Various: Sean-Nos Cois Locha - Rogha Sean-Nos Milwaukee 2003-2005

VARIOUS: SEAN-NOS COIS LOCHA - ROGHA SEAN-NOS MILWAUKEE 2003-2005

A lovely collection of recordings made live during the Sean-Nós Milwaukee festival of sean-nós singing between 2003, its starting year, and 2005. The list of performers includes very well-known sean-nós singers from Ireland like Bridget Fitzgerald, Áine Uí Mhuineacháin, and Meaití Jó Shéamuis Ó Fátharta, all from Connemara, Lillis Ó Laoire, from Donegal, and even Jimmy Crowley, from Cork. But part of the interest of this collection is the opportunity to discover lesser known performers, particularly Americans, whose singing is very much in the same class as that of their Irish counterparts. Sometimes, like on the tracks by Sile Shigley, who was raised in Hong Kong, Vermont-born Moire Smiley, Julie Henigan, from Missouri, and festival co-founder Brian Hart, from St. Louis, the performances really stand out. The Navan track does too, being the only one featuring vocal harmonies, and material which sounds more Scottish than Irish. The 20-some page booklet contains biographical notes on the performers and full lyrics for the songs, in Gaelic and in English translation. A fine and sometimes surprising (in a good way) collection for anyone who is interested in the sean-nos tradition.

Rating: ****

Price: $24.99