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June 21, 2012
Fiddler Mike
Hall immersed in Cape Breton music
Laura Jean Grant, Cape Breton Post
SYDNEY —
Even before his debut album hit store shelves in 2010,
fiddler Mike Hall was planning for his next one.
Two years
later, those plans have come to life with “Dance Hall,” his
second full-length recording, which is set to be released
this weekend.
“This
album is comparable to the last one in that it’s strictly
traditional, it’s just the tune selection is different. The
degree of difficulty of this album was exponentially harder
than the first one. I guess that has a lot to do with the
fact that you grow as a musician as you travel and meet new
musicians,” he explained.
Hall will
unveil his new work Saturday with two CD release events —
from 2-5 p.m. at St. Mary of the Angels Parish Hall in
Glendale, and from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at the Westmount
legion. Hall also has a CD release planned for June 30 from
2-6 p.m. at The Doryman in Cheticamp. For all events,
admission is $5 and CDs will be on sale for $15.
Born and
raised in Saint John, N.B., Hall has called Cape Breton home
for much of the past five years, immersing himself in the
island’s traditional music scene.
In fact,
he credits his work over three summers at the Celtic Music
Interpretive Centre in Judique, as a huge learning
experience as he had the opportunity to meet and play with
world-class musicians including Allan Dewar who has toured
with Natalie MacMaster, Ashley MacIsaac and Mary Jane Lamond.
“(Allan)
has a really great ear and a really good concept for what
works well together so I had a lot of ideas to bounce off of
him and how to make things work transition-wise,” said Hall.
Dewar also
played on Hall’s latest album — the two recording it at a
hall in Glendale, during an event that was open to the
public. It was a natural fit for Hall who selected many of
the tunes for the album from what struck a chord with his
audiences at local dances.
“The
repertoire that I was able to put together for this album I
think is unique in that a lot of the music that’s on this
album has not been recorded in 30 or 40 years,” said Hall,
who titled the CD, “Dance Hall” after his own nickname which
was coined during a Cape Breton square set.
Dewar and
Sandy MacDonald will perform with Hall for this Saturday’s
release events, and Colten MacDonnell will play with him in
Cheticamp.
Hall is
now living in Cheticamp, working part-time at a local motel,
and playing music three to four nights a week.
Copies of
Hall’s CD will be available for sale at the Cape Breton
Curiosity Shop in Sydney, Mac’s Celtic Gift Shop in St.
Peter’s, the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre in Judique,
the Glenora Distillery, the Bear Paw in Inverness, Charlie’s
Music in Cheticamp, and Cameron’s Music Sales in Port
Hawkesbury.
Buy
Mike Hall's "DANCE HALL" CD in the Online Store |
