The gap may have been fourteen years but the wait for THE
VICAR St SESSIONS VOL. 1 to emerge in a recorded format is over, much to the
delight of the legions of Paul Brady fans. On the contrary, if you are yet to
be acquainted with this highly acclaimed Irish artist then this new release
will act as a fresh introductory opportunity. With this project being the
snapshot of one month in the life of a performer back in October 2001, perhaps
the use of the word ‘fresh’ is ironic. The decision to descend on Dublin’s
Vicar St venue for a residency was ambitious at its outset, cautionary with its start,
rampant in its promotion, before ultimately succeeding in its legacy.
In total Paul played 23 dates during that single venue run
and this initial release, in what promises to be a series, evokes a little of
the bristling craftsmanship that surrounded each night during the month. The obvious
attraction of the thirteen tracks selected to populate Volume 1 is the sheer
magnitude of the collaborating artists who ended up giving Paul more than a
little helping hand in making the initiation a success. These artists
ultimately queued up to work with a performer who at the time had already
enjoyed a thirty year recording career, successfully moving between the styles
of traditional Irish music through to
contemporary pop/rock, whilst making calling stops within the country and folk
communities.
Mark Knopfler, Van Morrison, Sinead O’Connor, Curtis
Stigers, Ronan Keating and Bonnie Raitt are all household names to feature on
the record. Paul was happy to share the spotlight of his own songs alongside selected
numbers from his guests. This is reflected in the chosen tracks for the
recording which surfaces under the Proper Records banner. O’Connor’s ‘In This Heart’, Morrison’s ‘Irish Heartbeat’ and Stigers’ ‘Don’t Go Far’, all graced with the
additional presence of Paul, make the cut. Standing mightily alongside these
songs are Brady’s own ‘The Soul Commotion’,
making a good case for the stand out track, and a piece he co-wrote with Carol
King ‘Believe in Me’.
THE VICAR St SESSIONS VOL. 1 ends on a real high with Mary
Black and Mauna O’Connell joining Paul for a rousing finale of Dylan’s ‘Forever Young’. This is one of the less
smooth tracks on the album which is the appeal to many of a live record. With
this in mind the bulk of the tracks do blur the lines between live and studio,
so it down to the choice of the discerning listener. What is removed from the
debate is the first rate musicianship running through the core of the record
and the imaginative ease of being a privileged guest at each of these live
shows.