Josephine Keegan:The Fairy Bridges

JOSEPHINE KEEGAN: THE FAIRY BRIDGES

Josephine Keegan: fiddle

Kathleen Gavin: piano

Niall O'Callanain: bouzouki

Judging from the standing ovations she received while performing during Irish Arts Week in the Catskills this past summer, I was not the only one to think that Josephine Keegan, at 70 years of age one of the grand dames of Irish music, is on fire! Not only is she drawing applause for her live performances, but she is working harder recording CDs and publishing tune collections than many musicians half her age. Just before coming to the US, she released two new CDs. This one (see also "The Nightingale") features Keegan playing fiddle on a highly entertaining mix of her own compositions and a few other traditional and recently composed tunes, including ones by Paddy O'Brien, Martin Mulhaire, and Charlie Lennon, the whole with expert accompaniment on piano or bouzouki. Only a minor complaint, some of the tracks could have benefited from a more natural sound, i.e., a little less reverb.

Rating: *** 1/2

Price: $21.99