Colin J. Boyd - Pioneer Scottish Fiddler

Colin J. Boyd was born in West Lakevale, Antigonish Country, Nova Scotia on January 1, 1891. He took a great interest in the violin at age three and would listen intently to his uncle Hughie MacGillivary. When Hughie died his fiddle was given to Colin who was then twelve years old. He was kept busy playing for concerts, dances and weddings.

The economy in Nova Scotia hit a slump and in 1909 Colin went to work in Ontario. Then he spent from 1911 to 1916 working in Boston where he studied violin and learned to read music. It was during this time he composed his most famous fiddle tune "The Little Burnt Potato".  Colin was the first Nova Scotian in the old time or country field to make commercial recordings. He first recorded in Montreal for Brunswick on March 19, 1932. He also recorded 78's on the Columbia and Celtic labels. He last recorded an LP in 1963 at the age of 72. His old 78's were re-issued on LP in 1979.

Although Colin did not make a lot of money on music, he got much enjoyment from playing and entertaining. His home was always open to anyone wanting to hear a tune and he never refused to play.

01-The Little Burnt Potato
02-Casey's Pig
03-Tarbolton Lodge
04-Sterling Castle
05-The Flowers Of May
06-Medley Of Highland Flings
07-Medley Of Strathspeys & Reels
08-Medley Of Scottish Reels
09-Medley Of Scottish Jigs
10-Paddy On The Turnpike
11-Domhnull Tailear; Brochan Lom
12-Heather On The Hill; Bonnie Annie; Cabar Feidh
13-Little John's Hame; This Is No My Ain Lassie; Jamie Hardie
14-The Mist On The Loch; Bonnie Lass O' Fisher Row

link to the free album

Colin J. Boyd - Pioneer Scottish Fiddler

Adragante - Harpe Celtique Et Flute

French Traditional artist  Adragante released this superb album in 2014. The hushed tone of the flute interpreting traditional melodies accompanied by the harp in agreement, takes us on the seas and oceans to iodine spray remembering the countries of Ireland, Scotland, Brittany region, cradle of Celtic culture . This album is the proof that this music is still alive. A very nice homecoming. [translated badly from french by me]

1-Sun and shadow
2-toutouig
3-his father made ​​her to a convent
4-brocéliande
5-greensleeve
6-chanson the groom
7-impro flute and harp
8-maro pontalec
9-bleuved Nedeleg
10-the aran boat

link to the free album

Adragante - Harpe Celtique Et Flute

Archie Fisher - Archie Fisher

Archie Fisher's first solo album "Archie Fisher" (Celtic Music, 1968) is notable for its melodic richness, a pleasant departure from the more plaintive style that predominated in Traditional music at the time. There are also nice, though mildly amusing, touches that were very much in keeping with the times, such as the gentle sitar work which pops up at the start of the album. He doesn't go overboard with it -- this is basically a solid Traditional  album -- but it does show how early on many artists were open to outside influences.

Personnel:

- Archie Fisher - guitar, dulcimer, concertina, sitar, vocals

- John Doonan - piccolo-flute, whistle

- John MacKinnon - violin, mandolin

All titles by traditional, arranged by Archie Fisher, except where noted.

