At the Racket: Mirth-Making Heroes

AT THE RACKET: MIRTH-MAKING HEROES

John Carty: fiddle, banjo

Seamus O'Donnell: flute, saxophone, vocals

Brian McGrath: banjo, piano, keyboards

Garry O'Briain: guitar, mandocello, piano

Brid Dooley: vocals

Second album from this group of star players. The "gimmick" of the band is undoubtedly O'Donnell's saxophone, matching Carty's banjo note-for-note on many of the instrumentals here, and, like with their first album, the sound may not be to everybody's tastes. It harks back to the era of Irish-American ceili bands which mixed traditional instruments with saxophones and clarinets, and perhaps works best on tunes like the barn dance "Where Would the World Be Without Women" or the two-step "The Dancing Dustman." It is also quite successful in the arrangements of several 1920s songs, among which "A Chuisle Mo Chroi" and "Little Bridget Flynn," well sung by O'Donnell as well as the excellent guest vocalist Brid Dooley. Carty's exceptional fiddle and banjo playing shines on all the instrumentals, while O'Donnell plays a nice flute on a couple of reels. In short, great tunes and nostalgic songs, brilliantly arranged and performed... but you'll have to like that sax in the mix.

Rating: *** 1/2

Price: $19.99