Claire
Mann and Aaron Jones Secret Orders TMRCD05
"Apart from their technical brilliance and beautiful interpretations of tunes and songs, there is so much power, personality, passion and drive in their playing."
Available to buy at www.tradmusic.com
What the critics say:
RAMBLES.NET
After several years of touring together, Claire Mann and Aaron Jones have released their debut CD Secret Orders.
Claire is a highly talented and well-established fiddle and flute player, sought after as a performer as well as a traditional music tutor. Aaron has earned a great reputation as a 10-string bouzouki player, guitarist and bass player. Both are very good singers as well, and their playing together is simply perfect. I saw them live last winter and, after having heard their excellent gig, I was eager to listen to their CD.
The CD not only features the two brilliant musicians, they also invited a bunch of great guests. Well-known musicians such as Kevin McGuire on double bass, Martin O'Neill on bodhran and Leo McCann on button accordion are joined by friends and family members who complete the brilliant line-up.
The CD starts with "McElvogue's," a fantastic set of tunes played by Claire on fiddle and flute, Aaron on bouzouki and Martin on bodhran, a real firework of a musical act and certainly one of my favourites. David Francey's beautiful song "Saints & Sinners" showcases Aaron's beautiful singing superbly, supported by Claire and Aaron's parents. Claire's flute on the Breton/Swedish waltzes "Valsen" is hauntingly beautiful while her incredible fiddling on "Tripping" copes with Aaron's breathtaking bouzouki playing.
The traditional song "Across the Western Ocean" includes a beautiful duet by Claire and Aaron. I completely agree with their choice in arrangement with regards to the beautiful simplicity of the sentimental Border ballad "When Fortune Turns Her Wheel," played on guitar and bass flute. Another musical highlight is the amazing set "Snappy Guzzlin'" -- Claire on flute and whistle, Aaron on bouzouki and Martin on bodhran recall the fantastic sound of Flook.
Steve Tilston's "Slip Jigs & Reels" is the last of the songs and another terrific performance of those excellent musicians. The CD ends as it began with another favourite of mine: Claire's bass flute on Cathal McConnell's "Lament for the Kerry Fisherman" is in a class of its own, technically brilliant and hauntingly beautiful.
The CD is a must for everybody who likes authentic folk music performed with technical brilliance and passion. You can feel that they really like playing together.
Adolf Goriup - 8th October 2005
THE IRISH TIMES ****
Every now and again a CD lands, unheralded, and tickles the eardrums in an entirely different way to anything else. Claire Mann and Aaron Jones are the supreme ear ticklers. This Scots-based duo weave flute, fiddle, whistle, bouzouki, guitar, bass and vocals in the kind of intricate patterns that only the true artisan is capable of: cross-stritching their way into nooks of tunes that lesser musicians would have left neglected and forlorn. Secret Orders is a breathtakingly fresh perspective on a rake of Breton, Scots and Irish tunes, alongside filigree readings of a handful of beautiful songs, including Across the Western Ocean. Geography poses no boundaries for this pair, who invite the bouldest harmonica and accordion into the fray, just for the hell of it.
Siobhán Long - September 2005
NETRHYTHMS.COM
Claire first came to my attention as half of the young folk duo Tabache, who made two promising albums for the Lochshore label while she was barely into her 20s, but she really started to come into her own with her eponymous solo CD. This was released on the Footstompin' label around four years ago, on it she played flute, whistle and fiddle and sang – on all counts performing stylishly and winningly. Mighty bouzouki player Aaron has toured with the band Craobh Rua among many others, as well as doing a stint with Tabache, and is currently a member of Old Blind Dogs, and only just out of his 20s! He was but one of Claire's accompanists on her solo album, albeit an important one, and now after several years touring as a duo he and Claire seem to have forged a lasting musical partnership that on the evidence of Secret Orders is something quite special. I was glad to find that there's still plenty of Claire's championship-standard flute playing on this new CD – her breath control and command of phrasing are exemplary, while she still finds space to let the melodies themselves breathe alongside the purely mechanical parameters of the playing. Just listen to the airy set of slip-jigs Snappy Guzzlin' if you want a demonstration; this is one of two tunes on the CD that Claire got from Cathal O'Connell, and her graceful solo performance of the other (Lament For The Kerry Fisherman) is a beautiful and perfect choice for album closer. Graceful is an adjective I'd apply to all the playing on this CD in fact, although that word shouldn't be taken to imply any quality of transient insubstantiality, for allied to the grace is an innate strength and unassuming confidence in the music-making which prevents it from passing you by. The mix of tunes and songs on the CD is beguiling too; it starts with two contrasted tune-sets, on both of which Claire and Aaron are backed by Martin O'Neill's bodhrán. For the second of these Claire switches to fiddle, while Leo McCann also contributes some spirited button accordion (he crops up again on a further set of jigs near the end of the CD). The third track, the first of the CD's four songs, is a nicely-turned version of David Francey's anthemic Saints And Sinners, and here the album's second principal (and distinctive) instrumental grouping is illustrated – Nathon Jones' delicious resonator guitar, Kevin McGuire's double-bass and Little Al Price's bluesy harmonica – who together really set the seal on the core duo's interpretation. Across The Western Ocean is given an uplifting treatment rather similar in character to that which I might have expected from the Rusby-McCusker Band, while the duo clearly respond to the priorities of the main character in Steve Tilston's Slip Jigs And Reels! The fourth song, When Fortune Turns The Wheel, I find a mite underwhelming by comparison with some other versions (Aaron's is a credible and committed rendition, but I've always felt the lyric ideally should be performed by an older person with due life-experiences behind him/her). But in truth, my only small carp about the whole CD is that I'd like to have heard more of Claire's own singing… Favourites among the instrumental tracks are Valsen, which melds Breton and Swedish tunes very enticingly indeed (I liked Kevin's double-bass work on this one too), and the fun duet Tripping, on which Claire and Aaron really show off their togetherness in the session context. As indeed they do throughout the CD, maintaining a close personal focus while enabling the requisite discreet embellishments of the extra musicians (and a few backing vocalists). This is a most appealing album, one of those that has such a feelgood vibe you want to repeat it all through immediately the last track has ended.
