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 Kendra MacGillivray formerly of Lanark, Antigonish Co. has presented her fourth album of fiddle music. It’s a collection of traditional music, tunes from the classic Scots composers and a few from regional tunesmiths. The opening cut, “Woodchoppers’ Reel” by New Brunswick fiddle legend Ned Landry, is one of those tunes that has caught the ear of another generation of players that includes Sharron Shannon. The rest of the CD consists of sets of the tune tunes we come to expect, jigs, stathspeys reels and hornpipes. There are also three beautiful slow airs and a set of polkas. Kendra has always been a lively player and this recording finds her in very good form. Her session players include er brother Troy, Tracey Dares, Elmer Deagle and Cheryl Smith, studio veterans all. Their stellar playing, and perhaps because Kendra is a new mom, gives the CD a great lilt and lift. I always have favourite cuts on albums and the ones that grab the ear are the opening set of reels, the big march, strathspey and reel set (third from the end) and the last slow air by the late Arisaig fiddler Wilfred Gillis, “Waters of Northumberland”. When Kendra sent me this CD she wrote on the tray card, “John, I hope you like the new CD!” Well, “Kendra, it’s a corker, thanks.”
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