Brock Maguire Band

Box player Paul Brock’s place in the traditional music firmament was guaranteed back in 1986 with the release of his classic collaboration with Frankie Gavin, Omós de Joe Cooley; fiddler Manus McGuire is best known for his work with Buttons & Bows. The pair have been playing together in Moving Cloud for years, and now they’ve formed their own outfit, together with brothers Fergal (fiddle/guitar) and Enda (banjo/guitar) Scahill. With guest pianists Dennis Morrison and Denis Carey on board as well, there’s plenty of scope for variety in the arrangements. And indeed, their debut CD treats us to just about every possible permutation – including superb solo turns from all concerned, plus a fine fiddle duet on ‘Dr. O’ Neill’s/The Boys Of The Town’ and a lovely setting for two guitars of Gerry O’Connor’s ‘Time To Time’. Master craftsmen with nothing to prove, they’re not above turning their capable hands to session chestnuts like ‘The Mountain Road’, but there are some fascinating rarities here, too – notably a beautiful air composed by Shetland fiddler Willie Hunter.