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Celtic Jazz Collective: IsLinn (A Vision)

Mapleshade

• List price: $17.98
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1. Old Bush
   Kiss the Maid Behind the Barrel
   Master Crowley
2. Maid Behind the Bar
   The Woman of the House
3. Salamanca
   The Banshee
4. Planxty Charles O'Connor
5. St. Anne's Reel
6. Beannaigh Sinn a Athair
   An Pheadair
7. Munster Hornpipe
8. Belfast Hornpipe
9. Nocturne in B Flat Major by John Field - Celtic Jazz Collective, John Field, Lewis Nash,
10. Dunmore Lasses
    Farrel O'Gara's Favorite
11. Kid on the Mountain
12. Old as the Hills
    King of the Pipers
    Whinny Hills of Leitrim
13. Morning Star
    Martin Wynnes
    The Pidgeon on the Gate
14. Drowsie Mariah
15. Maid Behind the Bar
    The Woman of the House

Average customer rating:

A great CD!

I know some have not given this CD a great review, but I on the other hand, happen to love this CD! In our small town we have a coffee shop where we have many amateur musicians who play every night. This music reminds me of sitting there, drinking a cup of hot coffee, and listening to the good live music. I appreciate and like the blend between the jazz and the celtic. I think the musicians have done a great job and no doubt they had a great time putting this CD together. Two thumbs up!!!

two ships

As an Irish/Jazz fan and musician I would say that the open-minded Irish listeners will be initially disappointed and the open-minded jazz listeners may be perplexed but will give it a listen. These are all top-notch players who should be commended for taking a chance. The high points are reached on cuts like "The Maid Behind the Bar" where the great piper formerly of the Bothy Band, Paddy Keenan, and the ace jazz drummer Lewia Nash go it alone. The best Irish melodies thrive on minimal harmonic "interference" (ie."rhythm changes" and passing chords on a modal tune) - and here lies the paradox: what sounds like unrelated genres clashing (and non-listening" on the part of the jazz section) on some tunes works as pleasing or at least intriguing (in a Charles Ives kind of way) contrast on others. A tune like "The Kid On the Mountain" is so strong of itself, a more minimal modal approach harmonically would have enhanced the melody. The Munster Hornpipe" , on the other hand, has a fine balance of background and foreground...my ears are still open. I might give it 4 stars after some more listenings. Give it a try!

Neither Jazz, Celtic, nor Irish

Unfortunately this CD isn't convincing in either of the genres presented. It's neither real jazz nor real Irish music. The jazz is mainly too-loud rhythmic backup-- without the on-the-beat lift one looks for in traditional Irish music. Irish music is about melody and rhythmic dance patterns. It isn't about off-the-beat pretentious guitar and bass accompaniment. Here the rhythm gets in the way of the four-square tempo needed for dance music--which is what traditional Irish music is all about. It's a shame because there are some terrific musicians playing on this CD. There is no interaction between the musicians who are trad Irish and those who are jazz. It's as if the tracks were recorded seperately and then mixed to give the feeling (*not*, in this case) of a real session. I am a traditionalist, both in jazz and in Irish music (which I play). But this CD isn't traditional anything. It may be a noble attempt but it's a flop in my view. Better to buy either a real jazz album or a real CD of trad Irish.