GARRY SHANNON: PUNCTURED
Garry Shannon: flute, vocals, lilting
Kevin Crawford, Niall Keegan, Anthony Quigney: flute
Eimear Howley: violin, viola
Fergal Scahill: guitar, bodhran
Kieran Leahy, Matt Griffin: guitar
Padraic O'Reilly: piano, keyboard
Caoilfhionn Ni Fhrighil: cello
Mossie Griffin, Brian Morrissey: bodhran
Paul O'Driscoll: bass
Adrian Healy, John Stewart: drums

On this new CD, Gary Shannon picks up where he had left off on the previous album. As on "Loozin' Air," the Clare flute player has involved several of his fellow "airmen" in this new project, to great effect, and has surrounded himself with an excellent cast of accompanists. Shannon's sense of humor is clearly a major factor in his approach to music-making, sometimes perhaps to the detriment of straight technique. But this is so much fun to listen to that I, for one, am quick to look past the little imperfections. Still, he is capable of a straightforward performance, as on the lovely Michael Rooney minuet "Na Mithe Mora," which sounds appropriately chamber-music-like with its string arrangement. Shannon often treads the thin line between bravura and reckless abandon--who would open an album with "The Contradiction" otherwise?--but the result is mostly exhilarating. Perhaps encouraged by his humorous vocalizing on the previous album, Shannon dares to perform a song--the track title, "Blowing Hot Air," gives you a clue that this is not quite an aria. As for the last track of multi-voiced lilting, well, you'll just have to hear it...  (11/2006)

Rating: *** 1/2

Price: $19.99                      
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Contents:
1. Reels: The Contradiction / President Garfield
2. Jigs: The Long Journey / Patsy Geary's / Tigh Raifeartaigh
3. Reels: The Old Station House / The Whole Thing
4. Hornpipe & Polka: Independence / The Sligo Polka
5. Minuet: Na Maithe Mora
6. Reels: Tommy Maguire's Fancy / Gan Ainm
7. March: Belphaegor
8. Jigs: The Four Six Jig / Joe Rynne's
9. Song: Flute Song
10. Reels: Millwood / The Kilfada Reel / The master's Return
11. Jigs: Tom Ward's Jig / Club Ceili / An Chead Punann
12. Reels: O'Rourke's / The Kilmaley
See also:
Loozin' Air