From the opening strains of "Home I'll Be," played as a haunting slow air by Ashley MacIsaac, to the final chords of the same Rita MacNeil tune sung by the large ensemble of musicians  who gathered last night in her honor, the tribute concert organized by Joella Foulds and Max MacDonald was magnificent. A few highlights: No one plays Cape Breton fiddle better than Ashley MacIsaac, and the slow air displays the instrument's greatest emotive power. One tends to think first of Rita's lyrics, but the concert brought home the power and grace of her melodies. Bette MacDonald was hilarious as always, but Maynard Morrison's...

07 May, 2013