by Mark Dunn
Timeless Jazz Recordings
www.markdunnmusic.com
This is not, as one might be led to believe, Celtic music influenced with Latin styles, which sounds like such an unusual juxtaposition that I really couldn’t wait to hear it. While a critic should never pan a creation for what it wasn’t intended to be, if the CD and press material didn’t mention the Central American connection I wouldn’t have noticed it in the music; the exception being a reggae backdrop in the final track, “Cahuita.”
Dunn, an accomplished jazz musician of Irish descent, was inspired to write this music through his visits with the people and culture of Central America. He recorded the music in Costa Rica. He plays piano and pennywhistle, accompanied by Costa Rican musicians Peter Nitcshe (of the Costa Rican Symphony) on violin, Randall Najera on acoustic bass, and Carlos Vargas on Percussion.
What influenced him, he says, was the inner peace he discovered on his journey, and spending time with people who were at peace living a simple life. Also that he carried the pennywhistle in his backpack, so many of the tunes suit it well.
This small ensemble plays some simply arranged and very traditional Celtic melodies. They play well; Dunn does a particularly good job exploring the softer side of the pennywhistle, which is basically a six-hole flute. Peaceful, for sure, but these original tunes don’t deviate from the substantial catalog of Celtic music already available. And while “Cahuita” has its reggae bottom, it’s victimized melodically by a run of the mill reel on top. Return to Peace would make a solid, but not unique, addition to a Celtic music library.
Folks interested in exploring Mark’s louder energies can seek out his self titled earlier CD. He is, at this writing, recording a Brazilian jazz album in Rio. He performes regularly in Brazil, Costa Rica, and the U.S.
Click here to return to Reviews Archives
