Mary Rafferty: Hand-Me-Downs

MARY RAFFERTY: HAND-ME-DOWNS

Mary Rafferty: accordion, concertina, flute

Mike Rafferty: flute

Joanie Madden: flute, tinwhistle

Marie Reilly: fiddle

Dona Long: piano

Donal Clancy: guitar, bouzouki

While the title of Mary's new CD might conjure the image of old worn clothes, the translation into musical terms shouldn't be too literal. There are indeed a good number of old worn favorites among the tunes she performs on this CD, many of which she learned from her father, esteemed East Galway flute player Mike Rafferty (who appears on four tracks), but her fresh, direct, yet tastefully understated playing make them seem sparkling new again. There are also a few recent items, for instance the two great reels composed by fellow accordion player Tim Tully. Mary plays not only B/C box, but also concertina and flute, and is joined by her father, as well as fellow Cherish the Ladies members Joanie Madden (flute, whistle), Marie Reilly (fiddle), and Dona Long (piano). The guitar and bouzouki accompaniments by Donal Clancy are first-class. Well done, Mary.

Rating: ****

Price: $16.99

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