Maggie Drennon

It was a number of years ago at the Bethlehem PA Celtic Classic that I fell hard for one of the loveliest and most unusual voices I ever heard. There was a band playing that I hadn’t heard before called Six Mile Bridge and they were good, real good, but the singer with the band was far better than good. The singer was Maggie Drennon and her voice grabbed me by the ear and wouldn’t let go. I was an immediate fan. Later on the band broke up and Maggie, not discouraged, formed her own band and released her best CD yet, a self-titled tour de force that remains in my top ten all-time favorites. Then I lost track of Maggie, heard nothing about her or from her for several years. Imagine my surprise this year when Maggie comes up to my booth at the Weston, MO Irish Fest and gives me a copy of her new CD, Just Now. She went on to tell me about her trials and tribulations in the last few years including a miserable illness that left her flat for months. Now well on the road to recovery, Maggie has put out a new CD and is working like mad on a new one, trying to catch up for all the time she lost being sick. It’s a lovely collection of mostly Maggie with minimal accompaniment. Her voice is as powerful as ever and her unique timing and arrangements are as bright and striking as before her illness. MAGGIE’S BACK! Make no mistake. If you love Celtic music sung by a truly beautiful voice, do yourself a favor and give Maggie Drennon a listen. Her web site is www.maggiedrennon.com. - Jack Baker, Irish American News

Just Now
Maggie Drennon
by Hazel Sandlin

I first met Maggie Drennon on facebook and was impressed by her tender heart for people. But, I only recently discovered that an extraordinary voice dwells within that beautiful soul. Thursday evening I had the privilege of hearing her perform live. Back to health and as lovely as ever (if not more) Maggie once again graced the stage. Upon receiving her new CD, “Just Now” I couldn’t wait to hear it. It was like a Christmas gift with a “Do not open til Christmas” tag on it. She never disappoints. Maggie is focusing again on traditional Irish music. I find the style the most becoming to her voice. Her CD includes such songs as: Anachie Gordon, My love is like a Red Red Rose, Roisin Dubh, and Lovely Molly to name a few. She pours her soul into every note, and inflection. The CD is full of rich ballads that call you to find a quiet corner and a glass of wine. In “Just Now” Maggie takes the songs and paints a historical picture of traditional Celtic music. The instrumentation is mellow enough that the focus is on Maggie, and the story within the song, great job Matthew! It is also expertly done. The guitar and djembe were done by none other than her loving husband Matthew Williams. On track nine you will find a very pleasant surprise, Maggie’s mother sang with her. Perfection must swim in the Drennon gene pool.
The cover art shows a stark contrast between a gentle Maggie and the ragged rocks she leans upon. If I were to romanticize I would point out that Matthew is her rock that she leans upon. It would be a great metaphor for her life. The artwork is simply breathtaking.
Like the insert says, “Not back then, not tomorrow either, but “Just Now”.
- Southwest Celtic Music Association

The trappings have vanished. The sensuous voice remains.

If you've heard Maggie Drennon in the past, perhaps as part of Ceili's Muse, SixMileBridge or the Maggie Drennon Band, you might be expecting her new CD Just Now to follow in a similar vein. But the rocking bagpipes, the blazing fiddle, the electric guitar, bass and drums -- they're mostly absent here. Just Now is just Maggie, with a rich, soprano voice that stands alone quite well.

That's not to suggest that Drennon sings solely a cappella on this recording. But the instrumentation -- a bit of guitar here, a muted bodhran there -- is subtle, never rising beyond the foundation of Drennon's sound.

What remains is a pure and lovely singing voice with undeniable emotional resonance and an evident joy in the simple act of singing. She is in turn wistful and joyful. Drennon's vocals weep when appropriate and rise strongly when a martial flair is needed.

The album begins with a forceful rendition of the sorrowful "Annachie Gordon," followed by Robert Burns' "My Love is Like a Red Red Rose," which Drennon belts out with all the power that true love can muster. Further tracks are a mix of traditional and cover pieces: "Jacket Green," "Coshieville," "Roisin Dubh," "Parcel o' Rogues," "Bright Blue Rose" and "Lovely Molly." The biggest production here is the final track, the inspirational "What You Do with What You've Got" by Si Khan, which bears frequent repeating.

Just Now is Drennon's first release since her self-titled album in 2002. My only complaints are the years between recordings and the brevity of this one; it clocks in at just under 30 minutes. Let's hope there is more on the horizon, because this voice should not be silent. - Tom Knapp, Rambles Review