Song of Delight

Scotland's Maeve Gilchrist is that rarest of things, a harpist, singer, and songwriter. Now residing in the U.S., she has released a sophomore album that confirms her instrumental virtuosity, which she demonstrates on tracks like "Jonathan" and "Take Off Your Coat," along with the ability to pen a lovely, haunting song, such as "Song of Delight," or put words to standard tunes, as with "Automne," whose melody comes from Stéphane Grappelli. The backing here is nothing less than stellar, headed by Darol Anger on violin, who also produced the disc, while bassist Aidan O'Donnell is out of the Scott LaFaro school of playing. There's a jazzy vibe to the disc, an unusual tack for a harp, but she also includes a piece of traditional Scots music to temper things. Even in an age that demands high quality, Gilchrist's remarkable lightning dexterity and quicksilver imagination set her apart.