Banjophonics

With tune titles including ‘Daisy’s Dance’ and ‘Happy Little Phoebe’ (Daisy and Phoebe being the names of Damien O’Kane’s two children with Kate Rusby), it’s easy enough to discern the decidedly upbeat and family-oriented vibe to the exuberant second outing from these transatlantic tune traders, both titans of the humble banjo. After two acclaimed solo albums, by 2018 O’Kane thought the time was right to join forces with Alison Krauss & Union Station’s banjo star Ron Block (who has no less than 14 Grammy Awards and six International Bluegrass Music Awards to his name).

Their duo debut Banjophony proved theirs was an instrument which could prove unexpectedly versatile in the right hands, earning a four-star Top of the World review in these very pages. Now this delightfully bold 13-track collection builds on the growing connectivity the musicians have found, brilliantly fusing their Irish tenor banjo and five-string bluegrass banjo styles alongside guests including mandolin star Sierra Hull, double bassist Barry Bales and percussionist Jay Bellerose from the US. A guest from considerably closer to O’Kane’s home is Kate Rusby on, yes, ‘backing’ vocals, as this isn’t totally a tunes album, offering two songs where O’Kane and Block showcase their contrasting voices.