Four Green Fields Top ITM CDs of 2003Although 2003 did not come close to 2002 in the number of ITM CDs that were released there certainly were some good ones. Here is a list of some of the ones that I got a chance to listen to over the year. This list is NOT meant to be all inclusive by any means as there were a number of CDs that I did not get a chance to pick-up that may be of some note.ABRAMS, BOB The Spider's Web Independent Accordion music of high quality from New Hampshire resident. BLAKE, JOHN w/ LAMOND GILLESPIE & MICK LEAHY Traditional Irish Music From London Independent Question. Does John Blake have any free time? A member of Téada he recorded with them in 2002 as well as Liz & Yvonne Kane, Jesse Smith, John Carty and as you will see down the list with several others in 2003. This is a wonderful CD which gives the listener a little insight into the ITM scene in London which has been the musical if not actual home to so many great musicians over the years and continues to be a fertile ground for ITM. BULGER, BRENDAN & MARTY FAHEY/ KATHLEEN GAVIN Music At The House Independent Brendan Bulger from Boston joins with two of the Chicago area’s finest in a wonderful CD featuring fiddle, box and piano. CARBERRY & QUINN Angelina Carberry & Martin Quinn Reeltrad Angelina Carberry on banjo and Martin Quinn on box with the omnipresent John Blake from Téada filling in with guitar. This is a nice CD. I was somewhat familiar with Angelina’s playing (Music From The Holla) but was not familiar with Martin Quinn. They play beautifully. CASEY, KAREN Distant Shore Shanachie IMHO this is Karan Casey’s best work to date and I really liked everything else she has done. It’s a good mix of old songs and newly composed ones. COONEY, MICHEAL A Stone’s Throw Independent Uillean pipe master from Tipperary with a nice selection of tunes. DANÚ The Road Less Traveled Shanachie I had some trepidation when it was announced that Ciaran O Gealbhain was leaving the band to pursue studies at UCC but Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh has filled in admirably. The version of Richard Thompson’s “Farewell, Farewell” is alone worth the price of this CD. Donal Clancy rejoins the group on this CD. EAGAN, JIM At Reavy’s House Independent Nice tribute to the late Ed Reavy from this young Baltimore area fiddle player. FAY, SEAMUS Cavan’s Lilter Claddagh Probably the most unique release from 2003, I have nearly 1000 LPs, cassettes and CDs of Irish music, this is the only one I hve that is devoted to lilting. HEATON, MATT & SHANNON Dearga Independent Wonderful flute & guitar music from this husband and wife duet. I really like this CD and and they have (IMO) matured very well since their last recording. KEENAN, PADDY w/ TOMMYO’SULLIVAN The Long Grazing Acre Compass Technically it was released pre-2003, however Compass has added a couple of “bonus” tracks and so it makes my list. LUNASA Redwood Green Linnet The (very) long awaited 2003 release from Lunasa was well worth the wait. McAULEY, MICK An Ocean’s Breadth Shanachie Kilkenny won on the hurling pitch and wins on the Irish music pitch with native son and Solas box player McAuley’s solo release with a plethora of self-composed tunes and some terrific vocal tracks. NORTH CREGG Summer At My Feet Greentrax Lively tunes from the Cork-based band and a nice selection of vocals. O’BRIEN, MICHELLE. AOGHAN LYNCH & GAVIN RALSTON Michelle O’Brien, Aoghan Lynch & Gavin Ralston Independent A gem of a CD proving once again that the proverbial apple(s) do(es) not fall far from the tree. O'BRIEN, MICK W/ CAOIMHIN O’RAGHALLAIGH Kitty Lie Over ARM Very well received CD of pipe and fiddle tunes, this is the CD that got mentioned the most in discussions with musicians on my trip over in November. O’DONOGHUE, CYRIL Nothing but A child Independent Cyril is in great form on what I believe is his first solo CD. He has recorded in the past with Tola Custy and Damp In The Attic (and others). I have enjoyed a number of sessions in Ennis in which Cyril was a participant and would sing a song or two in between the tunes. O’HARE, MEABH & CONOR BYRNE Bavan Independent Terrific stuff from this young fiddle/flute duo. O’NEIL, EOIN In Session Clachan I’ve enjoyed his work with The Stonemason, Mary Custy, Sharon Shannon and the Ceili Bandits so it came as no surprise to me that I enjoyed this CD - IMMENSELY. ROONEY, MICHAEL & JUNE McCORMACK Draiocht Independent Flute and harp (and box) from a talented duo. Rooney recorded with Oisin MacDiarmada and Brian Fizgerald a couple of years ago. SLIDE Harmonic Motion Independent John O’Connor from Custy’s describes the talent of this young band as “scary good”. This is there second CD with a good selection of tunes and a couple of songs. SOLAS Another Day Shanachie Two words: “welcome back”. I confess that I did enjoy their last CD despite the fact that I found it edgy and dark, however I prefer the old Solas and this is the old Solas +. TAP ROOM TRIO The Tap Room Trio Phaeton John Blake (guitar/flute - London) Harry Bradley (flute-Belfast) and Jesse Smith (fiddle-Baltimore, MD) combine for a top-flight CD of traditional tunes. TEADA Teada Green Linnet 2002 recording released in 2003 by Green Linnet, thus it’s inclusion. I had it in my top 10 for 2002, nothing has changed since then. A great CD from a great bunch of kids. VARIOUS ARTISTS Live At The cu Na Mara Independent The Cu Na Mara is an Irish restaurant in Bristol, NH (no kidding, the owner/husband is from Ireland) They have a mini-fleadh of sorts in August and attract some top-flight musicians they also have a trad session on Sundays. Jeff Baker is a fine flute player who appears on this CD and performs at the session and at the fleadh. |