Play on
The original trio was founded Kevin Burke (Ireland), Christian le Maître (Brittany), and Johnny Cunningham (Scotland). Cunningham¹s untimely death in late 2003 left the ensemble heartbroken and artistically in the lurch, so it is a pleasure to see them back in action. The new member is André Brunet, a Quebec-born fiddler whose searing double-stops, bouncy rhythmic aplomb and high spirits have helped Burke, le Maître and guitarist/fiddler Ged Foley to, well, play on. Taped during live performances in Portland, Oregon, the twelve tracks contain tunes from each player¹s native country plus another from Israel. Each of the Celtic sources offer a profusion of dance styles and reflective slow airs and these are well represented. But a stately interpretation ofCarolan's Concerto, in which ancient Irish harp music mixes with baroque compositional styles, andLeaving Brittany, a piece composed by Cunningham about wishing safe passage to departed friends, are particularly memorable. --Christina Roden