-by John Gillis
Celtic Colours announced its line-up on Monday, and this year promises to be a special one if for no other reason than Cape Breton’s Mac Morin is one of the artists in residence.
Morin has been busy the past number of years touring internationally as the pianist with Natalie MacMaster’s band, and he’s quite excited to be part of this fall’s Celtic Colours Festival along with the other artist in residence, dancer Nic Gareiss.
“It’s an honour for me to be part of this. I’m away a lot with Natalie MacMaster touring and performing, and I really value that, but also to be back home and be part of a festival which showcases what I and what my peers do is a real treat,” Morin told The Oran last week. Morin says while the performances are special for the musicians involved, he also very much enjoys the backstage aspect of the music.
“Everybody talks shop. Musicians are no different. That’s just part of the fun. I’m looking forward to this role in Celtic Colours, to live in the moment and to just be present with my peers,” he added.
Mac joked that given the touring schedules of both artists in residence they may have to meet up in an airport somewhere if they wish to collaborate.
One show Mac says he’s already excited to be part of is Keys to the Cape Breton Piano which will take place at Strathspey Place. It will feature Troy MacGillivray, Tracey Dares, Erin Leahy and Mac Morin. Scott Macmillan will be orchestrating some music for that concert.
Morin says he’s also thrilled that he will be home in Cape Breton for much of July.
Broad Cove Concert-goers will also have a chance to hear Mac this summer with Howie MacDonald. Mac will also take part in some concerts during Kitchen Fest.
In addition to touring with MacMaster, and before that, The Rankins, Mac has been involved in numerous other musical projects. Recently, he has been in an interesting show with the Commonwealth Commission in Scotland with Matheu Watson and Luke Daniels called The New World Drovers. This piece of music “explores the many drove roads or tracks set deeply into the Scottish countryside and the long-vanished trade of Scottish cattle-droving through its hardy highland cattle drovers and their wider connections to the New World.”
Morin has also worked when his schedule permits with Dannsa, a traditional dance company from Scotland.
“My role in that company is mostly as a traditional dancer. They do some contemporary dance work as well,” said Morin. “As an artist you create and you want to try new things, not that you want the tradition to change, just that sometimes you wish to stretch,” he added.
Morin has maintained a deep respect for the Cape Breton musical traditions that he absorbed and inherited while growing up here. His mother, Mary Catherine, was a well respected pianist and stepdancer and his father was very musical as well.
“In my formative years it’s something I received from my parents and so many of my mentors,” Morin added. The importance of listening closely to music is something that has shaped Morin.
“It was impressed upon me in the beginning as a dancer – to listen to the music, to be with the music,” he said.
Morin’s timing and ability to accompany players from around the globe sees him in great demand as a piano player both home and abroad. Over the years Mac has performed, recorded or shared stages with the likes of Yo-Yo Ma, Ashley MacIsaac, Allison Krauss, Dianna Krall, the Cheiftains, Art Garfunkle, and many more.
With two recordings to his credit with his former bandmates, Beolach, Mac also released his own solo recording about a decade ago that was nominated for an ECMA. He’s been starting to get some pre-production and recording work done on his next solo release, and he expects to have some of his many musical friends join him on that project as well.
Mac cites Tracey Dares and the late John Morris Rankin as two of his biggest influences in his playing. In fact, it was Dares who persuaded the then 17-year-old step dancer to try his hands at the piano while they were at the Gaelic College. Morin says it will always be one of his career highlights performing with The Rankins.
When he can find the time, Morin also enjoys teaching and sharing his knowledge of dance and piano, having conducted workshops at the Gaelic College in Cape Breton, Sabhal Mor Ostaig (Scotland), and the University of Limerick (Ireland) and more.
“I’m so fortunate to get the opportunity from other musicians to play with them, and I’ve been given so much I have to be a part of giving back. I love what I’m doing, and I’d be doing this even if I wasn’t getting paid for it. It’s not always rosy, but during the harder times you draw on the good times,” Morin concluded.
