Celtic Connections Opening Night: World Connections, Glasgow review: 'a whirling musical diorama'
This year’s Celtic Connections opener was an impressive if sometimes bewildering musical feast, writes Jim Gilchrist
Celtic Connections Opening Night: World Connections, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall ★★★★
This 33rd Celtic Connections opener flung its connections far and wide in an ambitious if tantalisingly episodic programme of taster spots anticipating the artists’ own shows later in the festival.
An opening jig-and-reel blast from the sterling fiddle and flute-led house band gave way to Moroccan gimbri player Mohamed Errebbaa, laying down lilting bass grooves accompanied by lynchpin guitarist Justin Adams, then Palestinian singer-songwriter Amal Kaawash was particularly compelling in a song that unfolded over stealthy North African flute and guitar (as throughout the evening, rudimentary translations would have helped).
Back to grassroots with a brisk instrumental set from the youngsters of the Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland, before Canadian singer-songwriter Rose Cousins delivered her plaintively open-hearted Chosen, before she joined Ireland’s Niall McCabe in another number. Enter Malian superstar Rokia Koné – “The Rose of Bamako” – amid robed accompanists, an imposing if all too brief presence delivering impassioned vocals over staccato Mande guitar.
Two particularly engaging spots came from the beguiling west African duo of kora player Sona Jobarteh – a pioneer in being a female player – and her son Sidiki on balafon, bright ripples of kora contrasting with the delicately woody tones of the xylophone; then Rajasthan’s Trio SAZ, whose microtonal melodies twined their way between querulous sarangi violin, full-voiced vocals and fiery tabla percussion.
The Highland band RURA, bolstered by supplementary pipers, steered things powerfuly homeward with their anthemic In Praise of Home set, while Gaelic singer and MC Kathleen MacInnes also rooted us in native turf with the waulking song Bha Mise Raoir.
By the time we got to the closing cultural conglomerate, instruments and voices from east and west melling in a grand rendition of Wayfaring Stranger, the lasting impression was of an impressive if sometimes bewilderingly whirling musical diorama.
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