Melodious accord

Jim McGrath’s father, Ben ‘Sketch’ McGrath, was the leader of the Fermanagh-based Monea Accordion Band back in the 1960s and ’70s, but the younger McGrath only took up the instrument a decade or so later, when he returned to his native county after working in London for a couple of years. He’s recorded previously with flute player Gerry O’Donnell and Four Men & A Dog’s Cathal Hayden, both of whom appear on his debut solo album. Melodious Accord is distinguished by the fact that all the tunes on it are original compositions by McGrath – and fine tunes they are, too, ranging from jigs and reels to slow airs, waltzes, flings, slides, barn dances and even a foxtrot; there’s also an interesting piece in the style of a Breton march. It’s unfortunate that the quality of the recording and mixing doesn’t always do justice to McGrath and his fellow musicians – who include McGrath’s young son Seán on the bodhrán.