RYAN MOLLOY

Surprising when you know that he has participated in nearly twenty different recordings with David Munnelly, David Doocey or We Banjo 3... And that as a composer and performer, his work has been performed before international audiences on four continents for more than fifteen years.

His composition work has won numerous awards on various occasions, both in Ireland and in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Canada.

Finally, Ryan Molloy has been able to do what so many people have been asking him to do, a solo album with the original but telling title, Pianophony. 

Ryan's innate musicality and technique are beyond doubt, but the most important thing about this album is the musical spirit and his unique approach to accompaniment and harmony, his talent that bursts out and shines through in each of his movements.

For the occasion, he has a guest with whom he already collaborated a decade ago, the Donegal singer Shauna Mullin with her deep and bewitching voice. What a pity that she only appears on four tracks, so many musical gems.

Ryan Molloy is a leading pianist who has been influenced by his mentor Seán O'Riada, and more recently by Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, whose legacy he is following in his footsteps. It is true that the piano, although not an emblematic instrument in the Irish tradition, is increasingly present in many bands.

On the present album, Ryan proves himself capable of interpreting traditional tunes on the piano, a bit like Arty McGlynn did on the guitar, insisting on the melodies and their movement. Some tunes are recognizable: The Broken Pledge or The Boys of Ballisodare. And then the songs The Briar & The Rose and The Mountains of Pomeroy from Dé Dannan's repertoire. 

Throughout 63 minutes of the album, the sound of the piano is dominated by the solemnity of the notes as well as the skill of the performer. There are few piano virtuosos in Irish tradition. Ryan Molloy is one of them.

Autoproduit – www.ryanmolloy.com