Celtic Connections, Carlos Núñez: The Atlantic Corridor, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Rob Adams FOUR STARS
When Carlos Núñez was adopted as a young lad by Paddy Moloney and the Chieftains, although it was a musical rather familial arrangement, some family traits must have been passed on. As he ushered in one instalment after another of his narrative on Spanish-Celtic relations down many centuries, Núñez had the easy verbal momentum that has become so familiar with Moloney's musical journeyings, as well as something of Jools Holland's hosting skills on Later with ...
Moloney once likened Núñez to the pied piper of Hamilyn and it's true, people seem to gravitate towards the Galician's charm and enthusiasm, to say nothing of his natural musicality on pipes and whistles. He covered an enormous amount of history and geography here in the sort multi-faceted production that Celtic Connections has a track record of doing very well, and he made what might have turned out to be more suited to the Open University channel into a presentation that was ultimately fun, with the audience wheeched to their feet at the Galician's insistence for a finale that included a dancing mini stage invasion.
Along the way there were stirring episodes, with piper Angus MacDonald progressing from back door to stage floor while playing The Battle of Glenshiel pibroch and Karen Matheson singing a lovely version of Dòmhnall Ruadh Chorùna's love letter from the Somme to his wife. As the house band, Núñez's musicians, including his brother on propulsive percussion, adapted easily and the music flowed from an opening Brazilian-Celtic dance set to Ireland to Wales to Argentina, Mexico and on to a united nations of participants playing together in enthusiastic communion.
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