01. Open The Door Softly - 1:57

02. Reynardine - 2:37

03. The Terror Time (Ewan MacColl) - 2:59

04. The Three Gipsies - 2:53

05. The Keilder Hunt - 2:37

06. The Trooper And The Maid - 1:54

07. The Child On The Road - 2:19

08. The Beggar Wench - 2:18

09. Bogie's Bonnie Belle - 2:49

10. Matt Highland - 4:33

11. Farewell She - 2:37

12. The Snows - 2:15

link to the free album

Archie Fisher - Archie Fisher

Sharon Shannon - Diamond Mountain Sessions

Sharon Shannon is perhaps best known as a talented fiddle and accordion player in Celtic circles, The Diamond Mountain Sessions should broaden her appeal. This album finds her joined by a multitude of talent, including luminaries such as John Prine, Jackson Browne, and Steve Earle. Since Shannon is primarily a musician and not a singer, the album also contains a number of fine instrumentals. Things get started with "A Costa de Galicia," a lovely jig full of intricate accordion work, and the pipes of Carl Nunez. Next up is a hard, driving Earle song, "The Galway Girl," that is immediately likable and will remind many of his best acoustic work. Browne's vocal on "Man of Constant Sorrow" is enriched by the addition of Mary Staunton on backing vocals, while Dessie O'Hollaran offers a more traditional take on "Say You Love Me." It is probably inevitable that Americana radio will push the vocal tracks, and while this isn't a bad thing, the instrumental tracks have just as much to offer. The Woodchoppers join Shannon on the lovely "The Pernod Watlz," while Liz and Yvonne Kane join her on the medley of tunes titled "Fire in the Bellies." Even though a number of players are present on each track, the arrangements are never crowded. Instead, the sound is open and airy. It is nice that artists like Shannon have been given the freedom to make albums that are stylistically all over the map like The Diamond Mountain Sessions. This broad musical palette serves to show that Americana and Celtic have a lot in common, and gives fans of either style a nice way to expand their tastes. One of my all time favourite albums in case you ask.

1 A Costa De Galica [with Carlos Núñez Muñoz]

2 The Galway Girl [with Steve Earle]

3 The Diamond Mountain

4 Slan Le Van

5 The Four Jimmys (The Fitz Theme)

6 A Man of Constant Sorrow [with Jackson Browne]

7 Say You Love Me [with Dessie O'Halloran]

8 The Pernod Waltz [The Woodchoppers]

9 The Hounds of Letterfrack

10 On the Banks of the Old Pontchertrain [with Hothouse Flowers]

11 Love Love Love [with John Prine, Mary Staunton]

12 Jota do porto do cabo [with Carlos Núñez Muñoz]

13 Fire in the Bellies with Liz & Yvonne Kane]

14 14 - Northern Lights

link to the free album

Sharon Sessions

John Bowe & Mary Conroy - John Bowe & Mary Conroy

Recorded in 1977 on Brendan Mulkere's Inchecronin label, Bowe's vigorous and inventive button accordion playing is pleasantly accompanied by Conroy's muted, almost piano-like, chord progressions on the guitar. It's a lovely accordion album altogether, and Mulkere was obviously on form when he wrote the sleeve notes: 'This record is especially for those who want to listen for construction, continuity and balance in the music.

1. Ryan's Rant/Fahy's [Reels]
2. The Sailor's Cravat/The Reel of Bogey [Reels]
3. The Monaghan/In Memory of McKeigue [Jigs]
4. The Downfall of Paris [Set Dance]
5. John Bowe's Favourite/Mulhair's [Reels]
6. The Repeal of the Union/The West Clare [Reels]
7. Thomond Bridge [Hornpipe]
8. The Pensioner who Kissed his Granny/The Scottish Four Courts [Reels]
9. The Ashplant/The First House in Connaught [Reels]
10. Bowe's/Seán Ryan's [Reels]
11. The Drunken Sailor [Hornpipe]
12. Eleanor Kane's/Paddy on the Railroad [Reels]
13. The Thatched Cabin/The Maids of Castlebar [Reels]
14. The Japanese Hornpipe
15. The Teetotaller/Paddy Taylor's [Reels]

link to the free album

John Bowe & Mary Conroy - John Bowe & Mary Conroy

Fiona Joyce - Behind Closed Doors

Working in the dead of night, when most people were safely in their beds, Fiona Joyce recorded a selection of her own songs covering subjects as diverse as immortality, the demands of young children, partying, political prisoners, mysticism, and imminent unemployment. This fantastic 1991 album is extremely rare and was limited to a pressing of 500 copies was self financed with most of the money raised by the adverts on the back cover.

