Customer Reviews

Last Night's Fun

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John Carty is an exceptionally talented fiddler, and in my opinion this is his best recording. The tunes are great in that they are very faithful to the tradition, and yet he has managed to stylistically make them his own. I can't really describe it in terms of music theory, because I'm pretty ignorant of that. Still I know that Carty is a master of making his fiddle talk, and laugh and cry, and not many of the finest fiddlers approach the level of feeling that he imparts upon these tunes. If you love Irish traditional music, or even like it just a little bit, you will love this CD.

if your taste in "Celtic" music requires African drums, musical gourds and elgiac, wordless choirs, please look elsewhere... This is an example of the best of Irish traditional fiddling to be found anywhere. If you are reading this review you must be new to Irish Trad, else you have already tasted this great fruit of the Irish fiddle tradition, and have no need for the opinions of strangers on the quality and value of John Carty's work. The arrangements are simple and straightforward as you might hear him in the kitchen, still lashing away after a night of the craic. No exotic instrumentals and studio effects are needed; John Carty's playing is rich and organic, fresh and affectionate without being self-consciously affectated. Unlike too many "traditional" players, no neo-classical romanticism interferes with the music as expressed through John's elegant interpretations which are infused with a thoughtful sensibility, a wit and whimsy, that makes his own every tune he plays. If you are a player, you will find a wealth of material and ideas in this and all other of John's records.