Search - James Keane :: With Friends Like These

Dublin born but New York bound since the late 1960s, button-box player Keane is a formidable musician, praised for his strong style of playing, his speed and accuracy, and his unique personal embellishments. Since he is so much in demand for other people's recordings, it is no wonder that on his own album he can summon the likes of Tommy Peoples, Paddy Glackin, Liam O'Flynn, and Matt Molloy into the studio to help him create his music. He presents solos, duets (the fiddle and accordion duets are among the best of the set), and some large ensemble arrangements with an almost swing feel. He contributes some new compositions, some chestnuts like "Rights of Man," and in one duet with uilleann piper Liam O'Flynn, redefines the slow air, "Black Is the Colour." --Louis Gibson