PAUDIE O'CONNOR & JOHN O'BRIEN: WIND & REEDS
Paudie O'Connor: accordion, tinwhistle
John O'Brien: uilleann pipes, tinwhistle
Jim Murray: guitar, bass guitar
Paudie O’Connor is a young accordion player from Co. Kerry who released an excellent solo CD of dance music from his native Sliabh Luachra in 2005. For this delightful new album, he has teamed up with Dublin piper John O’Brien, brother of the well-known Mick O’Brien, and an accomplished player in his own right. The combination of accordion and uilleann pipes is not commonly heard, and it is one which, according to Gay McKeon who wrote an introduction for the CD, can often be problematic. Someone must have forgotten to tell O’Connor and O’Brien about that, because they sound as tight as can be and play some lovely music throughout. The two vary the sound a bit by also performing on whistles, and Jim Murray’s guitar work, featuring his trademark combinations of nylon- and steel-strung instruments with bass guitar, provides interestingly colored accompaniments without overwhelming the tunes. Most enjoyable.
Rating: ****
Price: $19.99
Contents:
1. Polkas: The Gneeveguilla Polka / Jim Ryan's / John Collins'
2. Reels: The Scartaglen / Kiss the Maid Behind the Barrel
3. Jigs: The Ducks in the Oats / A Tailor I Am
4. Air: Raghadsa's mo Cheaiti
5. Reels: Cnoc na bPoll / Gleann Eoghain
6. Jigs: Nell Sullivan's / The Drakes Lad
7. Polkas: The Ballinahulla / Mickey Buckley's Fancy
8. Jigs: Humours of Killarney / John O'Connor's / Denis Murphy's
9. Hornpipes: Shanahan's / Freddie Kimmel's
10. Jig: Gallagher's (The Frieze Breeches)
11. Reels: Bonnie Kate / The Wind that Shakes the Barley
12. Hornpipes: Corney Drew / The Turkey in the Straw
13. Air: O'Rahilly's Grave
14. Slides: Johnny O'Leary's / Timmy Clifford's
15. Reels: The Smokey House / The Morning Star / O'Reilly's Greyhound
