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www.celtic-connection.com
JUIY/AUGUST 2000
by Darcy Johnston
$ Psychic insight and intuitive guidance
$ General forecasts or readings concerning specific issues
$ Available for private consultations or large gatherings
% Reasonable Rates
$ Gift certificates available
* By appointment only: (604) 733-3231
CELTIC MUSIC REVIEWS
Come up and see us sometime ^
Clearance Sale in effect til August 31,2000
^ Scottish and Irish Videos from $15
^ Compact discs from $10 ^ Cassettes from $5
Island Music (604)984-9110
For CD & touring information call (250) 370-1470 1 or 1-888-801-1811
email : info@SheilaRyan.com Visit our website: www.SheilaRyan.com
WATCH FOR SHEILA RYAN'S B.C. & ALBERTA TOUR STARTING IN NOVEMBER 2000
Reviewed by CATHOLINE BUTLER
Transatlantic Sessions VARIOUS ARTISTS
Transatlantic Sessions is an amazing CD featuring some of the world's best known Celtic and American musicians who all gathered in Scotland to record this memorable album.
Imagine being a fly on the wall at this recording session where the craic must have been through the roof. No doubt it was a session to remember!
Artists on the album are Aly Bain, Russ Barenberg, Paul Brady, Ronan Browne, Rosanne Cash, Michael Douglas, Jerry Douglas, Radney Foster, James Grant, Nanci Griffith, Tommy Hayes, Boo Hewerdine, Fiona Kennedy, John Levanthal, Ian MacDonald, Karen Matheson, Maura O'Connell, Eddi Reader, Sharon Shannon, Donald Shaw, Ricky Skaggs, Breda Smyth, Danny Thompson and Sharon White.
The idea for Transatlantic Sessions came about when Pelicula Films director Mike Alexander and producer Douglas Eadie wrapped up taping a series of highly successful programs for the BBC television network, hosted by Shetland recording artist Aly Bain.
Weary of travelling the world in the process of filming the series, they said, "instead of going everywhere else, why not bring the best of America, Ireland and elsewhere to Scotland?"
The wheels were put into motion and the result was a highly successful BBC television special. Popular demand for the music prompted Ricky Skaggs of Ceili Music, Hendersonville, Tennessee, to produce this unforgettable collection of songs from that taping, which were released in May, on the Ceili label.
Dobro virtuoso Jerry Douglas reflects on the Transatlantic Sessions experience saying, "I don't think there's anything like this anywhere. These sessions cast a spell on everyone who walked in ... This is the place on the planet where music is the most fun right now."
MARITIME MUSICIANS WANTED
Saturday nights "DOWN BY THE SEA" @ the Backstage Lounge
Granville Island Call Les @ (604) 687-1354
For more information about Transatlantic Sessions, write to Ceili Music at 329 Rockland Road in Hendersonville, Tennessee 37075. Call (615) 264-8877 or fax: (615) 264-8899. E-mail: maureen@skaggsfamilyrecords .com, or www.skaggsfamilyrecords .com.
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Ignitions PRYDWEN
The Vancouver-based group Prydwen held their release party for their new CD entitled Ignitions at the WISE Hall in June. The name Prydwen, originates from the name of the ship which brought King Arthur to Annwyn, a mystical land of creativity, light and magic.
The band Prydwen has managed to keep their little boat afloat and navigate the rough waters of the West coast music scene with innovation and skill.
The crew are Jeannie Bice on fiddle and vocals; Greig Cairns on guitar, vocals, bouzouki and hand percussion; Jason Homey on banjo and guitar; Rick Klemm on kit drums; Joe Samorodian on upright bass, fretless bass and vocals.
"Celtic newgrass" is how the group describe their music. It's a combination of Irish, classical, bluegrass, country and jazz. There are a dozen tracks on this new CD.
Some of my favourites were Blacksmith's Forge, which is a mix of several well-known Celtic fiddle tunes. Pride of Petravor, is a jazzed up version of The Foggy Detv with Jeannie Bice fiddling furiously.
Rent Party, has a real country/ bluegrass sound, while Rondo a la Turk conjours up images of whirling, twirling Cossack dancers. One More Drink, is a tongue-in-cheek reason to continue drinking. Ignitions, the title tune of the album was written by Jeannie Bice.
The chorus of the song is... "listen to the sounds of my feet on the pavement," and it reminds me of Jeannie with her trademark
leather hat, boots and fiddle, as she strides confidently off into that land of creativity, light and magic called Annwyn to gather more material for her next CD.
Prydwen are currently on a tour of Ontario and will return to B.C. on July 13 to take part in festivals and concerts.
You can also catch their shows at the Boar's Head English Pub in North Vancouver from July 14 to August 5 and at the new Silvertone Tavern on Commercial Drive on August 4.
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For more information, call Prydwen Productions at (604) 929-5726. Or, E-mail: jsamorod@axionet.com! Or, visit their website and downloadable tunes at: www.mp3 .com/Prydwen.
Corvus COLCANNON
Colcannon is the Irish name for a delicious concoction of mashed potatoes and cabbage with mounds of hot butter in the centre. Absolutely delicious...a meal in itself.
Colcannon is also the name of a group of traditional musicians based in Denver, Colorado. They have produced five CD's to date and their latest is called Corvus.
Its obvious that a lot of thought and consideration has gone into the music and songs they have chosen for their latest CD.
A lot of traditional and not so often heard traditional Irish music is featured on the album, which keeps it fresh and enjoyable. The group has also written music and songs from their own experiences.
The music and vocals are delivered in a heartfelt, clear tone, so that you can understand the story that the writer is telling.
Colcannon reminds me a bit of Planxty, yet they have their own distinctive traditional sound, words and music. Colcannon are Mick Bolger on vocals, bodhran and cornet; Mike Fitzmaurice on bass guitar and harmony vocals; Rod Garnett, flutes and fifes; Jean Harrison on fiddle, accordion and harmony vocals; Brian Mullius on bouzouki, mandocello, mandolin, guitar, tenor banjo and flute.
There are 15 tracks on the album and some of my favourites are The Ploughhoy Lads, Green Tea, The Blue Pantaloons/The Lovely Lassie Winking, Last Letter Home, The Praties, Flags, Cuaichin Ghleann Neijln and Bolton Street Medley.
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For more information, contact Oxford Road Records at 3501 Vallejo Street in Denver, Colorado, 80211. E-mail: oxfordroad@ aol.com or visit their website at: www.colcannon.org.