LULLABIES with MANDOLINS
Simon Mayor and Hilary James - CD
reviews
Sing Out! (USA)
One of England’s most dynamic duos, mandolinist Simon Mayor and
bassist-vocalist Hilary James, have teamed up once again to release the
latest in their long string of classical and popular recordings.
Laughing with the Moon showcases both their talent for
composition and their love for the traditional music of the British
Isles. Their arrangements of the Playford tunes “Hunt the Squirrel” and
“Long Odds”, for example, demonstrate not only Mayor’s considerable
chops on the mandolin, but also James’ skill as an accompanist who
knows just how to accent the tune without overpowering it. The same can
be said for “Carolan’s Concerto”, which features James’ tasty guitar
work. My favourite parts of this recording are her treatment of the
traditional songs “The Shearing’s not for you” and “Andrew Lammie”.
Her vocal style is soft and understated, yet she conveys the full
emotional content of the melody and lyrics. Four of their own
compositions round out Laughing with the Moon – interesting enough, all
four are based on folk tunes, and show Mayor and James’ intimate
understanding of the music which surrounds them.
When my kids were small, and people would give me “children’s
music” recordings, my criterion for success went something like this:
If I don’t want to throw it out the car window after the fifth listen,
it’s good. Children do tend to listen to their favourites over and
over, and I feel safe in saying that parents will find Lullabies with
Mandolins just as lovely after innumerable car rides. For a start, it’s
real music – Schubert’s “Cradle Song”, the American classic “All the
Pretty Little Horses, the English favorite “Over the Hills and Far
Away”. Mayor and James make no attempt to sell these tunes, they just
present them in very simple, quiet arrangements. It works. I predict
this will become a big favorite at bedtime, and if your kids learn all
the words to “Lavender’s Blue” or want to learn to play mandolin after
listening to Vivaldi’s “Andante” so much the better. This is James and
Mayor’s sixth recording for children, a catalogue that we parents can
only hope keeps growing.
MD
Irish Music Magazine
Lullabies often are neglected in our society. Everyone sees them as
little nonsense songs sung from tone-deaf fathers to beautiful
contralto in nurseries. Thanks to this album we may rescue some of the
greatest bits of music for generations to come. These lullabies cannot
be wasted on the babies. The pieces on offer are not only instrumental.
Hilary James sings a beautiful version of "Lavender's Blue" to open the
album. We also hear the beautiful traditional "Over the Hills and Far
Away" as purloined by John Gay for his Beggar's Opera a few centuries
ago.
The range of the songs and tunes is fascinating. "Raisins and Almonds"
sounds like a wondrous Yiddish song. They perform from the classical
repertoire with "Greig's Cradle Song" and "Schubert's Cradle Song." You
also get "Dance to Your Daddy" and "All the Pretty Little Horses."
A few years ago the experts were telling us that babies should be
exposed to classical music, even in the womb. All babies, whatever age
up to 90 years, must be exposed to these lullabies.
Parents should get two copies of this album. One can be put on
continuous play in the nursery to nurture discerning music lovers. The
other should be in the sitting room to re-educate adults in the joys of
lullabies.
Nicky Rossiter (Ireland)
The Daily Telegraph
Hilary James with Simon Mayor
"Laughing with the Moon" CDACS 047
Simon Mayor & Hilary James
"Lullabies with Mandolins" CDACS 049
After devoting 30 years to winning belated respect for the mandolin,
Simon Mayor is established as the instrument's most eloquent champion.
The delightful singing and instrumental contributions of Hilary James
have done his campaign no harm, helping the couple to refine a
confident, attractive sound.
Of these New Year offerings, Laughing With the Moon is the one for
grown-ups. Mayor and James have chosen their material well. Instantly
appealing traditional songs, notably 'The Shearing's Not For You', a
neglected folk club standard of the early 1970s, and a sparkling
version of 'Carolan's Concerto', among the best-known of the
18th-century blind harpist's charming little pieces, mix effectively
with newer works.
Lullabies With Mandolins is naturally aimed at children – young,
pre-Playstation children at that – and is pleasing enough to serve a
worthy purpose, capturing the attention of fractious little people on
long car journeys without causing too much irritation to the adults up
front.
Colin Randall
Babysue (USA)
General pop culture magazine (not for children)
Lullabies With Mandolins CDACS047
Laughing at the Moon CDACS049
Hilary James and Simon Mayor make music for all the right reasons.
