Kieran Hanrahan: Plays the Irish Tenor Banjo

KIERAN HANRAHAN: PLAYS THE IRISH TENOR BANJO

Kieran Hanrahan: banjo

Sonny Murray: concertina

Mike Hanrahan: guitar

Tommy Hayes: bodhran, percussion

Peter Keenan: keyboards

The title of Hanrahan's CD is appropriate, for this album almost sounds like an instructional recording. Most of the tunes are very well known, everything is played at a relaxed tempo, almost on the slow side, as if to demonstrate all proper techniques of Irish banjo playing. But this is not meant as a criticism, Hanrahan (of Stockton's Wing and Templehouse Ceili Band fame) is a masterful player, his settings and performance are flawless and virtuosic, yet tastefully restrained throughout. And, with the understated participation of Sonny Murray (concertina), Mike Hanrahan (guitar), and Tommy Hayes (bodhrán and percussion), it all makes for a very enjoyable album. Still, this could well become for plectrum users the one CD they'll play over and over, much like Matt Molloy's first solo LP was for flute players or Paddy Glackin's for fiddlers.

Rating: ****

Price: $24.99