5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jigs and reels and polkas, oh my!, October 18, 2000
This review is from: Beginish (Audio CD)
I'm an enthusiastic fan of these guys and just saw them at a small venue in the back mountains of California during their second US tour. I'm listening to this CD as I write.
For head bangin', toe tappin', booty shakin' traditional Irish music, look no further. Brendan Begley manages to do all three while sitting (?) on a chair and playing his box extraordinaire. Paul McGrattan is the man with the flutes and Paul O'Shaughnessy plays an amazing fiddle. The two Pauls together make a challenge to your ears to catch each note and interplay. Noel O'Grady on bouzouki completed the full Beginish sound (and wit!).... until they added Gavin Ralston and his guitar on the tour. Noel and Gavin, both intuitional improvisers, catch the musical curves that Brendan merrily throws them. Gavin is promised to be on their new album.
For soulful changes of pace, Brendan sings some Kerry tunes and Paul McGrattan plays the slow air, "Easter Snow", from his solo album. Guest artists and friends joining Beginish on this CD are Arty McGlynn, Colm Murphy, and Maighread and Triona Ni Dhomhnaill
This album gives Irish traditionalists a chance to hear old tunes from Kerry and Donegal plus a polka composed by Begley and two barndances composed by McGrattan. If you can't catch them live, this is the next best thing. Turn it on and prepare to smile.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another Great Traditional Irish Album, July 12, 2005
This review is from: Beginish (Audio CD)
Hard core traditional group, for those who seek out that sort of thing. Fine mix of instrumentals (box, flute/whistles, fiddle, bouzouki) and songs, plus some great guest musicians. Brendan Begley is one of 2 Begley brothers (the other being Seamus Begley, who coincidentally also plays box and vocalizes). Paul O'Shaughnessy played fiddle with Altan in the early Green Linnet days. So you know these guys know their chops! There's really nothing more I can say, except that once you get this album, you will certainly want to snag their follow-up CD, Stormy Weather, which, alas, I don't see here on amazon.com (hint, hint). It's even more virtuosic!
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