Music
Press
I spent Saturday on the road, once again making a trip around the Cabot Trail and around the whole island. There’s still snow by the side of the road on North Mountain (and lots in the woods in some places) but it was a beautiful day for a drive.
I passed through Mabou in the afternoon but wasn’t there for the concert that evening, the release of Brenda Stubbert’s new CD, “Endless Memories”. I understand the concert went well and I’m sorry I missed it. I did, however, get a copy of the CD beforehand.
Recorded at Mike Wadden’s Spectrum Studios, “Endless Memories” was produced by Howie MacDonald (who also played piano and a bit of guitar). Dave MacIsaac played guitar, dobro and mandolin, Mac Morin played accordion, Mike Wadden added in some bouzouki and Jerry Holland does backup fiddle on two cuts.
As one would expect from such a prolific composer, there are a number of her own tunes on the CD, including the title cut. This is a truly soulful solo piano tune with a slow waltz/air tempo that highlights just how proficient a composer Brenda has become. Included in the mix is Lonesome Eyes, a lovely air by her good friend Jerry Holland, which she also does as a piano solo, with Jerry and Dave skillfully weaving fiddle and dobro backup.
The playing is solid, with Brenda’s distinctive sound coming through. At times the fiddles are doubled, highlighting certain tunes. At times all backup is stripped away, leaving us with just Brenda and her fiddle (or piano), to be heard and appreciated.
Altogether this makes for a very nice package, a 12-cut CD with some great, close-to-the-floor music, from one of the best there is, Brenda Stubbert. - The Cape Breton Post - Dan MacDonald
SYDNEY MINES — Composing music comes as naturally “as breathing” for Cape Breton fiddler and pianist Brenda Stubbert.
“I was 10 when I started composing, as soon as I started playing,” she recalled, explaining her craft has developed to the point where a tune can come to her at any time. “I can be anywhere doing anything, even in my sleep.”
And it’s that knack for making music which will be clearly evident on Stubbert’s latest album, Endless Memories, set to be released Saturday at Strathspey Place in Mabou, beginning at 7:30 p.m. For tickets call the Strathspey box office at 945-5300.
Named after one of two piano tracks on the album, Endless Memories includes a mix of traditional fiddle tunes and original compositions and features Stubbert in collaboration with friends and talented musicians like Howie MacDonald, Dave MacIsaac, Jerry Holland, Mac Morin and Mike Wadden.
“It was a real treat to have all those guys,” she said.
Stubbert said it was particularly nice to have the opportunity to record with MacDonald who she’s known and performed with since she was a teenager but had never recorded with until Endless Memories. MacDonald also produced the album.
Those included on the CD will join her for Saturday’s release concert, as will Molly Rankin and Stubbert’s daughter, Tracey Bailey, a stepdancer. Blanche Sophocleus will be master of ceremonies for the evening.
Stubbert’s recording career launched more than 20 years ago with the 1987 release of Tamerack’er Down and was followed by House Sessions in 1992, Jig Time in 1994, Some Tasty Tunes in 1999 and Music All Around in 2003. She’s also released two books of music, Brenda Stubbert’s Collection of Fiddle Tunes and Brenda Stubbert: The Second Collection.
Endless Memories is a particularly special project for Stubbert who has dedicated the album to her father, the late Robert Stubbert, who died earlier this year. A highly respected fiddler and composer, Robert, played a huge role in shaping his daughter’s own love and appreciation for music.
“He made me the musician I am today,” said Stubbert, a native of Point Aconi who now resides in Sydney Mines.
Copies of Stubbert’s new CD will be available at most gift shops and music stores on the island, as well as at Strathspey Place.
Stubbert said she’s excited to get her new album out there and is looking forward to a busy few months of performances across the Maritimes. She’ll also be teaching at two fiddle schools this summer.
For more information visit www.brendastubbert.ca. - The Cape Breton Post - Laura Jean Grant
Discography
Endless Memories (2008)
Music All Around (2003)
Some Tasty Tunes (1999)
Jig Time (1994)
House Sessions (1992)
Tamerack'er Down (1987)
Photos
Bio
She grew up surrounded by music, from her father and uncles and from the many musical friends (such as Winston Fitzgerald) who made her Point Aconi home a regular stop. She recalls jigging tunes in her head while still in elementary school, at a time when she should have been listening to her teachers. She absorbed this music, enhanced it with some amazing skills and matured into one of Cape Bretons finest fiddlers.
She is Brenda Stubbert: fiddler; pianist; composer.
"...the music flows effortlessly. It's as if the music is as simple as breathing." - Am Braighe Magazine
While Brenda is considered one of the premier players of her generation, she is also noted as being one of the few remaining exponents of the Northside Irish style of fiddle music. This distinctive style, learned from her father (the late Robert Stubbert), comes to her in an almost direct line from the Wilmots, the Confiants, and the Fortunes, all celebrated players who used a long bow and a distinguishing left hand ornamentation.
As a player, the lift and drive Brenda brings to her music can entice an audience to their feet with just a few notes. Whether on a concert stage in Scotland, or playing for a small session in a Cape Breton hall or simply playing with friends at a house party, she is in her element, with an astounding knowledge of the music and a repertoire of tunes that is the envy of many.
" her infectiously exuberant playing could start a dance among the residents in Madame Toussaud's." - The Herald, Glasgow Scotland
Considered to be one of the better tunesmiths of her generation, Brenda has been composing since shortly after she began playing. The sheer volume of her compositions is remarkable and includes everything from beautiful slows airs to hard-driving jigs and reels. Many of these have been featured in two separate books of her music published over the past few years.
Her peers have also noted her skills and many of her tunes have appeared on recordings across Canada and beyond. For many Cape Breton fiddlers, a new CD wouldnt be complete without one or more of Brendas tunes, a well-known standard, or perhaps something new and different.
" well on her way to becoming the female answer to the prolific composer Dan R. MacDonald " - Chronicle Herald
Always much in demand as a pianist as well as a fiddler, she can be found entertaining across Canada, in parts of the United States and overseas. Already an experienced recording artist, Brenda has just released her sixth solo CD, going back over more then twenty years.
ENDLESS MEMORIES builds on her past musical experiences, allowing her to create an interesting mix of traditional tunes carefully blended with some of her own material and additional works from contemporary Cape Breton composers. Recorded at Spectrum Studios, the CD was produced by Howie MacDonald and the musicians include Howie, Dave MacIsaac, Mac Morin, Mike Wadden and Jerry Holland (who does backup fiddle on two cuts).
" ...vintage Cape Breton style fiddling " - Fiddler Magazine
Taken as a whole, ENDLESS MEMORIES allows you to hear the many sides of Brenda Stubbert: her talent as a fiddler and pianist, her gift as a composer and arranger, and her skill at completing this wonderful new CD.
"Endless Memories makes you want to dance - and touches the heart as well. More brilliant music from Brenda - she's the real deal..." Rita MacNeil
Links
