Review from Dirty Linen Magazine, February/March, 2003
JOHN CREAVEN
The Story So Far
John Creaven comes from near Galway, and now lives in Chicago. He is quite a different sort of player (to Harry Bradley - "As I carelessly did stray..." reviewed in the same issue), though one might again imagine his having been influenced by Tansey. Paddy Carty is also occasionally evoked, but really his playing could be more easily likened to the Galway style of fiddling: straight forward and quietly passionate, with ornamentation kept to a minimum and maximum attention given to instrumental tone. Creaven's sound is full, round and beautiful and he relies on it thoroughly on this striking debut, which features mostly solo playing apart from simple but very effective bouzouki work by Dennis Cahill on five tracks. Very musical and very enjoyable.
Duck Baker
________________
Review from Irish Times Newspaper, May 2, 2002
JOHN CREAVEN ****
The Story So Far
A débutant flute player, John Creaven is a native of Galway but now resident in Chicago. The Story So Far packs a mean belly punch, albeit with a velvet glove. This is a revelatory collection; Creaven's low-key style is intimately sympathetic to his chosen tunes. Whether rising to a gallop on the set of Belfast jigs, The Broken Lantern/Grogan's (Creaven upping the ante with the authority of Van Morrison at his demanding best) or pacing the desolate song air, Shamrock Shore, this is a young player who taps the pulse of a tune with precision. Bare-boned accompaniment from Dennis Cahill on guitar provides the ideal hammock. Makes you want to pour a mint julep and swing alongside them.
Siohhán Long
________________
Excerpt from introduction on CD liner notes:
"Listening to his music on this album, one is tempted at times to say his playing resembles that of the great Paddy Carty, and a few other top flute players both past and present, but at the end of the day you realise his style is his very own. The tempo of his playing, his great phrasing, and beautiful tone, really lifts the spirit of the listener. The backing of the flute by the great and internationally known Chicago musician Dennis Cahill, done so tastefully, and with great feeling, makes the music a real treat for traditional Irish music lovers.
This is an album that will live in the hearts of present and future generations. It is also John's first. Hopefully it is a forerunner of others to come, from his vast repertoire of traditional Irish music.
Frank Burke
Chicago, August 2001"
________________
Excerpt from a review in The Galway Advertiser Newspaper - March 7, 2002
"The flute is a beautiful and evocative instrument but with the dominance of fiddlers and accordianists, we don't get to hear it often enough. So John Creaven's The Story so Far, recorded in Chicago, is to be welcomed.....
Stripped of the overproduction some modern trad albums suffer from, The Story so Far feels refreshing and intimate.....
The Story so Far is a lively and engaging set, which introduces a talented new player whose dedication to the flute and passion for traditional music comes across well."
Kernan Andrews, The Fortnightly Sessions
________________
Excerpt from a review in Folk N' Review Newsletter, December 2002 - January 2003
"This is a stunning first album by a very accomplished flute player"
Don Jacobson,
KVMR Radio Station, Nevada City, California
________________
The Story So Far by John Creavan
Review from Dirty Linen Magazine, February/March, 2003
JOHN CREAVEN
The Story So Far
John Creaven comes from near Galway, and now lives in Chicago. He is quite a different sort of player (to Harry Bradley - "As I carelessly did stray..." reviewed in the same issue), though one might again imagine his having been influenced by Tansey. Paddy Carty is also occasionally evoked, but really his playing could be more easily likened to the Galway style of fiddling: straight forward and quietly passionate, with ornamentation kept to a minimum and maximum attention given to instrumental tone. Creaven's sound is full, round and beautiful and he relies on it thoroughly on this striking debut, which features mostly solo playing apart from simple but very effective bouzouki work by Dennis Cahill on five tracks. Very musical and very enjoyable.
Duck Baker
________________
Review from Irish Times Newspaper, May 2, 2002
JOHN CREAVEN ****
The Story So Far
A débutant flute player, John Creaven is a native of Galway but now resident in Chicago. The Story So Far packs a mean belly punch, albeit with a velvet glove. This is a revelatory collection; Creaven's low-key style is intimately sympathetic to his chosen tunes. Whether rising to a gallop on the set of Belfast jigs, The Broken Lantern/Grogan's (Creaven upping the ante with the authority of Van Morrison at his demanding best) or pacing the desolate song air, Shamrock Shore, this is a young player who taps the pulse of a tune with precision. Bare-boned accompaniment from Dennis Cahill on guitar provides the ideal hammock. Makes you want to pour a mint julep and swing alongside them.
Siohhán Long
________________
Excerpt from introduction on CD liner notes:
"Listening to his music on this album, one is tempted at times to say his playing resembles that of the great Paddy Carty, and a few other top flute players both past and present, but at the end of the day you realise his style is his very own. The tempo of his playing, his great phrasing, and beautiful tone, really lifts the spirit of the listener. The backing of the flute by the great and internationally known Chicago musician Dennis Cahill, done so tastefully, and with great feeling, makes the music a real treat for traditional Irish music lovers.
This is an album that will live in the hearts of present and future generations. It is also John's first. Hopefully it is a forerunner of others to come, from his vast repertoire of traditional Irish music.
Frank Burke
Chicago, August 2001"
________________
Excerpt from a review in The Galway Advertiser Newspaper - March 7, 2002
"The flute is a beautiful and evocative instrument but with the dominance of fiddlers and accordianists, we don't get to hear it often enough. So John Creaven's The Story so Far, recorded in Chicago, is to be welcomed.....
Stripped of the overproduction some modern trad albums suffer from, The Story so Far feels refreshing and intimate.....
The Story so Far is a lively and engaging set, which introduces a talented new player whose dedication to the flute and passion for traditional music comes across well."
Kernan Andrews, The Fortnightly Sessions
________________
Excerpt from a review in Folk N' Review Newsletter, December 2002 - January 2003
"This is a stunning first album by a very accomplished flute player"
Don Jacobson,
KVMR Radio Station, Nevada City, California
________________
# Posted on March 1st 2004 by gian marco
Very good album... I got it when he taught our flute class at Riley School about a month or so ago.
# Posted on March 2nd 2004 by Oranaiche