While most folks in the United States may not be familiar with these
two individuals, they are well known in Great Britain. The two have
been recording and touring together in various stages of their careers
since the 1970s. James sings, plays guitar and bass guitar while Mayor
is a mandolin virtuoso.
Laughing with the Moon is a lighthearted romp through a variety of
traditional and original tunes. Hilary has a voice that is perfectly
smooth and always on key... slightly reminiscent of Alison Krauss.
Mayor's playing is personal and spirited throughout. The instrumentals
sound just as good as the vocal tracks and vice versa. On Lullabies
With Mandolins, the duo covers songs that will appeal to children as
well as adults. The album reminds us of The Innocence Mission's Now the
Day Is Over. James and Mayor chose to cover timeless lullabies that
will sound great decades from now. Both of these discs showcase two
musicians who truly love what they do. In their spare time, these folks
even play for children in schools. How cool is that? Completely genuine
and real in every way.
Excellent.
(Rating: 5+)
Folkworld.de (Germany)
Hilary James with Simon Mayor
"Laughing with the Moon" CDACS 047
Simon Mayor & Hilary James
"Lullabies with Mandolins" CDACS 049
Britain's premier duo, especially if it comes to four double-course
stringed instruments: Hilary James (vocals, guitar, bass, and
mandobass, which is a huge bass-sized mandolin/mandola) and Simon Mayor
(mandolin). Hilary sings traditional ballads and some of her own
making, Simon delivers instrumental compositions and traditional dance
tunes from England and Scotland, and a Carolan air. A marvellous
partnership with Hilary's charming vocals and Simon's expert mandolin
playing. Personally I like best the beautiful instrumental version of
the well-known Jacobite song "Johnny Cope" at rather slow pace.
Both Hilary and Simon have maintained a keen interest in music for
children throughout their careers, with over sixty children's songs to
their credit. However, "Lullabies with Mandolins" is a bedtime
collection of traditional songs and classical tunes for children and
for the mums and dads as well. Tunes - "Lavender's Blue" up to "Fais
Dodo" - from Britain, France, Germany and the Americas from the 16th
century onwards, as well as melodies from Vivaldi, Grieg and Schubert,
the latter being piano turned mandolin pieces. Please allow me to cite
from "Over the Hills and Far Away" what sums up best that lullabies
don't mean sleepy and tiresome: Now Tom did play with such a skill that
those nearby could not stand still, and over Ireland they did dance,
over England, Spain and France.
Maverick (USA)
Acoustic roots music magazine
Subtle, gentle music master class for young and old to enjoy
Want to give your young 'un the best possible start in life? Hope to
raise a well-balanced kid who will have absorbed enough fine sounds
through the formative years to guarantee good taste in youth and
adulthood? Well, have a listen to what these ever so clever people are
up to. This is about as perfectly balanced as anything could ever be
that you'd wish to expose a delicate little bundle to, as an
introduction to what can have a settling effect when things seem a
little fraught.
James, in particular has a mesmerising quality about her delivery that
is truly soothing and satisfying. She doubles up on harmonies for
“Golden Slumbers” and the end result isn't too far away from a Kate and
Anna McGarrigle experience- Listen too, to “Fais Dodo”, where Mayor
supports the delicate vocals with runs on mandolin and fiddle that are
beautifully sympathetic.
They make no apologies for tailoring the whole package towards that
time when children's heads should be hitting the pillow. In the
process, they handle these traditional bedtime songs and classic little
tunes so delicately that grown ups can fall right under their spell
too. The pair have previously recorded a handful of entertaining
MUSICAL MYSTERY TOUR albums for children. This takes the theme on to
new highs.
Mayor, one of Europe's virtuoso mandolin players, brings a real touch
of panache to proceedings. His intro to “All the Pretty Little Horses”
sets a standard so high you'd imagine James could never maintain the
thread, but she does, to produce a sublimely beautiful rendition that's
helped along by the odd subtle tweak of studio wizardry. And, again,
much of the credit must go to Mayor whose contribution, especially on
violin, is perfect. His touches on Greig's “Cradle Song” and “Andante”
from “Concerto for Two Mandolins” are so light; you feel he must have
been floating on air.
They manage to rejuvenate the best known lullaby of them all,
“Hush-a-bye Baby” with a reworking that gives it a new lease of life.
