Clare accordionist Conor Keane and pianist Patsy Broderick generated a blues-style ambience in this concert, transforming the New Year buzz to great effect. From the opening jig set and Toss The Feathers reels, accompanied by singer/guitarist Martin O'Malley these two worked formidably.
Keane's "eight-quaver" reel articulation was matched irresistibly by Broderick: no vamping here, she plays her music note for ecstatic note - markedly here on Killavel jigs - excelling in high-rhythm reels favoured normally by flute-players.
A stylish and original player, Keane moved into melodeon-style sound with American flings, joined by the piano in profound yet unselfconscious key changes. Typically, The Traveller reel was played ensemble, solo box carried it on, Tom Ward's Downfall re-introduced piano with tremendous lift, a hint of vamping transferred to Tommy Peoples'.
Again, a Breton waltz on box utilised 6/8 note-substitution and led, surprisingly, to Musical Priest and Jenny's Chickens reels, old-fashioned East Clare polkas and barn dances pulled dancers involuntarily from seats. Naomh Parsons was in strong voice with Boys Of Barr Na Sraide and Black Is The Colour, so too Jos Begley on Ta Me 'Mo Shui, and Frances Black, with a terrific Legal, Illegal.
Black's Oasis song aftershock was flamboyantly converted by Mancunian John Joe Kelly's extrovert, baton-struck bodhran, so completing a guesting which also included Mick Lally singing Waterford Boys. Miss McLeod's and Bucks Of Oranmore encored this high-energy testimonial.
