Santiago
When the Chieftains' intrepid bandleader, Paddy Moloney, first heard Carlos Núñez, a young recorder and bagpipe virtuoso from a far-flung Celtic outpost in Spanish Galicia, he was mightily intrigued.Santiagoexplores a tradition that draws on medieval, Spanish, and Celtic sources; the music is performed on instruments that have changed little over the centuries. Núñez represents the home team, whileLos LobosandLinda Ronstadtpersonify its Central and South American descendants. Elliot Fisk, a pupil of the guitar maestro Andrés Segovia, andRy Cooderrespectfully contribute sparkling riffs. "Dublin in Vigo," a live track with joyous playing and a high-spirited ambiance, is merely one highlight of many.--Christina Roden