Customer Reviews

Live in Palma

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This set of 2 CDs would appeal to most fans of traditional Irish music. I am not a huge fan of most Irish ballads but Cathy Jordan is awesome, I believe her voice would appeal not only to traditionalists but also to those with more mainstream tastes. Their instrumentals are great and for me were the highlight of this set. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars was I did not care for so much talking between songs. After repeated listenings the banter gets a bit tiresome, after all, who wants to hear them sing Happy Birthday to some guy named Felip again and again? Still, that's what the skip button on CD players is for, if you are looking for great Irish traditonal music done in a very accessible way, then look no further.

Any song of Dervish takes me back instantly to my first trip to Ireland in the spring of 2000, when our tour leader played it on her cassette deck in the van. This is a band capable of generating enough power and energy and passon with their sets of jigs and reels to blow the roof off the barn. The very same band in turn can bring a tear to your eye and a lump to your throat with a heartbreaker like "I Courted a Wee Girl," a song that contains one of the most hummable melodies ever put on disc. In Ireland I bought one more CD of theirs, Midsummer's Night, which I enjoy very much, but this live album captures the Dervish vibe perfectly and is in fact also a top-notch recording--the quality of the sound is superb. I don't typically like live albums, but this is a delightful exception. I predict you will love the patter between Cathy and the audience, and you will buy other Dervish CDs, and you will seek them out when they come to your town to soak up a little of the Dervish magic in person.

This is an excellent live album by one of my favorite Irish traditional music groups, Dervish. All of the musicians are in fine form and playing excellently. Cathy Jordan's voice is of particular note here, as her soaring vocals in both Irish and English are the delight of the album. The tunes are also excellently performed.

One really nice feature of this live album is that the talking is separated from the actual songs and tunes. This is useful if you don't want to hear the band talking, but I recommend that you listen to the inter-song banter at least once. Cathy says some really funny things. "Girls, if you have one man in your life, you'd better get another, so if one leaves you, you still have one left."

Note: this was recorded shortly before the departure of Shane McAleer (to New Zealand, of all places) and is the last album of Dervish's with his fiddle playing.

Failte! (Greetings!) It is so hard to say , "the number one CD" without thinking of all of the other wonderful Irish musicians out there. Fill up a pub with all of this talent, keep their mugs filled up, and I'm sure no one will want to make a primate "pissing contest" out of fine music. Everyone would simply be jamming with each other and having fun. However, I do need to get your attention if you love Irish the traditional Irish way, as I do. This CD is a must have or at least a must hear. "Live in Palma" is a summary of previous best works from previous albums. This includes the infamous "Drag Her 'Round the Road," a quaint, old Irish phrase for asking your love for a dance. Things have gone feminist at me household, and I can't mention this phrase out loud without getting "chased 'round me house" by all of the feminists of the clan. This album has the same music as "Decade," but has introductions to songs through a live performance. These usually sell out in Ireland and Europe, and are a real experience. Cathy Jordan dresses like an Irish Gypsy and moves to the rhythm and music, as well as plays Irish drum (bodhran) and bones. This is infectious. Crowds respond with at least toe tapping, if not clapping, standing and moving, or getting in the aisles and dancing. The "Pheigin' Mo Chroi" track on disc 2 is a good example of the chemistry between Cathy and audiences for a Gaelic Karoakie. Several band members have won all Ireland awards for their instruments, and as a group Dervish represents immense individual talent. It is the team work that sets this group apart and makes them THE group all new groups are now being compared to in traditional Irish Music. Cathy's golden voice, excellent flute, fiddle and button accordian lead (and sometimes double and triple leads that sound like one musician and instrument) and a three person team on Octave Mandolin, Bouzouki (deep voiced Octave Mandolin) and a specially low tuned 12 string guitar weaving a tapestry of counterpoint notes with each other and the lead, distinguishes this group with their own unique sound and arrangements. "Midsummer's Night" has come out since the Palma album with new material and trademark sound. Most recently (June 2003) "Spirit" has come out with the same trademark Dervish sound and experiments in new directions. Please take these albums out for a "drag round the road." Slan!

I am a big Dervish fan, and this is my favorite recording. Typical instrumentation for a Dervish song is violin, mandola, bazouki, and flute or whistle (and maybe a touch of accordian?) which makes for a delicate, ethereal sound--almost like a music box but more intense and driving--which is complemented perfectly by Cathy Jordan's high, strong voice. And this recording sounds as good as a studio set, with the extra thrill of a live audience. Simply phenomenal!

If you like traditional Irish Celtic music, this album is a must-have. Yes, there are introductions before most of the songs, but that's what a live album is about. If you don't like the introductions, then rip it to your MP3 player and leave the intro tracks off. This is a fantastic album from a fantastic group.

Having seen Dervish "live" at the North Texas Irish Festival in Dallas and at the San Francisco Festival, I wonderd if any recording could capture the talent, power, and energy this group brings to Irish/Celtic music. This CD does!!! I only regret I was not there to hear them in Palma. I was lucky enough to get one of the CDs when it was only being released in Europe. I rate it one of the best we have in our extensive collection. We never travel by auto without it!

The performance is fresh and lively, beautifully produced so every instrument is heard clearly. Every person in the band is a virtuoso. Kathy Jordan's voice is beautiful. I don't know what else to say. I'm glad I bought it!