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 Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny's Mozaik
Changing Trains (Compass, 2008)
Veteran instrumentalists Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny have recreated their Pan-European ensemble under the name mozaik. An earlier incarnation of the band had success in the 1980s under the name Mosaic. Mozaik brings together an impressive group of instrumentalists. In addition to Andy Irvine (vocals, mandola, bouzouki, harmonica) and Donal Lunny (vocals, bouzouki, guitar, bodhran), who are both former members of legendary band Plantxy, the group includes Dutch instrumentalists Rens van der Zalm (guitar, ud, bouzouki), American musician Bruce Molsky (fiddle, guitar, vocals, banjo) and Bulgarian multi-instrumentalist Nikola Parov (kaval, gaida, gadulka, guitar, whistle, nickelharpa).
The music selection on Changing Trains, recorded in 2005 in Budapest, includes Irish traditional pieces, Romanian music, original compositions and transatlantic ballads that traveled from Ireland to Appalachia. While the vocals are up to the usual high standard, the ensemble truly stands out when they perform instrumental passages that, at times, resemble a large folk orchestra.
According to Irvine, the band was conceived on a lengthy drive through Australia: “The Muse said ‘Get a bunch of your favorite musicians together and do a tour of this beautiful country.’” He continues, “I pondered for not very long before emailing the suspects I had in mind. To my delight they were all into it and thus emerged Mozaik – a band to die for…”
Buy Changing Trains.
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