Alan Murray - Collected Tabs

Alan Murray is a highly regarded guitarist, bouzouki player, and singer from Glasgow, Scotland, now based in the United States. Deeply rooted in Irish traditional music. His accompaniment style is known for its rhythmic sensitivity, subtle harmonic shifts, and strong grounding in the tradition.

Over the years, Alan has toured and recorded with some of the most respected names in Celtic music, including Battlefield Band, Eileen Ivers, Paul Brock, Fourwinds and Niall & Cillian Vallely. Most recently, he joined the legendary Irish-American band Solas, bringing his dynamic string work and vocal harmony to their rich and evolving sound.

In addition to performing, Alan is a sought-after educator, teaching at festivals and workshops across North America and beyond.

Here is a list of tabs I made during the past years

- The Girls Of Grallagh (Colin Farrell Band)

-  Scully Casey's (with Eimear Arkins)

- Cunla (with Eimear Arkins)

- John McHugh's Jig aka Kevin McHugh's (with Isaac Anderson)

- The Cotton Grass Na Ceannabhain Bhana (with Colin Farrell)

- The Penny Coin (with Colin Farrell)

Tom Delaney - The Lark's Call CD - Bouzouki: Alan Murray

 

I met Tom this summer several times in Dingle where he played together with his wife Caroline Keane in various pubs. Of course I bought this album from him on vinyl. The bouzouki player on the album is Alan Murray who at the time of recording was member of Fourwinds together with Tom, Caroline and Robbie Walsh. 

On the album you'll find a variety of tunes (jigs, reels, slow air) played so beautifully and with drive. 

You can get the album on bandcamp

Here's the website of Fourwinds

Here's a long comment on the album by Graham Brown

And isn't the cover beautiful? On the back you can see the "3 sisters" of Dingle. (Picture stolen from Custy's Music in Ennis where you can buy the album too)

Here are some clips of the album:

The Lark's Call - The Job of Journeywork, Dinny O'Brien's, The Pigeon On the Gate

Jim O'Connor's / My Former Wife / Kilglass Lake · Tom Delany

Aoibhneas Eillis Ni Chealaigh / Nora Crionna / Moss Martin's

Eimear Arkins & Alan Murray - Scully Casey's with Tab

Eimear Arkins is an award-winning fiddle player, singer, and dancer from County Clare, now based in St. Louis, Missouri. A multiple All-Ireland champion, she is equally celebrated for her rich traditional fiddle style and her expressive singing, from sean-nós to contemporary folk.

 Eimear has toured internationally with ensembles such as Cherish The Ladies, Téada, and The Paul Brock Band, and has represented Ireland at cultural showcases worldwide. Her debut album What’s Next? (2018) was praised for its fresh take on Irish tradition, and her follow-up Here & There (2024) reflects both her Clare roots and her life in the U.S. Whether on stage or in the classroom, Eimear is known for bringing warmth, virtuosity, and authenticity to Irish music.

(Text made by Chat.gpt) ;-)

The first track of her album Here & There is a set which starts with the jig Scully Casey's. On thesession this tune is written as a slide. As I could not find an abc-file written as a jig I used this for my tab. There is a video of Flute Player Hatao on youtube which contains staff notation for the tune as a jig.

The bouzouki player on the album is Alan Murray who seems to become one of my favourite bouzouki players at the moment. 

This is the album version:

Here's the tab. Might not be absolute perfect, but gives an insight into Alan's style of playing.

You can download the whole tab here.
Now I made a tab in 6/8 which is easier to read,  you can find it here.

Here's a video of the release concert for the album:

Colin Farrell and Alan Murray - The Penny Coin Jig

Another tune I tabbed some time ago and just found on my harddisk. Alan Murray is one of the bouzouki players that inspires me a lot. I really enjoy his accompaniments. I can't remember where I found the abc to the tune, it seems it's not on thesession. The video is part of Colin Farrell's Tune a Day 2022 and it's Day 308

Here's my tab. First line Accompaniment, second line melody. If you would like the full pdf version click here

And don't forget to comment or you can buy me a beer.

Andrew Finn Magill and Alan Murray - Full Live Concert

 I'm a big fan of Alan Murray's bouzouki playing. Here's a full concert of him and the Fiddler Andrew Finn Magill. Wonderful playing here. Check out their CD at bandcamp

Colin Farrell - Alan Murray - The Cotton Grass, The Killavil & The Old Flail - Cotton Grass Tab

A recent video of Colin Farrell featuring Alan Murray, at the moment one of my favourite Bouzouki players. 

 This first SlipJig is also called Na Ceannabháin Bhána, An Ceannabhan Ban, Bog Cotton, Cannabhan Ban, Ceannabhan Ban, The Cotton Grass Flowers, The Cottongrass, The Little Fair Canavans, Little Fair Cannavans, The Little Fair Cannavans, Na Ceannabain Bana, Na Ceannabáin Bhána, Na Ceannabh, Na Ceannabhain Bana, Na Ceannabhain Bhana, Na Ceannbháin Bhána according to https://thesession.org/tunes/612

Colin mentions that he learned the tunes from Cormac Braetnach. They can be found on the album "Music for Whistle and Guitar" Spotify link

I tried to tab the first SlipJig. If you want the tab in printable form just write me an email 

and comment. You can download the pdf here

If you download please comment or buy me a pint.

Alan Murray, Eimear Arkins - Cunla - Tab

For some time now Tune Supply brings us lovely sessions on youtube. Here's a version of the song/tune Cunla by Eimear Arkins (Vocal, Fiddle) and Alan Murray. It starts at approx. 1:20:30. Did I mention that I really enjoy Alan's Bouzouki playing?

Now I tried to tab the first 2 Verses and Refrain of the song. You can download the whole tab here.

If you would like the tabledit file, so you can listen to it and edit it please write a comment or a mail. 

2021 Tionol Colin Farrell, Shane Farrell, Alan Murray

 A short concert for Tionol 2021.

 

Colin Farrell Band - The Girls Of Grallagh

Today I tried to tab the accompaniment to the tune The Girls Of Grallagh, a jig written by Colin Farrell. The bouzouki on this recording is played by Alan Murray, who now is member of Four Winds. He replaces Daoiri Farrell, who is a famous Singer now. 

You can listen to the recording and buy it on Bandcamp:
https://colinfarrellband.bandcamp.com/track/the-girls-of-grallagh-the-hawthorne-hedge

Notation of the melody on thesession:
https://thesession.org/tunes/18666

This is my tab of the first round through. Not nearly correct, but I did my best.

You can get the tab as pdf here.

Isaac Anderson and Alan Murray - John McHugh's with Tab

Lovely set played here on Flute and Bouzouki. I already posted some videos with Alan Murray. Really love his style of playing.

I tried to transcribe the accompaniment of the bouzouki. Here's the intro and first part of John McHugh's Jig aka Kevin McHugh's. Please don't expect it to be 100% correct. ;-)

You can download the tab here.