Folk

This Is My Home: Dave Rooney

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 2 Comments

Dublin’s Temple Bar performer is currently on tour in the United States promoting his album This is My Home.

Be sure to visit Dublin’s Temple Bar when you drop by because I am sure you will hear this distinctive voice playing nightly. Dave Rooney has a voice that can calm an angry soul and inspire tired hearts to hope and love.

The first time I heard the title track ‘This is My Home’ I am carried away by his bold lyricism and his decision to take the high road-that’s going independently , not waiting for some money-eyed record exec to pick his songs up for commercial release. Instrumentally, this album is rich. Backed by seasoned musicians of excellent caliber, the tracks shimmer. You can hear the dobro, fiddle, whistles piano and keyboards, saxophones bass guitars and drums arranged with excellent taste. The album has energetic tracks but are balanced with introspective ones for those who just want to chill out. If you like Chris de Burg, Luka Bloom, Christy Moore and the likes, then this one’s for you.

Dave’s music has soul and wisdom. Coupled with wit he creates an album that’s solid and artfully crafted. Hear him out and I am sure you will never forget him.
http://www.daverooneymusic.com/

Special thanks to Daly Communications: http://www.myspace.com/dalycommunications

Happy Breton Weekend

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 7 Comments

Some Breton music as the week goes to a close…

As weekend is here, I will be away from the Internet(I hope so but after getting a smart phone that would be hard to resist but still… ). I was trying to figure out what to post to cover my weekend of absence. I always make it a habit now to avoid checking even social networking sites like facebook or myspace. maybe I’d be with a nice book or be somewhere having an interesting conversation with someone at Bob’s Cafe. Whatever the case I will be away.

It’s usually important to detach oneself from the virtual world and enjoy the sunny outdoors-even for just two days! So what will I post here? I don’t have any interview with a Celtic musician yet…or album to review. And then it hit me. I have been posting videos from youtube on my facebook profile today. I have been inspired once again by the music of Brittany. So our ears point to the West of France this week 🙂

Take for instance this beautiful presentation with the music of Dan Ar Braz “Borders of Salt”….

More scenes with the band Tri-Yann..

 

Have a nice weekend!

Sahara:Soulful and Uplifting Sound from Australia.

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 8 Comments

One of the great success stories of the Australian music scene.

When you are needing something to spice up you morning cappuccino, or a companion to your Earl Grey tea at night Sahara is the perfect music for your best moments. With musicianship that has been distilled by time and space, you are an audience to the best duo  in this music category. Dave Long has one of the rare gorgeous male vocals in the tradition of Sting and Steve Winwood. I swear I could go on for hours and hours being hypnotized by tracks like  No Man’s Land, Higher Than High, and Make My Day.  I’m sure no one would question Trish long’s expertise with the sax and other instruments apart from the fact that she has a voice that could rival Celine Dion’s yet has the Irish gorgeousness.

According to their bio:

Sahara is the award winning singer/songwriter team Trish and Dave Long who met in their hometown Dublin in the eighties before migrating to Australia where they have toured extensively performing to sell out audiences. Before leaving Ireland they had performed in many of Dublin’s music venues eg. The Baggot Inn, The Meeting Place, Slattery’s, Dame Tavern and Trinity College, and alongside some of the Irish household names such as Brendan Grace, Red Hurley, Linda Martin, Errol Walsh, Freddie White, Declan Sinnott and Kieran Halpin.


I hear traces of  Van Morrison, Bruce Hornsby and Traffic. If you love something that teeters between classic folk/rock, Celtic and jazz then Sahara is a perfect soundtrack.
Trish Long: Sax, Vocals, Flute, Flageolet ,Recorder & Sequencing.
Dave Long: Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards & Sequencing.

New Brenda Wootton Album: All of Me

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 6 Comments

Featuring unreleased tracks from this legendary Cornish singer.


A few months ago I wrote something about Brenda Wootton. Then Gloria from http://www.livingincornwall.com/ told me that they discovered recordings of her just ‘sitting there’ and they decided to remaster it for a release.  I think it’s amazing. I think every one of my readers can relate to this feeling-to uncovered musical treasures lying somewhere. Just imagine the full potential of it. The magic and the fact that it will really sound ‘new’ because no one has heard it before.

The album has finally got its release this November 1. What a good date to release an album from a late singer . And it’s like she’s back to serenade us with her beautiful voice from the other side…just for us – her listeners and those who just stumbled upon her music.

There’s always been something magical about Cornwall. And part of it is due to Brenda Wootton(1928-1994).

Buy the album here:

http://www.brendawootton.com/buynow.html

Introducing Caitlin Grey

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The voice is as illusive as the singer that is Caitlin Grey. It makes one wonder where did she come from? Rousing, elegant and magical. She is an artist that is in the process of getting her music across. In time there will be more info available. This video ‘The Parting’ is taken from her album Siren’s Song available through  New World records.

Buy the album here: http://www.newworldmusic.us/product.asp?specific=524