This is another CD that slipped through the cracks, moved around in various boxes and finally came to light during a recent unpacking. Since the release of the simply titled Fiddler in 1999, English fiddler Jane Clark has apparently joined a duo with Irish singer/guitarist Shane Donnelly; they relocated to Denmark and perform simply as Jane & Shane.

This early recording is a delight. Its strength is its simplicity: Clark plays fiddle, and Tony Clark plays guitar. On one track, producer Alan Davis adds bodhran. That's it.

And that's all we need. The 19-year-old performer plays expressively, beautifully, and she mixes it up with some unusual tunes such as "Ain't Misbehavin'," "Makin' Whoopee," a set of American rags ("Mineola," "Lost Indian," "Dill Pickle"), a stomp here, a waltz there, the ubiquitous "Ashokan Farewell" and, of course, plenty of Irish and Scottish tunes including "Angus Campbell," "Back to the Hills," "Carrickfergus," "Temperance Reel," "The Sailor's Hornpipe," "The Congress Reel" and "The Killarney Boys of Pleasure."

The album is purely pleasant, lots of fun to listen to, and soothing in its way. It's not all laid-back, but Clark takes her time and ambles through the music at her own pace. She's really good, and I wonder what the last two decades have wrought in her playing!

[ visit Jane Clark's website ]