BRIAN McNAMARA: FORT OF THE JEWELS
Brian McNamara: uilleann pipes
Benedict Koehler: uilleann pipes
Grainne Hambly: harp

Piper Brian McNamara is a member of the well-known Co. Leitrim musical family who released a few years ago the wonderful album "Leitrim's Hidden Treasure." Brian's own first solo album, "A Piper's Dream," released in 2000, already provided a chance to hear his majestic playing and admire his command of the close, or tight (staccato), style of piping, as well as enjoy a selection of tunes flavored by Brian's interest in the Leitrim local tradition. This brand new CD continues where the previous one left off, with more great music from a masterful player, and more seldom heard tunes from his native county. Throughout, the technical brilliance, the glorious sound of beautifully tuned instruments, and the display of invention in the playing make for a thrilling listening experience. Brian, who performs on a D "concert pitch" set and C "flat" set, is joined on a few tracks by Vermont piper and pipe-maker Benedict Koehler, himself a wonderful player, and is sometimes accompanied by the expert harpist Grainne Hambly. On a personal note, I will add that, having had the privilege to meet and play with Brian, I found him to be one of the nicest people I know, a true gentleman piper.

Rating: ****

Price: $19.99                     
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See also:
   A Piper's Dream
   The McNamara Family: Leitrim's Hidden Treasure
   Brian McNamara & Tim Collins: Reed Only
Contents:
1. Jigs: Paddy from Portlaw / Handsome Young Maidens / I Love You not and I Care not
2. Hop Jigs: Top the Candle / Do it Fair
3. Reels: Captain Locker / Gladstone's Bill
4. Air: Dun na Sead (Fort of the Jewels)
5. Reels: Patsy Touhey's Favourite / Fr. O'Grady's Visit to Bocca
6. Single Jigs: Hug the Bundle / Maloney's / Thomas Reilly Clerk of Fore
7. Hornpipes: Mrs. Crotty's / The Humours of Tullycrine
8. Air & Reel: A Stor mo Chroi / Biddy from Muckross
9. Piece: The Humours of Glynn
10. Jigs: Paddy Fahey's / The King of the Pipers
11. Reels: The Spike Island Lasses / Dr. Taylor's Favourite / The Green Garters
12. Slip Jigs: Hardiman the Fiddler / The Arra Mountains / Redican's Mother
13. Reels: Hobble the Boutches / Sandy over the Lea
14. Air: Taimse im'chodlach
15. Reels: Ormond Sound / The Connaught Heifers
16. Hornpipes: Kilcooley Wood / The not so Bashful Batchelor