efn Reviews

“Winter With Mandolins” Simon Mayor
Acoustics Records CDACS015
It seems a bit late to be reviewing this in our Spring edition but unfortunately Mayor's agent didn't send it to me until after our Winter edition was printed. The CD was actually issued in 1992 but has been relaunched in conjuction with Mayor's winter 2006 tour with Hilary James. If you have bought his work before do be warned that the current release has a differnt cover to the 1992 original.

As the title implies, Mayor is a virtuoso on mandolin, mandola and mandocello. The material here ranges from traditional carols from around Europe, including one from his native South Yorkshire, through his own compositions to Handel. Accompaniment is provided by Hilary James on bass and occasional vocals, Brendan Power on harmonica and Alan Whetton on saxaphone.

If you like the sound of strings being plucked then you should definitely own this CD.

Track listing:
1. I Saw Three Ships
2. Ballades
3. All Hallows Dance
4. La Rejouissance
5. Song Of The Birds
6. Gabriel's Message (The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came')
7. Toss The Pancake
8. German Cradle Song
9. Past Three O'clock
10. God Rest Ye Swinging Gentlemen
11. When The Birds Fly
12. Mad As A March Hare
13. Hail Smiling Morn
14. Biscay Carol
15. Christmas Candle

  Review By: Peter Crabb-Wyke
Extended version of a review from efn issue 130 - March 2006
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