VARIOUS: MANY HANDS - LAMH AR LAMH
What a terrific two-CD set this is--not to mention the worthy cause (the benefits go to research on colon cancer). Fiddle player Antoin Mac Gabhann, who lost his brother Hugh to the disease, has assembled an amazing cast for this one. One CD, all instrumental, is made of studio recordings and features the likes of Sean Keane, Liam O'Flynn, and Arty McGlynn, Kieran Hanrahan and Brendan Gleeson (actor/fiddler), Noel Hill and Brian McGrath, piper Padraic Mac Mathuna, John Carty, Patsy Hanley, Dermie Diamond, and more. The second CD is recorded live, with dancers, singers, and the great lilter Seamus Fay. Larger groups of musicians, who include players like Antoin himself, Tara Diamond and Catherine McEvoy, perform several tracks of "music of the house dance," which much foot stomping and whooping like on the classic Noel Hill and Tony MacMahon "In Knocknagree." In addition, we are treated to instrumental duets by Paul O'Shaughnessy and his brother Tom (flute), as well as Catherine McEvoy and husband Tom McGorman (flute), and to wonderful singers like Deirdre Scanlan, Paddy Allen, Nollaig Ni Laoire, and Colm O'Mealoid. This is just terrific "pure drop" music.
Rating: **** 1/2
Price: $31.99
