by Catherine L. Tully

Artist: Celeste Howard
Album: "Celtic Blessings"
Year produced: 2006

Starting out in music early--at the age of six in Los Angeles--Celeste Howard Ray's love for her chosen art shows through on her latest effort, Celtic Blessings. In this 12-track CD, her voice changes and shifts throughout. At times it sounds like something you would hear in a Broadway production, while at others it is soft and delicate, invoking emotion and having a "dream-like" quality. Some well-done harmonies round out the mix here as well.

Celeste has a degree in performance and plenty of practical experience in music, including a 6-month tour of Australia and a performance at the famed Carnegie Hall. Currently a resident of New York, she also teaches when she isn't on the road. She has released several other CDs, with Celtic Blessings being her most recent.

This CD features both traditional and original songs, and was inspired by Celtic poems. While this is not a classical or jazz album, Celeste's background and training in both have no doubt influenced the arrangements on this CD. Particularly refreshing is the use of the ancient-styled Bowed Psaltery, which is played here and adds a nice touch.

The piano on track five, "Blessing For A Long Journey Home" was gentle and the music on that track was especially "other worldly" and enjoyable. Followed with the Loreena McKennitt-like next track, it truly transports. And just when you thought you had heard one too many versions and interpretations of "Greensleeves," here comes one worth listening to...

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Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer who specializes in the arts. She has written for American Style and Classical Singer, among others and reviews music for Marc Gunn's Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her through her photography website at www.moonbeamdigital.com.

Labels: cd_review_2007

Posted by Marc Gunn, Wednesday, March 14, 2007.
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