The old American song, “Raisins & Almonds” gets the kind of
invigorating dunk in the mountain stream that the likes of Laura
Boosinger might have done. The addition of the lush, “German Cradle
Song” is something of a master stroke. Taken from Mayor's own Winter
with Mandolins album, it is the baited hook that will have you seeking
out that CD and his other two, The English Mandolin and The Second
Mandolin.
Here's another tip: They occasionally go out as a 'bluegrass-to-lrving
Berlin' trio called Slim Panatella and the Mellow Virginians. Is that
name smoking or what?
LT
Net Rhythms
This is billed as a children's album, and though described as "a
bedtime collection of traditional songs and classical tunes", is
probably unlikely to send you to sleep even though it includes versions
of famous cradle-songs by Grieg and Schubert alongside Golden Slumbers,
Over The Hills And Far Away, Hush-a-Bye-Baby and, to open proceedings,
a particularly beautiful version of Lavender's Blue. There's even a
movement from one of Vivaldi's concerti (the lovely one in G for two
mandolins, RV532), and I think that the entire concerto could easily
have fitted snugly into place on this CD and sounded good.
Simon and Hilary do play more instruments than just mandolins on this
album, however, in case you're worried! They turn in renditions that
are endearingly informal, and affectionate and warm rather than
cloyingly sentimental, and the whole album is tasteful and
entertaining.
With its refreshing lack of condescension (ie not patronising its
audience in the slightest) it's every bit as satisfying as [their
current album for adults] Laughing With The Moon, and it would
certainly prove a genuinely charming gift for any musically-inclined
young person you know who's not fixated with pop culture.
David Kidman
Cue
Lullabies With Mandolins CDACS 049
Laughing With the Moon CDACS 047
Hilary James is an established and extremely accomplished musician and
artist, playing a whole range of acoustic and electric instruments but
notable are her performances on assorted bass instruments. She has also
had her own label since 1979 and she has released a total of 22 albums.
Simon Mayor is an equally established musician and he is every bit as
competent, he represents the leading light in mandolin playing in
Britain.
As a partnership, Hilary James and Simon Mayor have been playing and
recording together since the mid Seventies.Their partnership produces
fantastic works of acoustic folk music with a traditional English feel
but drawing its individuality from their blending of folk with ballads,
blues and classical music, for example, that of Berlioz and Handel.
Lullabies With Mandolins is a brand new release by Hilary and Simon. It
is the latest of their releases for children (they have also released a
whole series for children under the title Musical Mystery Tour).
Featuring 13 tracks, it is a collection of traditional and classical
songs and melodies that can be grouped together as lullabies. The
selection includes: Lavenders Blue, All the Pretty Little Horses,
Golden Slumbers, Griegs Cradle Song and Hush a bye baby. These gentle
relaxing bedtime songs will be equally enjoyed by children and parents
alike, as well as by fans of this terrific partnership.
Laughing with the Moon is the latest studio album released by Hilary
and Simon and is a wondrous collection of traditional and original
songs and instrumentals. These include The Dream a great opening track
that fully displays this pairings ability on their chosen musical
instruments, The Reel Thing which is a modern slant on a lively Reel,
Newcastle, Fireflies and Shenandoah.This album features a whole host of
virtuoso musicians: Frank Kilkelly on guitar, Phil Fentimen on guitar
and double bass, Alan Whetton on Soprano saxophone and Simon Price on
Drums. Laughing with the Moon is as enjoyable to sit and let wash over
you as it is an education is musicians everywhere. It is a hugely
enjoyable experience and grows more so after every listen.
Both these albums are available now and are distributed by RSK/BMG.
Country Gazette (Holland)
Acoustische liedjes voor jong en oud Wat is er tocch veel mooie muziek
gemaakt, als jer maar oog en oor voor hebt en het geluk om het te
ontdekken. Simon Mayor en Hilary James zijn al heel wat jaren bezig en
hebben een indrukwekkende lijst albums op hun naam staan.
Soloprojecten, albums voor kinderen, platen waarop ze elkaar meestal
samen vinden. Degene die de hoofdrol vervult wordt in de titel het
eerst genoemd. Er verschenen onlangs twee albums: Hilary James with
Simon Mayor "Laughing with the Moon" en "Lullabies with Mandolins" van
Simon Mayor with Hilary James.
