O'Connell, consairtín.  Tá clú agus cáil ar Bhen Lennon, scothfhidléir atá ochtó bliain d'aois agus cé go bhfuil beagnach caoga bliain idir é féin agus a chomhcheoltóir ar an albam seo, Tony O'Connell as iarthar Luimnigh, is léir go bhfuil bá láidir ag ceol na beirte dá chéile.  Dar le David Lennon, mac le Ben, gurbh annamh go bhfeictear comhthuiscint ar an gceol ina iomláine á léiriú mar atá anseo, idir mhíriú, rithim agus nithe sonracha an cheoil.  Is é seo an dara halbam ag Tony O'Connell; eisíodh an chéad albam aige, leis an bhfidléir Andy Morrow as Liatroim, sa bhliain 2005.  Tugadh ardmholadh don albam sin agus ainmníodh sa dara háit é ar liosta albaim na bliana an iriseora Earle Hitchner san Irish Echo.  Ba é Within a Mile of Kilty, albam le Ben agus Charlie Lennon agus ceathrar fidléirí eile den chéad scoth as Liatroim eisithe ar lipéad Chló Iar-Chonnachta, a bhí sa chéad áit. 

Tá idir fhoinn thraidisiúnta agus fhoinn nuachumtha le cloisteáil ar Rossinver Braes; orthu sin tá an cornphíopa a chum Charlie Lennon atá mar theideal an albaim, ainmnithe as an sráidbhaile a bhfuil Ben ina chónaí ann anois, agus dhá fhonn eile leis chomh maith, na damhsaí sciobóil ‘Lord Leitrim' agus ‘The Earl of Thomond', cumtha in onóir na gceoltóirí.  Dar le Charlie, go gcuireann na foinn spiorad na beirte agus spleodar a gcuid ceoil in iúl.  Is as ceantar Shligigh-Liatroma an chuid is mó de na foinn ar an albam, agus cuid acu luaite le Michael Coleman agus James Morrison.  Tá tionlacan á thairiscint ag Charlie Lennon (pianó), Alec Finn (basúcaí) agus Jerry McNamara (giotár).

A new album from Ben Lennon, fiddle, and Tony O'Connell, concertina.  Ben Lennon is a legendary figure in traditional Irish music circles, a fiddler from Co. Leitrim and although almost fifty years separate Ben from his fellow musician on this album, Tony O'Connell from west Limerick, there is an undeniable musical connection between them.  David Lennon, Ben's son, says in his introduction to the CD: ‘Tony is probably the most empathetic musician I have heard my father play with.  There is an understanding of phrasing, time and nuance that one finds only rarely in any musical form.'  This is O'Connell's second album; his first album was recorded with another Leitrim fiddler, Andy Morrow, and was released to critical acclaim in 2005.  The album came second in the top ten albums of 2005 of highly-respected traditional Irish music reviewer Earle Hitchner of the Irish Echo, second, interestingly, to the album Within a Mile of Kilty released on the Cló Iar-Chonnachta label that year and featuring Ben and Charlie Lennon, as well as four other superb Leitrim fiddlers. 

Rossinver Braes features both traditional and newly-composed tunes.  Several of Charlie Lennon's compositions are included, including the hornpipe that gives the album its title, named after the village where Ben now lives.  Charlie also composed two barn dances in honour of the musicians while the album was being recorded at his Cuan Studios outside Spiddal, ‘Lord Leitrim' and ‘The Earl of Thomond', tunes which he feels reflect the spirit of both musicians and their dynamic playing together.  The tune selection leans toward the Sligo-Leitrim area and includes many tunes associated with Michael Coleman and James Morrison.  Accompaniment is provided by Charlie Lennon (piano), Alec Finn (bouzouki) and Jerry McNamara (guitar).