Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy
Country of origin:
Canada
Type of music generally:
Traditional, Celtic, Rock
Status:
Most recent release, A Celtic Family Christmas (seasonal, 2016)
See also:
Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy's siteNatalie MacMaster's Facebook page
Wikipedia's entry on Natalie McMaster
The Ectophiles' Guide's page for Natalie MacMaster's solo work
Comparisons:
Similar to their own individual music
Covers/own material:
Own, traditional, and covers
General comments:
Cape Breton fiddler Natalie MacMaster and her husband Donnell Leahy, a fiddler from Ontario with more of a rock style in his solo music and as leader of his family band Leahy, combine their different styles for something unique and wonderful. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Recommended first album:
One
Recordings:
- One (2015)
- A Celtic Family Christmas (2016)
One
Release info:
2015—Linus Entertainment—270208
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Natalie MacMaster—fiddle
Donnell Leahy—fiddle
Guest artists:
Mac Morin—piano
Mark Kelso—drums/percussion
Jamie Gatti—bass
Tim Edey—guitar, accordion
Rachel Aucoin—piano
Sabin Jacques—accordion
Elmer Ferrer—electric guitar
Jason Roller—acoustic guitar
Betty Beaton—piano
Kinnon Beaton—fiddle
Brenda Stubbert—fiddle
Dawn Beaton—fiddle
Kenneth MacKenzie—fiddle, Highland bagpipes
Produced by:
Bob Ezrin & Justin Cortelyou
Comments:
A wonderful, high-spirited album with songs that fuse Natalie's Cape Breton fiddle style and Donnell's rock style, but generally lean more strongly towards one or the other. My favorite track, however, is the beautiful Scottish lament "Hector the Hero," which is especially poignant among all the upbeat material. (JoAnn Whetsell)
A Celtic Family Christmas
Release info:
2016—Linus Entertainment—270245
Ecto priority:
Wide
Group members:
Natalie MacMaster
Donnell Leahy
Guest artists:
Mark Kelso—drums and percussion
Tim Edey—nylon, steel and high string guitar, accordion
Mac Morin—piano
Nathaniel Smith—cello
Matt MacIsaac—highland bagpipes, whistles, guitar
Pat Kilbride—bass
Mary Frances, Michael, Clare, Julia—vocals and fiddles on "Up on the House Top"; vocals on "Silent Night"
Brian Barlow—drums on "Twelve Days of Christmas"
Michael Shand—piano on "Twelve Days of Christmas," "White Christmas," "Little Drummer Boy"
Emile d'Eon—guitar on "Twelve Days of Christmas" and "What Child Is This"
Rebecca Pellett—accordion on "Twelve Days of Christmas"
Produced by:
Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy
Comments:
Lots of artists love to trot out their kids for holiday albums, and given the title and the fact that Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy have six children, I was a little apprehensive. But also very hopeful, because I love Natalie MacMaster, I love the first album, One, that she and Donnell Leahy made together, and I love Christmas music, especially Christmas music with Celtic flair. As it turned out, there was no need to worry; the album is a joy. The kids are excellent fiddlers; you never feel like you're listening to children playing. The album is almost entirely instrumental, joyous and beautiful, and the Celtic influences so thoroughly infuse these well-known traditional songs that they really do sound new, as much Celtic as Christmas. Vocals appear only a few tracks: "Up on the House Top" and "The Twelve Days of Christmas," and then only on the "five golden rings" line, sung by a different person each time. It's a cute concept and may be entertaining in a live performance, but it's a little annoying on record. The kids sing "Silent Night" in English and Gaelic. They sing pretty well, but they do sing like children, as they are. It's sweet, but can be a little cloying). However, as it's the last track it can easily be skipped.
Every year the holiday releases come rolling out with the same old songs and it's easy to question whether the world really needs more recordings of them. This album emphatically answers YES! With love and creativity, there is still much beauty to be made with these songs and traditions. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Thanks to JoAnn Whetsell for work on this entry.
