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Live in Palma

Dervish

Compass Records

• List price: $19.98
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1. Packie Duignan's
2. Intro
3. Spailpí Fánach
4. Slip Jigs
5. Intro
6. Sheila Nee Iyer
7. Intro
8. The Trip to Sligo
9. Intro
10. The Hungry Rock - Dervish, Holmes, Michael
11. Intro
12. Ar Éirinn Ní Neosfainn Cé Hí (For Ireland Won't Tell Her Name)
13. Molly and Johnny
14. The Green Mountain
15. I Courted a Wee Girl
    Josefin's Waltz - Dervish, Tallroth, Roger
16. Intro
17. Drag Her 'Round the Road
18. Máire Mhór
19. Intro
20. I Buried My Wife and Danced on Top of Her
21. Intro
22. The Hills of Greenmore
23. Intro
24. The World's End - Dervish, Holmes, Michael
25. Peata Beag
26. Intro
27. Pheigín Mo Chroi
28. Intro
29. Jim Coleman's
30. Happy Birthday to Felip
31. Intro
32. Edward by Lough Éirn's Shore
33. Introductions
34. Killavil Jigs
35. Aililiú Na Gamhna

Average customer rating:

A favorite

I am a big Dervish fan, and this is my favorite recording. Typical instrumentation for a Dervish song is violin, mandola, bazouki, and flute or whistle (and maybe a touch of accordian?) which makes for a delicate, ethereal sound--almost like a music box but more intense and driving--which is complemented perfectly by Cathy Jordan's high, strong voice. And this recording sounds as good as a studio set, with the extra thrill of a live audience. Simply phenomenal!

Excellent live album of a top Irish group

This is an excellent live album by one of my favorite Irish traditional music groups, Dervish. All of the musicians are in fine form and playing excellently. Cathy Jordan's voice is of particular note here, as her soaring vocals in both Irish and English are the delight of the album. The tunes are also excellently performed.

One really nice feature of this live album is that the talking is separated from the actual songs and tunes. This is useful if you don't want to hear the band talking, but I recommend that you listen to the inter-song banter at least once. Cathy says some really funny things. "Girls, if you have one man in your life, you'd better get another, so if one leaves you, you still have one left."

Note: this was recorded shortly before the departure of Shane McAleer (to New Zealand, of all places) and is the last album of Dervish's with his fiddle playing.

Simply the best

If you like traditional Irish Celtic music, this album is a must-have. Yes, there are introductions before most of the songs, but that's what a live album is about. If you don't like the introductions, then rip it to your MP3 player and leave the intro tracks off. This is a fantastic album from a fantastic group.

Me pick for the number one traditional Irish Music CD

Failte! (Greetings!) It is so hard to say , "the number one CD" without thinking of all of the other wonderful Irish musicians out there. Fill up a pub with all of this talent, keep their mugs filled up, and I'm sure no one will want to make a primate "pissing contest" out of fine music. Everyone would simply be jamming with each other and having fun. However, I do need to get your attention if you love Irish the traditional Irish way, as I do. This CD is a must have or at least a must hear. "Live in Palma" is a summary of previous best works from previous albums. This includes the infamous "Drag Her 'Round the Road," a quaint, old Irish phrase for asking your love for a dance. Things have gone feminist at me household, and I can't mention this phrase out loud without getting "chased 'round me house" by all of the feminists of the clan. This album has the same music as "Decade," but has introductions to songs through a live performance. These usually sell out in Ireland and Europe, and are a real experience. Cathy Jordan dresses like an Irish Gypsy and moves to the rhythm and music, as well as plays Irish drum (bodhran) and bones. This is infectious. Crowds respond with at least toe tapping, if not clapping, standing and moving, or getting in the aisles and dancing. The "Pheigin' Mo Chroi" track on disc 2 is a good example of the chemistry between Cathy and audiences for a Gaelic Karoakie. Several band members have won all Ireland awards for their instruments, and as a group Dervish represents immense individual talent. It is the team work that sets this group apart and makes them THE group all new groups are now being compared to in traditional Irish Music. Cathy's golden voice, excellent flute, fiddle and button accordian lead (and sometimes double and triple leads that sound like one musician and instrument) and a three person team on Octave Mandolin, Bouzouki (deep voiced Octave Mandolin) and a specially low tuned 12 string guitar weaving a tapestry of counterpoint notes with each other and the lead, distinguishes this group with their own unique sound and arrangements. "Midsummer's Night" has come out since the Palma album with new material and trademark sound. Most recently (June 2003) "Spirit" has come out with the same trademark Dervish sound and experiments in new directions. Please take these albums out for a "drag round the road." Slan!

Outstanding

This set of 2 CDs would appeal to most fans of traditional Irish music. I am not a huge fan of most Irish ballads but Cathy Jordan is awesome, I believe her voice would appeal not only to traditionalists but also to those with more mainstream tastes. Their instrumentals are great and for me were the highlight of this set. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars was I did not care for so much talking between songs. After repeated listenings the banter gets a bit tiresome, after all, who wants to hear them sing Happy Birthday to some guy named Felip again and again? Still, that's what the skip button on CD players is for, if you are looking for great Irish traditonal music done in a very accessible way, then look no further.