by Catherine L. Tully

Artist: The Chieftains
Album: "Essential Chieftains"
Year produced: 2006

For those who are fairly new to Irish music or those who are already well initiated. This is a CD that is tough to trump.

The Chieftains have been around for many, many years and are most beloved in Irish music circles; and this is for good reason. They are a part of those who blazed the trail for a more mainstream appeal over the course of their lengthy recording and performing history. Many people outside of the genre would be able to call forth the Chieftain's name if pressed to come up with an Irish band's name.

This band has garnered themselves six Grammy awards and are official Irish Musical Ambassadors. They have played for the Pope and at the pub; they are truly a living legend. Two CDs long, this is a sampling of some of their best music from the 60's to around 2003. Each CD has its own flavor, with the first being a mix of traditional instruments and arrangements. Excellent musicianship with great jigs and reels to listen to, along with other great tracks are the mark of the first disc.

CD number two will be a little bit of a surprise if you are new to this band. You'll hear Van Morrison and Sinead O'Connor, in addition to Linda Ronstadt and Los Lobos among a host of other big names. A nice counterbalance to round out the set. And yes, I said Los Lobos. Why not; after all this is a disc of collaboration, and what fun it is!

A whole lot of great listening for just two CDs.

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Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer specializing in the arts. She has written for Dance Teacher Magazine, Classical Singer and Dance Spirit among others, and reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her at www.freelance-zone.com.

Labels: cd_review_2006

Posted by Marc Gunn, Thursday, April 13, 2006.
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