Recommended Listening
Some of my favourites
Here are some recordings that stand with the very best in Celtic music. I seem to have a bias towards live recordings with relatively little in the way of gimmicks. These are not full-fledged reviews, just a bunch of recordings that are currently available and should be in everyone's collection. If you use links to Amazon.ca you can support the site by buying through the link!Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill - Live in Seattle
Two impeccable musicians in some kind of weird telepathic state. Martin Hayes plays Clare-style fiddle, with Dennis Cahill playing a spare backup guitar that never hits a wrong note. You can find Martin Hayes CDs at Amazon.caAshley MacIsaac - Fiddle Music 101 and Live at the Savoy
Ashley MacIsaac was one of the group of young Cape Breton fiddlers that made a big splash on the Canadian music scene in the 90's, only to disappear for a while. I was not a big fan of Ashley's 'bad boy' period, but in the last couple of years he's put away the rock influences and released two real gems: Fiddle Music 101, with guitar player Dave MacIsaac, and Live at the Savoy, with the great Cape Breton pianist Maybelle Chisholm McQueen backing him up. Both are classic examples of Cape Breton fiddling at its best. You can find Ashley MacIsaac's recordings at Amazon.caCeltic Sessions - Na Connerys
A mystery album when it first came out, because the musicians were not attributed. Detective work established the lineup:Paddy and Kevin Glackin: fiddles
Sean Og Potts: uilleann pipes, tinwhistle
John Regan: accordion
John Wynne: flute
Tom McDonagh: bouzouki
Mark Kelly: guitar
If you learn all the tunes on this one, you'll be at home in any session. Hard to find, but worth the look. Try here.