Pat Mangan – CD Release at Biddy Early's – Friday November 7, 2003
Words and Pictures by Alice Farrell in New York

Just a few blocks from Ground Zero in Manhattan there is a staple in the New York Irish Trad scene, formerly known as The Blarney Star, and now as Biddy Early's. This was the scene last Friday night for the launch of one of the most eagerly awaited albums by the talented young fiddler Patrick Mangan. Pat, who hails from Brooklyn and used to go to High School just blocks from this venue, gave a sensational show, and is well on his way to becoming one of the bright lights coming out of the New York traditional scene.

Patrick's album Farewell To Ireland (White Label Records and available on CDbaby.com) caps off what has, at 19, already been quite an eventful road for Pat, with many All Ireland titles under his belt and the respect for his musicianship and style growing by the same leaps and bounds that his playing takes. Why else would the venerable Martin Hayes write the introduction to the album?

The evening started off with the first set off the album, Doctor Gilbert's/The Flogging Reel/Dillon Brown's which quickly established that this was going to be a fast-paced and exciting evening. With the backing on guitar of Eamon O'Leary, Tom English on Bodhran and Greg Anderson on bouzouki Pat commanded charge of the stage immediately showing the dexterity that he has become known for.

Next up was the Shetland set, now joined by Brendan Dolan on piano, Pat also showed his talents as a raconteur by recounting that this was in fact a set collected by one of his High School teachers, and not a fiddle teacher funnily enough. His fingers flew over the strings in the difficult patterns of the slip jig with effortless ease.

The evening continued on with a myriad of guests from Pat's rise among the ranks of the traditional scene, most notably Elliott Grasso on Uillean pipes and Pat's teacher Brian Conway, who joined him for a number of riveting sets. The combination of mentor and pupil playing in amazingly symmetrical Sligo style was truly something to behold. The pride and respect that Brian holds for Pat also very evident, as he calls off the changes and Pat seems to be following Brian's mind before the words come out.

Other highlights include the Ballykeel, Dave Collins' and the Munster Jig where Pat told the story of how they came up with the solution to a rather sticky transition from B Flat to G by going from B Flat to A and then to G, something that guitarist Eamon O'Leary came up with and which worked extremely well in this driving and funky set. And the duet with Brian Conway on Spellan's Inspiration/The Banks, two hornpipes which drive very fast, one into the other, until it was hard to believe that their fingers could travel that fast!

Finishing off the night was a rousing rendition of Dinky's, complete with a ceili set spinning madly at the corner of the bar, and what was the 2nd largest group of musicians to appear on the small stage of Biddy Early's. Having watched Pat grow over the years as a performer, I can't wait for the next gig and know that this is yet another step on the way to what promises to be a very rewarding career.