New from Jamie Laval & Ashley Broder,
"Zephyr in the Confetti Factory."

Featuring:
Jamie Laval; violin
Ashley Broder; mandolin, cello

Filling the listener's ear with an adequately interesting parcel of sounds and textures is a demanding task for an ensemble of two. The challenge is kicked up a notch higher when both instruments in the duo are treble, let alone similar in timbre, as is in the combination of string musicians Jamie Laval and Ashley Broder.

Violinist Laval and mandolinist/celloist Broder have achieved this acoustic assignment radiantly. Through brilliant technical execution and masterful compositional engineering, the pair have concocted a clever and engaging compilation of what they quite accurately label "Neo-celtic" songs and arrangements. Primarily, their material is derived from prominent session tunes from Scotland, Ireland, Brittany (France), Galecia (Spain), and Appalachia (US). Part British Isles, part Bach, the nine tracks exhibit a stellar musicianship and keen playing proficiency. Not only impressed with Ashley's compelling, clear mandolin tone, we enjoy the unique personalities of the individual artists midst flawless technical precision. Together they "play," both literally and figuratively, trading roles of lead and support with tenacious control, never betraying an unrelenting abandon and humor underneath. Indeed, they ardently "work," but they also romp.

In this combination of instruments, one would have anticipated the violin would play the predominantly lyrical role, smoothly melodic with the mandolin complementing in percussive crunch. Ironically, through the CD, we are treated with contrasting fat linear tone from Ashley's Collings MT2 mandolin (Flatiron on Songs 4 & 5) and some fiddle-schooled rhythmic tricks out of Jamie's violin. The dichotomy is most captivating to the ear; the two trade roles so seamlessly that it's easy to lose track who's playing melody if you aren't truly concentrating.

The interplay in Leventine's "Spinning" Barrel is especially striking. The two remain tight throughout abrupt tempo changes, maintaining rigid grip (pun intended) through intense, demandingly virtuosic passages. Nonetheless, their music isn't so pedantic as to merely be about virtuosity or arresting prowess. Certainly, they impress, but they don't "flaunt," and this is what makes their playing so captivatingly gorgeous.

In addition to being an accomplished mandolinist (Western Open Master Picker Championship in 2003 and 2004), Ashley wields a competent bow, playing cello on "Old Man Elzic" with a smattering of pizzicato jazz aplomb. Jamie contributes, plucking his violin with enchanted delight and occasional Gershwin-like slides. Arguably, their cleverest constructive material comes in their medley of "The Cukoo and the Blackberry," giving us a fresh look at the traditional fiddle tune "Blackberry Blossom." Trading melody mid-measure, they once again amaze with their solid, spirited, ensemble-sensitive maneuvering.

We usually like to reserve space in the JazzMando Spotlight reviews for something a bit more jazz-tinged, but the material is so freshly innovative and execution so brilliant, it's worth a listen for anyone looking to see what boundaries a mandolin can push. This is great mandolinning (and fiddling). This is superb music.

According to their press materials, Ashley and Jamie are continuing to forge this new duo ensemble format, "rendering traditional Scottish, Irish, Bretagne and bluegrass music with innovative hints of classical refinement and ethnic music from around the world. The pair now tours together full-time throughout the U.S. and Scotland."

Genre: Neo-celtic, Folk, Classical
Release date: 2007
Label: Independent

Purchase information

Selections:
1. Paddy, Jenny, and The Boys
2. Staircase
3. Jig Jag
4. Sir Archibald Grant of Monymusk
5. Levantine's "Spinning" Barrel
6. Old Man Elzic
7. The Cuckoo and the Blackberry
8. Loudeac Round Dances
9. The Sorceress

Artist Website:
Ashley Broder
Jamie Laval

Check out their MySpace website

Ashley tells us yet another project is in the works...

We can't wait for more!