Kevin Bryan's Record Reviews.

Don McLean,"Live in Manchester" (Wienerworld WNRCDV 5076)- This engaging throwback to the golden age of the singer-songwriter  was recorded at Manchester's now sadly defunct Free Trade Hall in  October 1991. The American troubadour  regaled his adoring audience with some  choice album tracks before revisiting  the tuneful gems which captured the hearts of record buyers on both sides of the Atlantic during his commercial heyday in the early seventies, including "Vincent," "And I Love You So"  and his epic  pop anthem,"American Pie," which is apparently the longest song to ever top the U.S.  singles charts.

 

Bella Hardy, "With The Dawn" (Noe Records)- The seventh solo album  from inventive Derbyshire born folkie Bella Hardy should appeal to devotees of the similarly quirky and unpredictable Unthank sisters , making ingenious use of brass and banjo to deliver what is in many ways her most imaginative offering to date.  Roots music practitioners aren't  normally renowned for their  musical sophistication but Bella possesses this rare quality in abundance, shifting effortlessly from the deceptive simplicity of  "Time Wanders On" to the much more experimental sound of  "You Don't Have To Change" and  "First Light of the Morning."

 

Hilary Hahn, "Mozart 5, Vieuxtemps 4" (D.G.)- Hilary  Hahn's latest Deutsche Grammophon recital finds the Grammy award winning American violinist in commanding form as she joins forces with  conductor Paavo Jarvi and the members of Bremen's Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie to tackle two of the finest virtuoso vehicles in the entire classical  repertoire.  She breathes new life into Mozart's much loved "Concerto in A" in the process,  and this thoughtfully conceived  coupling also showcases the unabashed Romanticism of Belgian musician and composer Henri Vieuxtemps' "Violin Concerto No.4 in D minor."

 

Grant Langston, "Hope You're Happy Now" (California  Roots Union)- "Hope You're Happy Now" is the first album release from CRU, the music promotion company which Langston helped to set up with the admirable aim of spreading the word on behalf of California based Americana and roots recordings. It's by all accounts the singer-songwriter's most  darkly memorable collection to date, blessed with a deliciously moody menu of  melodic musings on the human condition led by "Me and Margaret, " "The Trigger" and  "Born To Ride."