Biography

from “pure piping” CD notes

It is extremely rare and refreshing nowadays to hear piping in it’s pure state. Many recordings are smothered with excessive overlays of accompaniment. In recent years the level of appreciation of Irish traditional music has risen considerably and I suspect that many students and enthusiasts of the uilleann pipes are eager to hear the instrument without any props, played by a highly skilled and mature piper. In this long awaited CD Leo Rickard has gone for his inspiration back to the old recordings of the masters: Leo Rowsome, Liam Walsh, William Andrews, Liam O’ Flynn, Seamus Ennis and the legendary Johnny Doran and his brother Felix.

The early years

Uncle Jimmy Rickard

Leo Rickard was born in the scenic fishing village of Howth, Co. Dublin. His people were fishermen who also had a keen interest in Irish music. Leo’s brother, Dave, joined the St. Lawrence Pipe Band in Howth in his early teens and is a highly regarded warpiper. Kevin is a fine concertina player and plays mainly around Howth. Their uncle Jimmy Rickard1 played the uilleann pipes. He played with the now famous Rowsome quartet for a period before he emigrated to London in the late 1930’s. Leo only met him once when he came home for his Mother’s funeral in 1974. Sadly he died a year later.

Pipers club

Leo started his piping career in 1976 when he enrolled for lessons in the Piper’s club at No. 14 Thomas Street. This was an important link as his tutors Peter and Kevin McKenna were pupils of the celebrated piper Leo Rowsome. The Piper’s Club had links going back to 1900 and miraculously the piping tradition had survived battered but unbroken. Leo enjoyed going to the Club. There was a great atmosphere and the lessons were very good.

Paddy Keenan

In 1978 Leo was fortunate to be introduced to Paddy Keenan2. They struck up a friendship which lasts to the present day. Paddy lived in Clontarf and Leo lived in Howth. They had plenty of opportunity to play tunes and have the ’craic’ . Paddy gave Leo great encouragement. Leo considers Paddy Keenan to be the greatest living uilleann piper, with unrivalled technique and the skill of a supreme virtuoso. Paddy’s innovation with the pipes and his modesty have impressed Leo. Around the same time Leo met Martin Nolan who is a very good friend and piper. They would meet up two or three times a year and have fun playing and carousing at various Tionols and sessions around the country.

Clann Eadair

Leo has played with a number of contempory bands, namely “Clann Eadair”3, a local group from Howth.(This band was associated with the late Phil Lynott), the Wexford based band “Cry Before Dawn” and “In Tua Nua”. He has toured Sweden and Germany with the “Work and Play Band” in 1991 and 1994.

Since then Leo has mainly been involved in session work and teaching pipes for Na Piobairi Uilleann, mainly at the Willie Clancy Summer School and regional Tionol.

Tionol in Wicklow Town

One of the musical highlights of his career occurred in February 2000, when he was one of the tutors at the Tionol in Wicklow Town to commemorate the great travelling piper Johnny Doran. At the piping concert on Saturday (19.2.2000), Leo gave an outstanding and memorable performance.

In the piping fraternity, Leo Rickard is a highly regarded and respected piper-a piper’s piper. (see the tributes by his peers, Paddy Keenan, and Martin Nolan). He is totally committed to his art and is known for his musical integrity.

Pure Piping

This is Leo’s first solo CD and all the tracks are piping classics. Most of the tunes were recorded by the great pipers and a few of Leo’s contemporaries. It is one of the hallmarks of a good musician to be able to play in the different styles and Leo has demonstrated his ability in this regard. He has also added his own personal stamp with subtle variations and tasteful embellishments. There are many gems on this CD but my favourites are “The Fairies Revels” selection with the Rowsome style of regulator playing and the Johnny Doran touches in the “Job of Journeywork” set dance.

So if it’s uncluttered piping by a great piper you are looking for, this is it!

Mick O’Connor

8th September 2000

* His good friend Kevin Thompson of Malahide, Co.Dublin made both sets of pipes- the concert set in 1980 and the flat set in 1999.