David Kidman - September 2005
IRISH MUSIC MAGAZINE
Both these players have spent some time with the Belfast band Craobh Rua and of course with many more combos before and since, but knowing that nugget of information should make it easy to second-guess their credentials. Claire Mann plays flute and fiddle, Aaron Jones bouzoukis. They are joined by some of the best young players on the Scots scene, including Tyrone's Leo McCann (he's now based in Edinburgh), others include Kevin McGuire, Martin O'Neill (a wonderfully disciplined and sensitive bodhrán player). The music is superb, full of swing and syncopation, from the opening flute dominated McElvogue's (a combination of The Flowers of Brooklyn, Tom McElvogue's Reel No. 6 and Ed Reavy's The Highest Hill in Sligo). To the closing, slow air Lament for the Kerry Fisherman. The songs aren't bad either, we get four of them Saints and Sinners learnt from Orkney guitar maestro Kris Drever (great chorus with the wonderful line: "way off in a distance they rang a bell, and it rang for the Saints and the Sinners as well").
Then there's When Fortune Turns her Wheel, a piece that shares its sentiments with The Parting Glass and has a tune with flavours of Bogie's Bonny Bell. Slip Jigs and Reels (you may know the North Cregg interpretation, the story it tells could be straight from Deadwood). One song, which struck my curiosity was the erstwhile sea shanty, Across the Western Ocean (don't we call our North American news section after the very same song?) Well here Aaron Jones brings to it a more lyrical instrumental blás and an elongated chorus, it works very well, although I'm not sure what dear old Stan Hughill would have made of it, and it looks like some of the words have been modified to fit a non-maritime audience.
If you are ever inclined to doubt the power and quality of Irish music being made in the UK, this album will dispel any worries, in fact it's as good if not better than a lot of the albums that are sent into this office (yes folks the stuff that doesn't reach these review pages). Claire Mann and Aaron Jones' secret is well worth discovering.
Seán Laffey - September 2005
THE LIVING TRADITION
For several years Claire Mann and Aaron Jones have been plying their musical trade so it may seem surprising that this is their first recording together as a duo. Claire’s an all-Ireland flute champion and here demonstrates her beautifully controlled intonation along with some fine fiddle playing as well. The opening track utilises one of Newcastle based musician Tom McElvogue’s unusually embellished tunes that sounds to me as if it was written particularly with Irish step dancers in mind. This is topped off by an Ed Reavy melody (who was not unlike McElvogue himself when it came to compositions) ‘The Highest Hill in Sligo’. The accompaniment provided by Jones on bouzouki, guitar and bass is solid without being obtrusive and he’s no mean chanter either. The third track David Francey’s ‘Saints and Sinners’ is a fine choice of song and the laid back feel is gently steered by a nice bluesy harmonica courtesy of Little Al Price. Swelled by the communal chorus it has a currency that I could see well used as an anthem to close many a Sunday festival finale. It’s also nice to see another interpretation of Steve Tilston’s outstanding ‘Slip Jigs and Reels’. Again, the use of harmonica backed by Nathan Jones resonator guitar gives a particularly Country feel to proceedings. For aspiring musicians there are plenty of tunes many of which I haven’t heard before (even the ‘Muster Buttermilk’ isn’t the one I’m used to hearing) and as they are performed at what I term reasonable speeds could find themselves cropping up in sessions throughout the land. On a final note, Mann’s interpretation of the Cathal McConnell air ‘Lament for the Kerry Fisherman’ proves once again that speed isn’t everything. Listen and enjoy.