Op "Laughing with the Moon" heelt Hilary James de glansrol. Haar stem
schittert helder en hoog en wordt daarbij fraai onderstuend door
violin, gitaren, mandolin, mandola en mandocello, vakkundig bespeeld
door Simon Mayor . Hilary James speelt mandobass, double bass,
bassguitar en gitaar. Alles prachtig gedoseerd in een harmonieus
acoustisch veld. Naast eigen werk van beiden horen we vooral
bewerkingen van traditionele Engelse tunes en balladen. Dit is muziek
zoals dat voor het oor geschapen is. Subliem in geluidsweergave en wat
een vrolijkheid.
"Lullabies with Mandolins" is een 'bedtime collection' van traditionele
songs en klassieke tunes uit een ver verleden. De klassieke meesters
maakten veel composities die door eenvoud ook de jeugd aanspraken.
Tunes van Grieg, Vivaldi, Schubert e. a. worden hier op mandoline
uitgevoerd. De 8 songs, allen bewekte traditionals, worden schitterend
gezongen door Hilary, met Simon soms bescheiden in tweede stem. We
horen songs als "Fais Do Do", "Lavender's Blue", "All the pretty little
Horses", "Over the hills and far away", "Hush-a-bye baby", "Golden
Slumbers" en meer. Simon Mayor heeft muzikaal de hoofdrol in allerlei
soorten mandoline, violin, whistle en gitaren. Voor Hilary zijn de
baspartjen op mando- en gitaar. Schitterende muziek en songs voor
momenten van weldadige rust.
Roots Review
(Online magazine)
Exquisite, magical, delicate, intriguing are just a few of the words to
describe the stunning performances on the album “Lullabies With
Mandolins”. Simon Mayor and Hilary James have released this their 20th
collaborative album which showcases their wonderful dexterity and
creativity using the mandolin, mandobass, guitar, double bass and
various other instruments as well as their voices. The album is a mix
of instrumental arrangements of classics such as the Andante from
Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Mandolins and Schubert’s Cradle Song
interspersed with wonderfully innovative arrangements of traditional
children’s songs and lullabies including “Dance to your Daddy” and
“Hush–a-bye Baby”.
Hilary supplies most of the vocals with Simon performing on violin,
whistle and glockenspiel as well as the mandolins. I must confess I
prefer the instrumental tracks although each of the songs is given a
beautiful and original accompaniment and Hilary’s voice is perfect for
children’s songs. The album is marketed at parents/grandparents of very
young children and it would be very soothing and gentle background
music playing as children go to sleep.
Both Simon and Hilary have always maintained a keen interest in music
for children and have been involved in education and broadcasting for
quite a few years. Of their 20 albums five have been recorded in their
Musical Mystery Tour children’s series. This is children’s music of the
very highest quality and so far superior to most of the music aimed at
this niche market.
The fine musicianship demonstrated on this album is inspirational and
the two of them admirably encompass many styles and genres of playing.
The instrumental pieces can also be found on other recordings of Simon
Mayor and this album has definitely whetted my appetite to listen to
more. “Lullabies With Mandolins” is released on the Acoustic Record
label.
Janet Roe
Green Man Review (USA)
Lullabies with Mandolins is exactly what the title suggests. You get a
number of English nursery rhymes, such as "Lavender's Blue," "Over the
Hills and Far Away" and "Dance to your Daddy," all performed like
lullabies. They are mixed with some tunes from classical composers such
as Grieg, Vivaldi and Schubert.
My favourite track is the extended version of "Golden Slumbers" (not
the Beatles version). It starts with some beautiful a cappella singing
that leads into an instrumental passage. Stretched out over more than
five minutes, it is very moving. They are two damn good musicians
playing damn good music, and that will take them a long way. Clearly
worth checking out.
Lars Nilsson
The Living Tradition
This album is targeted at a specific audience - parents,
grandparents and their young charges. It's essentially exactly what its
title suggests; a collection of traditional lullabies and cradle songs
- the production is very elegant, and the result is gentle and pleasing
on the ear. Mayor excels as always on mandolin, guitar, fiddle,
whistle, mandocello (and more), whilst James' voice, guitar and bass
playing continue to delight.
