Cathal Hayden: Cathal Hayden

CATHAL HAYDEN

Cathal Hayden: fiddle, banjo

Donal Murphy: accordion

Arty McGlynn: guitar

Brian McGrath: keyboards, banjo

Liam Bradley: percussion

Seamus Begley: vocals

Former Four-Men-and-a-Dog fiddle and banjo player Cathal Hayden has released his second solo album--it was just announced that the first one also made it to CD, but his fiddle playing has improved quite a bit since that first recording. If you are familiar with his band work, you won't be surprised to hear that there's quite a bit of fast and furious stuff here. The tracks that sound best to me are the ones where Hayden plays both fiddle and banjo. Excellent accompaniments by Arty McGlynn (guitar) and Brian McGrath (keyboards). Hayden plays some well known tunes as well as some lesser known gems by Brendan McGlinchey and Liz Carroll. John Carty's G Dorian jig "Seanamhach Tubestation"--appropriately a banjo solo--is a lovely tune which I hadn't heard before. Good album.

Rating: ****

Price: $24.99 Recommended