Pete Fyfe - July/August 2005
IRISHMUSICREVIEW.COM
Ah, now here really is a gem! Anyone who owns Wooden Flute Obsession 2 will already be familiar with the name of Newcastle upon Tyne’s flute player, Claire Mann, though probably unaware that she’s also no mean fiddler, whistler and singer too. Aaron Jones’s name will also be recognizable to anyone who follows Craobh Rua or Old Blind Dogs, two bands in which his bouzouki, guitar, bass and stirring voice have made a more than creditable impact.
The pair met in Edinburgh and Secret Orders is the first recorded product of their musical labours. In the company of musicians such accordionist Leo McCann, Kevin McGuire on double bass and bodhrán player Martin O’Neill the pair have produced a fresh fruit of an album whose succulence is enhanced by stimulating instrumentals and some of the most spine-chilling vocal harmonies you will hear in a very long time.
For the latter look no further than the dazzling Saints and Sinners, penned by David Francey, which represents probably Aaron’s best ever recorded vocals and a multi-layered chorus which is truly emphatic in its intensity – the harmonica of Little Al Price doesn’t just grace the song but threads its needle with skeins of unknowable atmospheric depth.
The instrumental tracks are simply charm incarnate as Claire’s flute, whistles and fiddle investigate the melodic possibilities with an almost ethereal knowingness and Aaron’s bouzouki or guitar lays down the sparsest of backdrops.
Frankly, Secret Orders is by far and away the most thrilling, exciting, well-honed and utterly enjoyable album this reviewer’s jaded ears have encountered for a long, long time. Not to be missed!
Geoff Wallis - 14th June, 2005
HOTPRESS - Rating: 8 / 10
Secret Orders is the debut release from the Edinburgh-based duo of Claire Mann (flute, fiddle, whistle and vocals) and Aaron Jones (bouzouki, guitar, bass and vocals). The opening set of reels firmly establishes their excellent instrumental chops, Mann overdubbing flute and fiddle with equal aplomb and Jones anchoring the rhythm section on a beautifully resonant 10-string Sobell bouzouki. The songs, which include David Francey's 'Saints and Sinners' and Steve Tilston's 'Slip Jigs and Reels' as well as traditional material, feature wonderfully rich multi-part harmony vocals from a whole rake of Joneses, making one wonder whether some sort of family album mightn't be in the offering at a future date; also on board are bassist Kevin McGuire, bodhrán player Martin O'Neill and accordionist Leo McCann... excellent duo debut...
Sarah McQuaid - 10th June 2005
THE SCOTSMAN ***
Consumers of folk and traditional music recordings are spoiled for choice these days, as an unprecedented flow of high-quality music is rolling out as a seemingly endless procession of albums. Fiddler Claire Mann and the bouzouki player and singer Aaron Jones are proven talents. Their Secret Orders adds another polished and expressive contender to that list of titles.
The well-chosen tunes and songs are mainly by contemporary writers working in the traditional idiom, but there is a leavening of attractive arrangements of traditional material thrown in. An array of guests help fill out the instrumental textures or add backing vocals.
Kenny Mathieson - 20th May 2005
SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY
Both from strong Irish roots, and brought up in England, Mann and Jones’ productive partnership was formed in the musical melting pot of Edinburgh. Mann’s fabulously fluent flute is the dominant melody instrument here (well, she is an all-Ireland champion) but she’s very potent on the fiddle too, while Jones’ celebrated (Old Blind Dogs, Craobh Rua) bouzouki and guitar head up the accompaniment. The 10 top-flight guest musicians contribute everything from bluesy harmonica and resonator guitar to button accordion and bodhran in deftly arranged, driving sets of reels and slip jigs.
Norman Chalmers - 8th May 2005
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Secret Orders TMRCD05 01 McElvogue's 02 The Smiling Bride 03 Saints and Sinners 04 Valsen 05 Across the Western Ocean 06 Tripping 07 Fortunes Wheel 08 Snappy Guzzlin' 09 Slip Jigs and Reels 10 Bottle of Whisky 11 Lament for the Kerry Fisherman |
The stunning debut release from Claire and Aaron is a culmination of several years of touring as a duo and as well as established guests such as bassist Kevin McGuire (The Felsons, Karine Polwart Band) driving bódhran player Martin O'Neill (Dóchas, Flook, Michael McGoldrick Band) and accordionist Leo McCann (Malinky) the CD includes guest appearances by friends and family creating a warm and relaxed feel. The album truly reflects and captures the energy and passion that Claire and Aaron have developed during years of touring together. From the energy of their jigs and reels through jaunting waltzes, beautifully interpreted songs to haunting laments, the CD takes you on a journey through their development as a duo.