Jennilee Martineau
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | SELF
Music
Press
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Review -- JENNILEE MARTINEAU -- Apparitions
APPARITIONS
Jennilee Martineau
Independent
7-out-of-10
Jennilee Martineau is a Winnipeg, MB., lass who comes at us with a fiddle and bow, and man does she know her way around the instrument. This gal can flat out play the fiddle, focusing her musical talents on traditional folk/Celtic material.
This CD has been available for a while, but as an indie release is probably not well-known, and it fits with this week's Celtic theme too well not to feature it. Again it shows the Celtic spirit can exist anywhere, although admittedly Martineau did get a bit of first-hand immersion in the music. She spent time studying traditional Scottish music at Lews Castle College in the Scottish Hebrides where she graduated with a certificate in Traditional Scottish Music Performance/Studio Recording. It was while she was in Scotland that Martineau recorded Apparitions.
According to Martineau's spot on myspace (www.myspace.com/jennileemartineau), she began to learn the fiddle from her father at age eight, and apparently he was a fine teacher. At least he must have instilled a love of the instrument and of the music in his daughter because that passion shows here.
This is an instrumental effort, with Martineau's fiddle taking the main spotlight throughout, but she has added instrumental support such as guitar and pipes on the cut Pipe Marches to good effect. The use of tin flute, accordion, whistles and guitars is a nice touch adding richness to the material.
The CD includes solid renditions of Lachlan Dubh, The Stone Frigate, Sandra's Waltz and Father Angus.
It is to be hoped Martineau is at work on another CD, because she clearly has something to say with the fiddle.
-- CALVIN DANIELS
-- Review first appeared in Yorkton This Week newspaper July 16, 2008 - Yorkton, SK. Canada
Posted by Calvin Daniels at 10:12 AM
- Calvin Daniels
Discography
Jennilee Martineau - Apparitions (2005)
Photos
Bio
Based in Manitoba, Canada, Jennilee Martineau is a professional Canadian fiddler. She is a performer, composer, teacher, recording artist and producer.
Born in the historic Canadian Red River Valley, Jennilee was exposed to fiddling early in life. At the age of eight she learned traditional Métis and Old time tunes from her father. These tunes where learned by ear, in the tradition they had been passed down for generations, from the time of Jennilee’s great-great grandfather. She went on to study Celtic fiddling in Scotland, French-Canadian fiddling in Quebec, and contemporary fiddling styles in Nashville, USA as well as some Danish fiddling in Germany. Jennilee has also studied classical violin. Being a descendant of Aboriginal peoples and early European pioneers, her music has become as interesting and diverse as her cultural background. She continues to be a vibrant young performer, prolific composer, dedicated teacher, and must be heard recording artist. Jennilee brings her unique blend of Celtic fiddling along with her long line of Métis ancestral fiddle heritage to traditional music lovers at home and abroad. A sample of her unique style can be heard on her debut album, “Apparitions”, a showcase of Jennilee’s mastery of traditional pieces, along with a taste of her own compositions.
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