1 Behind Closed Doors
2 Reaching Out
3 The Juggler
4 Long Road to Travel
5 Playing for Time
6 Emma's Tune
7 Crazy Man Michael
8 Policy-Time on your Side
9 Down Where The Drunkards Roll

link to the free album

Fiona Joyce - Behind Closed Doors

Susan McKeown - Bushes & Briars

For her foray into traditional music, Irish singer Susan McKeown hasn't chosen the safe path. By including instruments like tabla, French horn, and clarinet--none of which are associated with Celtic music--she's stretching the boundaries of the genre. But the fascinating, often daring arrangements serve merely to frame her voice, which is often shown starkly, even unaccompanied. With guests like Morocco's Hassan Hakmoun, former Planxty man Andy Irvine, and Solas's Seamus Egan, she has a first-class crew behind her, but she, and her haunting voice, remain the real stars of the show, offering a radiant path to the heart of the songs here. Her selection of material (both in English and Gaelic) veers far from the tried and true, but even on a song like "Bonny Boy," she marks it with her own identity. Bushes and Briars is a complete triumph, establishing McKeown as one of the top contemporary Celtic singers. [source Chris Nickson]

1 Bushes & Briars

2 In London so Fair

3 Seoladh na nGamhna

4 H-Ó Abha-ínn

5 Bonny Boy

6 The Mountain Streams Where the Moorcocks Crow

7 Banks of Claudy

8 Craigie Hill

9 A Mháire Bhruinneall

10 Dónal Óg

11 After Aughrim

link to the free album

Susan McKeown - Bushes & Briars

John Burgess - King of the Highland Pipers

John D Burgess was the nearest Scotland gained to a piping legend in real life. An outstanding exponent of the pipes, he gained instant recognition on the international circuit when, at 16, he won what was effectively the world piping championship, taking both the gold medal at the Northern Meeting at Inverness and the gold medal at the Argyllshire Gathering at Oban for piobaireachd. To attain these at a first attempt, and while still a teenager, made his triumph all the more noticeable and one unlikely ever to be repeated. A prolific prize-winner, he gave many recitals and made numerous recordings, including an album called The King of the Highland Pipers [Topic Records TSCD466 1993].

01. 6/8 marches: Bundle & Go / Over the Water to Charlie / Campbeltown Loch / Joy Go with My Love / Traigh Gruinard / Morag
02. slow air: Bonnie Argyl
03. pibroch: Salute on the Birth of Rory Mor MacLeod
04. 6/8 marches: Colonel Robertson / The 72nd Highlanders’ Farewell to Edinburgh / Major John MacLennan
05. slow air & jig: Leaving Ardtornish / The Geese in the Bog
06. hornpipes: The Swallowtailed Coat / The Mallow Men / Pipe Mjr George S Allan / Jockey on the Braes of Abernathy / Wee Alex – Fort William / Paddy Kelly’s Stump / The Boys of Bluehill / The Ballachulish Walkabout
07. march, strathspey & reel: Lord Alexander / Tulloch Gorum / Mrs MacPherson of Inveran
08. hornpipe & retreat march: Duncan Johnstone / Farewell to Nigg
09. jigs: The Baldoozer / Center’s Bonnet / Cork Hill / John MacDonald’s Jig
10. air: Loch Monar
11. march, strathspey & reel: The Ewe wi’ the Crookit Horn / The Rejected Suitor
12. jigs: Donald MacLean / Paddy’s Leather Breeches
13. pibroch: The Desperate Battle of the Birds
14. jigs: The Old Wife’s Dance / The Kitchen Maid / The Irish Washerwoman
15. air: The Wandering Piper
16. marches: Parker’s Welcome to Perthshire / Achany Glen
17. march, strathspey & reel: The Duchess of Edinburgh / Thick Lies the Mist on Yonder Hill / Rose Among the Heather / The High Road to Linton
18. marches: The Pretty Apron / The Highland Lassie Going to the Fair / The Ladies from Hell / Devlin Side

All tracks trad. except
Track 4a MacDonald;
Tracks 5a, 10 William Ross;
Tracks 6c, 8a Donald MacLeod;
Track 16a Ferguson / Morrison;
Track 16b MacPherson / Wilson;
Track 18c James MacMillan Tait

01 - 08 From The Art of the Highland Bagpipe Vol. 1
09 - 18 From King of Highland Pipers

link to the free album

John Burgess - King of the Highland Pipers