Leahy

Leahy | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 8, 2007)
• Original Release Date: February 10, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Narada
• ASIN: B000002U75
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,943 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #29 in Music > Folk > British & Celtic Folk > Irish Folk
  • #45 in Music > World Music > Rock
  • #59 in Music > World Music > Europe > British Isles > Ireland

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This ain't no Yanni!, July 7, 2000

By 

Jason (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leahy (Audio CD)

I was a little scared when I found this CD in the New Age section, because I didn't want to hear Yanni or John Tesh, but my fears quickly disappeared upon listening to the recording. Covering a wide scope of cultures, from Cape Breton to Ireland, France to Hungary, and finally to the good old US of A, this family of spectacular musicians does it all. Although the well versed Celtic fiddle fanatic will recognize some of the jigs in "Cape Breton Medley", "A Call to Dance", and "Colm Quigley", the energy with which Donnell Leahy plays the fiddle makes listening well worth the while. The die hard dance fan might be a little disappointed with the almost romantic-like introductions to such songs as "Czardas", but the pace quickly increases, almost always ending with a fiddle fury. Also note and admire the ability of Donnell to switch from classical-like playing loaded with vibrato, to good old fashion Celtic fiddling. I only wish the CD was longer than 45 minutes, but still a definite must have.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get your toe a-tappin' - great celtic music, November 6, 2002

By 

David Roy (Vancouver, BC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leahy (Audio CD)

Leahy is a band made up an entire family from Lakefield, Ontario. They play some wonderful celtic music, with a fiddle that never stops and a beat that will forever have your toe tapping. Donnell, the main fiddler (though there are more than just him), has a wonderful talent that makes this CD quite an experience to listen to.I reviewed their second album, Lakefield, and my main problem was the singing. This, their first album, has no vocals whatsoever, and it's all the better for it. There's a great mix of tunes, everywhere from authentic Irish reels to regular celtic songs to an Alabama medley to a Hungarian song (Czardas) that sounds to me like something out of the Godfather. All of the songs are great; I can't think of one song on this CD that I wouldn't choose to play over and over again when I'm in a celtic mood.The best song on the CD, however, has to be "The Call to Dance." As it says in the liner notes, "Stepdancing is usually performed *to* music. We like to think of it *as* music." And they come through marvelously on this one, with the stepdancing being the perfect complement to the fiddle and other instruments. They do a wonderful job on the reels as well, making you want to get up and dance with them. I'd love to see a show with them live. I'm sure they have people dancing in the aisles.If you like fiddle music at all, even if you're not really a celtic fan, you have to have this CD. What a great debut.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fiery Fiddling from the Leahy Family, June 17, 2003

By 

Joshua Koppel (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Leahy (Audio CD)

Imagine the fastest fiddling you can. Now kick it up a notch and you might have an idea of the Leahy's lead fiddler Donnel. But every member of the family can out-fiddle just about anyone. They grew up in Canada in a house with a couple of fiddles and a piano. Now they are all experts.

Add to their musical talents the raw power of classic Celtic music and you have a group that will pump you full of their music and get you moving no matter how hard you try to stand still.

Leahy hit the big time after appearing at the First Annual Chicago Celtic Fest. Shortly after they were opening for Shania Twain. This CD represents the music that shot them to the top.

Some of these songs are haunting, some are bursting with unbridled energy but all of them will go right to your inner core. One of the best CDs I own.