Mayor and James have achieved acclaim for their significant
contribution to children's music education (especially through their
'Musical Mystery Tour' CDs, and their regular school-based workshops
and television/radio productions), so the present recording is a
natural extension of this work.
hadn't heard some of these tunes before, though most are very
widely known - 'Lavender's Blue', 'Grieg's Cradle Song', 'Dance To Your
Daddy', 'Golden Slumbers', ‘Raisins & Almonds’, and the French
lullaby 'Fais Dodo'. The selections are from England, France, North
America, Germany and Italy; many are timeless, traditional songs,
Grieg, Vivaldi and Schubert composed others.
I would certainly have been interested in purchasing this recording
when my own children were very young (it's soothing and beautiful to
listen to, and would surely calm a fractious child on long car
journeys, at bedtime, etc). It's an elegant alternative to those
mass-produced, vastly inferior children's music CDs on sale at your
local branch of the Early Learning Centre. Mayor and James continue to
record high quality, crafted music to be enjoyed by all age groups - I
think the appeal of this recording will be limited due to its likely
audience, but then again you could say that about most of the music
reviewed by Living Tradition!
Debbie Koritsas
Kevin's Celtic & Folk Music CD
Reviews
(online magazine)
This British duo have a long tradition of recording albums aimed at
children. Amazingly this is the twentieth album they have recorded
together and a good percentage of them have been embraced by kids.
And this one is no exception, apart from the fact that it brings out
the “kid” in us all, and if we suck on the songs long enough, madeleine
cake-style, we somehow are back in the nursery and ready for our
afternoon nap.
They are exquisitely performed by this multi-instrumentalist duo: not
only are they ultra-talented musicians, but both are vocalists who can
safely negotiate the minefield that an ostensibly simple lullaby can
represent.
My favourite cut “Hush-a-bye Baby” is, to my generation, synonymous
with the BBC’s long-standing radio programme “Listen With Mother”. It
is so easy to sing it on auto-pilot, and bore us all to the point where
we CANNOT sleep, (perhaps for the sheer frustration of listening to
recording artistes refusing to stretch themselves!) But these two avoid
such an approach like the plague: instead, their approach to the lyric
is like they wrote it just ten minutes ago.
And when these lullabies are played and sung with real freshness as
they are here, you can as a reviewer, subject it to the acid test. Play
it as you turn the light off at the end of your day. And see if you are
asleep before the CD has got halfway!
I am pleased to say that every time I was asleep in ten minutes! So
that is a tribute to the “medicinal” qualities (so-to-speak) of this CD
!! I had to play it in the mornings to properly honour my obligations
as a reviewer, i.e. to listen to the album all the way through.
It might seem a back-handed compliment, but believe me, you should
abandon your pharmacist. Instead, invest in this fine CD.
Dai Woosnam
Dirty Linen (USA)
Laughing With the Moon CDACS 047
Lullabies With Mandolins CDACS 049
For years, mando-bass player and singer Hilary James and her
husband/mandolin wizard Simon Mayor have been dazzling audiences in
their native England and Europe with their singing and playing. On her
latest solo album Laughing With The Moon, James is once again backed by
Mayor and many other fine players including Alan Whetton’s excellent
saxophone playing. Her sound is an interesting mix of traditional
English and the newgrass music pioneered by artists such as Sam Bush
and David Grisman - a sort of Brit-Dawg Music. The album varies among
highly energised instrumentals (“The Reel Thing”) and beautifully sung
traditional songs (“The Shearing’s Not For You” and a gorgeous version
of “Shennandoah”), and extraordinary original compositions (“Fireflies”
and the album’s title track).
The couple is also well known in their homeland as highly entertaining
makers of children’s music, with their series of “Musical Mystery Tour”
albums and concerts. Their latest children’s CD is called Lullabies
With Mandolins and is sure to set your whole family into a blissfully
mellow mood. From the sweet, soothingly sung strains of “Lavender’s
Blue”, the semi-classical “Pieds en l’air”, and the sweeping, majestic
“Fais Dodo”, they maintain an air of quiet beauty. Classics such as
“All The Pretty Little Horses”, “Over The Hills And Far Away” and
“Hush-a-bye Baby” are mando-ized, while even Vivaldi’s “Andante”
becomes a concerto for two mandolins [sic].
Lahri Bond
Acoustics Records
PO Box 350
Reading RG6 7DQ
England
Tel: +44 (0)118 926 8615
www.acousticsrecords.co.uk