Dark of the Moon
1340mag.com
November 25, 2003
by Keith Quillen
Grey Larsen has been involved with Celtic music since his teens when he began to learn the music from Irish immigrant Michael Kennedy in his hometown of Cincinnati. While a student at Oberlin College he listened to and played with members of the Cleveland Irish Musician's club. Larsen has become one of the most recognized American Celtic music players. Besides being a player of the music he is also a composer, teacher, author of Celtic music guidebooks, and champion of the music and the old traditional players. This is the second album recorded by Larsen and Paddy League, who has since moved on to other musical adventures.
With League on bodhrán, guitar and concertina Larsen plays traditional Irish tunes on Irish flute, tin whistle, concertina and harmonium. Of the flute Larsen says, it "is really magical. Your breath is producing the sound. Not wood. Not a metal string. You can't see what is making the sound. It is very ethereal. It's such a direct route into your soul."
This is traditional Irish music played honestly. It's not heavily produced. The music is the star of the show, but Larsen and League bring it to life. If you like a more traditional sound for this kind of music you will like this CD. If you aren't familiar with Larsen's work, I can recommend you give it a try.
Key Track: Another Jig Will Do/The Ship Doctor/I'm the Boy for Bewitching Them