CELTIC MUSIC CD REVIEWS MARCH 2008
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
AUTUMN DAYS
Sheila Ryan
Sheila Ryan has just released her new CD, entitled Autumn Days, which her many fans will be pleased to hear since she had taken a break from recording for a couple of years.
Born in Limerick, Ireland, Sheila comes from a very musical family where she learned to appreciate her great traditional Celtic heritage. Growing up to the sounds of Irish music and dance, she developed her beautiful and evocative singing voice from singing with her father as they worked their family farm.
The photo on the front cover of Sheila's album was taken at the beautiful lakes of Killarney in Ireland. The third track on Autumn Days, entitled Land of the Gael was written by Garry McMahon, the son of Bryan McMahon the famous writer.
Garry is also well-known as a poet and songwriter in Gaelic and English and as a young man he won a number of All-Ireland football medals when he played with Kerry, his county team.
Sheila visited with Garry McMahon when she was in Ireland last October just before she recorded her album and they had a great time discussing song writing as they sang some of the older traditional songs together. With Sheila's quick wit, wouldn't you like to be a fly on the wall at that session!
Sheila is a talented vocalist and plays Irish harp and guitar, in addition to writing and composing. On Autumn Days, Sheila sings in both English and Irish.
There are 13 tracks on the album and what's also nice is that the lyrics to each song are listed on the liner notes. With traditional music there is always a story to be told. On the final track of Autumn Days, Sheila sings the beautiful Isle of Innisfree, one of my favourites.
For more information about Sheila Ryan and to order Autumn Days, visit www.sheilaryan.com, or call: 1-888-831-5660.
THE HIGH KINGS
Finbar Clancy, Brian Dunphy, Martin Furey and Darren Holden, renowned vocalists and musicians, have come together to form The High Kings - the hottest Irish folk and ballad group to emerge since the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem.
The background of the members in the group is very impressive indeed. Anytime you have the Clancys and the Fureys and musicians with Irish showband backgrounds - it's generally grounds for a winning combination.
There are 12 tracks on The High Kings CD and each one is a gem. The Auld Triangle; Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore; Will Ye Go Lassie Go; Marie's Wedding; The Black Velvet Band; The Parting Glass ...to name a few.
There is also a bonus live track, The Wild Rover. One track in particular, called Fields of Glory is destined to become the theme song for Gaelic football clubs the world over. The song captures the raw emotions not only of the fans, but also of the players who will accept nothing less than winning. They give everything they have for their counties and the triumph at the end of the day of lifting that holy grail...this song is destined to become an absolute winner.
A rousing TV special of The High Kings was filmed in Dublin and will premiere on PBS - watch for the airing date in your area.
Make no mistake about it, these lads are the Ard Ri...the genuine article and their concert will be dynamite! For more information about The High Kings visit: www.thehighkings.com
DAITHI SPROULE
The Crow In the Sun
Daithi Sproule is very much the commuting guitarist - born and raised in Derry, he has been based in Minnesota most of the past 25 years. Many will also recognize his name as the guitarist with many of Ireland's most well-known groups, including Altan.
The Crow in the Sun is Sproule's first solo recording of guitar compositions. His first traditional Irish songs were learned from his friend, Sean O hEili and from singers in the Gaeltacht of Rannafast, Donegal.
He began to delve seriously into accompanying the instrumental music while sitting in on traditional music sessions in the Four Seasons on Capel Street in Dublin during the Seventies. He received a great grounding in the traditional music of the whole country at that time.
Sproule first went to the U.S. to record and tour with James Kelly and accordion player Paddy O'Brien. He has since recorded and performed with such well-known musicians as Tommy Peoples, Seamus and Manus McGuire, and Liz Carroll to name a few. A new trio that Sproule is working with called Fingal, features Randal Bays and James Keane.
There are 12 tracks on The Crow In The Sun and in the liner notes Sproule gives an account of how and when, and for whom he wrote each guitar composition. The music is reflective and easy listening, and for all guitar music affectionados this will be a must for your collection. For more information, visit: www.daithisproule.com.
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