jacquelyn hynes

Shelley Marsden enjoys London folk artist’s first album
The debut solo album form flame-haired London-based flautist Jacquelyn Hynes which was recently launched at London’s Green Note, is one to treasure. Apparently Dónal Lunny is a big fan and it's not tough to see why.
It’s hard to define initially, but one of the elements that stand out when you first listen to this album is its unique human touch. You can hear breaths, pauses, intakes of air as well as instruments, as the notes played on either silver or wooden flute and can imagine Hynes as the creator of these sounds as she plays. It’s subtle but something that brings this romantic and imaginative album, albeit delicately, to even greater life.
Multi-instrumentalist and composer Jacquelyn, who is half- Irish with family roots in County Clare, plays not only the flute(s) but saxophone, melodica and uileann pipes, all talents show-cased on this offering, which tips its hat to both traditional music and more ambient revisitings of traditional tracks, such as an ethereal take on She Moves Through the Fair with its long improvisation, featuring fellow London-based muso J Eoin on vocals. A poem specially written is spoken over the sounds of harpsichord on her cover of C16th ballad Greensleeves, bringing a distinctly English flavour into the proceedings. Other gorgeous tracks to listen out for include the light- hearted The Cuckoo, Sliabh Russell and The Ashplant/ Red Haired Lass and the brilliantly structured Gini's Tune. The beauty (or one of them) of this album is that it is clearly steeped in tradition, but manages to bring Hynes' innate sense of innovation to the table at the same time, creating a collection that is ethereal and other-worldly but also attractively contemporary. To date, Jacquelyn has supported some of Ireland's leading musicians including Martin Hayes, Michael McGoldrick, Mary Coughlan and Lunasa, and performed with Dónal Lunny and for president Mary Macaleese. She was awarded the Katherine McGillivray "Get A Life Fund" for musicians which facilitated an MA in performance at the Irish World Academy completed in 2010. - Irish World Newspaper 19th July 2014

Actor, musician and composer Jacquelyn Hynes has a fine musical pedigree having supported or performed with a number of Irish luminaries including Michael McGoldrick and Dónal Lunny. This debut CD showcases, as expected, her folk credentials on silver and wooden flutes but there are many elements to the package. Her own composition Gini’s Tune is an air with sympathetic accompaniment by Eoin Quiery on guitar. How working of traditional number "the Cuckoo' is a fusion of elements inspired by French and old-timey treatments of the tune starting on a repeated distinctive Baroque flute figure, it incorporates a vocal duet with J.Eoin with new lyrics from Hynes. Her version of “Greensleeves”, inspired by Robin Williamson with Hynes's own spoken additional words, features a recording of the dawn chorus. Particular mention should be made of the haunting "She Moved Through the Fair”, to which Hynes brings an ethereal feel through her flute improvisations, along with the intriguing kemence, ‘oud and Dobro of Stuart Hall, and again the singing of J.Eoin. All the tracks merit an individual mention, though space here doesn't allow. Overall the album is an inspired and pleasing collection of solid Celtic folk with many imaginative surprises. Colin Bailey. - R2 Rock'n'Reel Magazine

WHAT a cracker of a debut this is from folk flutist, multi-instrumentalist and composer Jacquelyn Hynes. The only question is why has it taken so long? Playing flutes, melodica, piano and even vocals on two tracks (she should do more) the big surprise here is the lack of Uilleann pipes.
Obviously a lot of love has gone into tis album and the result is a delight. Faultless musicianship from Jacquelyn and her guests that include J.Eoin (vocals & guitar) , Eoin O'Neill (bouzouki), Quentin Cooper (banjo) and Yvonne Casey (fiddle).
In fact J.Eoin, a regular musical partner of Jacquelyn's and a fine songwriter in his own right, contributes a terrific vocal on a great contemporary arrangement of "She Moved Through The Fair".
Their close musical collaboration is very obvious on "The Cuckoo" - a great track.
Jacquelyn's theatrical experience is shown to good effect on Greensleeves with a moving and bewitching self-penned narration. Overall, it is a classy debut album full of innovation and imagination from a classy multi-talented musician.
Hopefully "Silver and Wood" is just the first of many recordings. - Irish Post Newspaper

JACQUELYN HYNES
Silver & Wood
(Hobgoblin)

Irish folk godfather Dónal Lunny is full of praise for Hynes and it's no surprise: she plays flute the way Ben Webster plays sax, all air and space and breathy urgency. Some cleverly structured songs here too including the superb Gini’s Tune and a long improvisation on She Moved Through The Fair.
Martin Townsend. - Express Newspapers