While the rest of the world is happily picking up on the Canadian repertoire -- what album of fiddle tunes doesn't have a Canadian piece in it these days -- there is a growing confidence within the tradition that lends itself toward the acceptance of new tunes. This is not a new phenomenon within the confines of Canadian music but given that the Canadian fiddle tune stock is so huge it is remarkable that certain composers can rise above the crowd and create their mark. Amongst these composers are some noted individuals, Dan R. MacDonald for example. More often than not the strength of a tune is based on the ability of the fiddler to work around difficult passages rather than resting on the laurels of a good piece of composed music. Modern recording techniques allow for greater and wider dispersion but still it needs an extra edge for one individual to stand out. Brian Pickell has achieved this distinction but in a more subtle way. You don't realize that you're playing his tunes or that you have been for some time. You see, Brian's tunes have become so widely played and recorded that many people accept them as being traditional in origin. It is with that in mind that Brian has set about the task of collating a great many of his pieces and creating a body of work that is distinctly his.
Staying true to his Ontario roots Brian has assembled a Who's Who of modern Canadian fiddlers to record the tunes. Shane Cook and Mark Sullivan (current Canadian Grand Masters), Jon Pilatzke (The Chieftains), the Schryer Triplets (all previous Canadian Grand Master Champions) and many more. I'm telling you folks, this is serious firepower and they don't disappoint. Supporting this is the best piano player in the business, Julie Schryer. Pat O'Gorman plays the wind instruments and Brian and James Stevens provide the side strings.
There are 13 sets of tunes and two songs. The tunes range from wistful bluegrass mandolin musings through to straight ahead breakdowns and clogs with a couple of waltzes, "Muriel's," "Sourgrass and Granite," thrown in for good measure. Canadian music is an eclectic mix of many traditions allowing composers a great deal of stylistic leeway and Brian's compositions reflect the full spectrum.
Several recent recordings have shown the rapid strides forward that modern Canadian traditional music is making. Nick Williams' "Crooked River", Eric Favreau's "Reel à Deux" come to mind immediately. This album belongs in the upper echelons of this group and would be among this reviewer's leading contenders for Canadian album of the year. In other words, very highly recommended.
