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Album Reviews
Effortlessly blending the foundations of tradition with the wild and free arrangements of present-day (October 28, 2009)
There’s a life-force that pervades music; fast or slow,
traditional or modern. It’s the energy that makes music come alive. ‘Nesta’ the
debut album from Inverness-born Sarah-Jane Summers packs that energy in
abundance and proves if proof were needed, just why this lady is destined to
stand with the great Scottish fiddlers. The freshness and enthusiasm that
Sarah-Jane brings to her art effortlessly blends the foundations of tradition with
the wild and free arrangements of present-day – and it’s breathtaking.
 The album opens with ‘Happy Hardanger’ a fine homage to the
Norwegian traditional fiddle. The Hardingfele (to use its Norwegian name) has four strings strung and
played like a violin, while aptly named ‘understrings’ provide a pleasant
haunting, echo-like sound. We’re treated to a little touch of her personal life
with ‘Guddlin in the Burn’ - an inspiring selection of jigs filled with sparkle
and exhilaration. By contrast, ‘Fionn’s’ is a slow air by Charlie McKerron. This
version combines five-string cello with the Hardanger fiddle to create a warm
peaceful slice of music that wraps itself around you like an inviting blanket
of tranquillity.
‘Spike on a Bike’ is a pair of tunes that once heard, will
not let you go. From the bounce and fervour of Spike on a Bike to the depth and
imagination of ‘The Underwater Gardener’ they are pure beauty. There’s powerful
emotion in ‘Tha Mi Tinn Leis a’ Ghaoil’ (I am Sick with Love) and driven by Sarah-Jane
and Barry Phillips it flows through every fibre of your being. ‘Maggie Cameron’ is exuberance personified. The
tunes jump and leap, just the way a fine set of reels should do with the Jew’s
Harp adding a sharp edge to ‘The Wee Cobbler’ by Drum Major Robert Bruce. The penultimate
track ‘The Lewisman in Exile’ is an intriguing arrangement by Sarah-Jane and
electronic musician Guy Veale. It blends old and new; synthesised fiddle and
Tibetan singing bowl, to create a trance-inducing piece of music.
Joining Sarah-Jane on Nesta are Ewan MacPherson (six and 12-string
guitars, Jew’s harp) Kevin McGuire (double bass) Barry Phillips (five-string
cello) Paul Jennings (percussion) Liz Knowles (fiddle – track 9) and Guy Veale
(Tibetan singing bowl, synth and programming – track 12).
There will always be standards against which musicians can
measure how well understand and perfect their art - one measure of perfection
is ‘Nesta’ from Sarah-Jane Summers. If you want to explore the perfect combination
of traditional and contemporary fiddle playing then make your day, buy this
album.
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