Martin Hayes Quartet - The Blue Room (CD)

Recorded at Bantry House in west Cork, The Blue Room introduces Martin Hayes' new quartet. The West Clare fiddle player is joined by bass clarinetist Doug Wieseman, viola d'amore player Liz Knowles and guitarist Dennis Cahill for a set that draws on reels, airs and slow tunes from the Irish tradition, reshaped through the group's unusual instrumentation. The tracklist moves between well known tunes like The Humours of Scariff and Tommy Peoples' Reel and lesser heard pieces including Joe Bane's Unusual Key and Monasteraden Fancy, with the bass clarinet and viola d'amore giving the arrangements a depth not usually heard in traditional settings. "It's no wonder Martin Hayes has been compared to Miles Davis and Steve Reich" - Tim Cumming, The Arts Desk ★★★★