Search - David O'Rourke, Lewis Nash, Niall Vallely :: Celtic Jazz Collective

Neither Jazz, Celtic, nor Irish

David Levine | Hopkinton, NH USA | 04/14/2003

(2 out of 5 stars)

"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."