Prince Edward Island native Patricia Murray (currently residing in
Halifax) demonstrates an ability and a comfort with three somewhat
different musical traditions: as a solo singer/songwriter performing her
own material; as an interpreter of contemporary folk tunes from
Scotland, Ireland, and Canada, and; as a dynamic singer of centuries old
Gaelic tunes. PRIMROSE, Murray's second solo release (following 1998's
PORTRAITS), demonstrates a nice degree of sensitivity in all three of
these musical traditions.
Readers of ACOUSTIC CORNER will recognize Ms. Murray from a
number of different events. Several weeks ago, Murray was an East Coast
Music Association nominee in the Roots Traditional Artist of the Year
Award category. She played at the 2001 Celtic Colours and co-produced
and performed with Kendra MacGillivray at the 2001 Christmas Ceilidh.
Murray has also performed with many of the East Coast's finest artists,
including Lennie Gallant, Bruce Guthro, the Ennis Sisters, and the Barra
MacNeils (as well as a stint playing with Scotland's seminal folk group
The Battlefield Band).
Recorded at Inception Sound Studios in Toronto, PRIMROSE utilizes a
fairly straightforward backup band that is anchored by Michael Francis
on guitars and mandolin, Tom Szczesniak on bass and keyboards, and Brian
Barlow on percussion. Added texture is provided by occasional
contributions on tin whistle, fiddle, small pipes, and dulcimer.
Compared to her debut release, PRIMROSE provides evidence that
Murray has continued to grow as both a recording artist and as a
songwriter. Her self-penned tunes (such as 'Yonec' and 'The Lake')
fit seamlessly with the older, traditional material ('A'Bheairt
Fhiodha'; 'I Courted A Wee Girl'; 'The Lowlands of Holland').
Her choice of contemporary material, while somewhat predictable,
also reflects a solid sense of her strengths and ability to deliver a
tune. As an example, Dougie MacLean's 'Caledonia' has so quickly
become a standard and has been recorded by so many artists over the past
few years that yet another version could all too easily sound like
filler, yet Murray manages to make it sound fresh. Similarly, her
rendition of Ewan MacColl's 'Schooldays Over' is very much her own while
still respecting the original.
Perhaps the most important point one can make about PRIMROSE is
that it clearly establishes Patricia Murray as a fresh voice on the East
Coast music scene with a very distinctive approach to her music. It will
be interesting to see how she builds upon this release in the future.
Chances seem good that we shall be hearing more of her music in the
years to come.
Gregory R. McGuire reviews East Coast music for the Antigonish Casket and the Globe & Mail.
