ANDY MAY TRIO About Time (Ash Wood Records ASH 002)

ANDY MAY TRIO About Time (Ash Wood Records ASH 002)The members of the Andy May Trio have been friends for years and played music together for all that time and it sounds like it. Their debut, About Time, really is an ensemble piece in the best sense of the word. Andy is a well-known exponent of the Northumbrian Smallpipes and keyboards and he is joined here by guitarist Ian Stephenson who also plays melodeon and bass and fiddler Sophy Ball of Folk Award winners 422. In truth, they could have tossed a coin for the honour of naming the group. Andy probably won because he composed five of the tunes.

Andy has a very light touch on the Smallpipes and the music really skips and dances. The lead lines are shared generously with Sophy while he switches to piano or lets the pipes play a drone continuo before breaking through to take over the melody. ‘Norwegian Gent’ by Stephenson is one track on which they all take the lead although I have to say that I would have liked to hear more of the guitar but it is perhaps typical of the way they work.

The music is rooted in the north-east, of course, with some of the traditional tunes coming from John Peacock’s Favourite Collection Of Tunes With Variations Adapted For The Northumberland Smallpipes, Violin Or Flute, a title which is worth writing out once. One piece, ‘Marche 150’, is originally Belgian, one is borrowed from Charlie Lennon and the original compositions are, in the time honoured fashion, written for or about births, birthdays, friends, friends’ children … well you get the idea. It’s very close-knit and the closeness is apparent in the music. Favourite tracks? ‘Cuckold Come Out Of The Amrey’ is another piece from Peacock in which Andy and Sophy duel for mastery of the melody in what sounds like a race to the finish., and ‘The Sailor’s Wife/Quick And Merry’ are two splendid tunes from the tradition but, in truth, there isn’t flat spot throughout the album.

Dai Jeffries

Artists’ website: www.andymaytrio.com

‘Cuckold Come Out The Amrey’ – live performance: