Celtic Roots

John Whelan

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 12, 2002)
• Original Release Date: February 12, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Narada
• ASIN: B00005Y1JP
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #214,709 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great example of traditional Irish Button Accordion, January 9, 2003

By	William P. Mchale "bill_mchale" (Silver Spring, MD United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I agree with others here that John Whelan is among the very best Irish Button Accordion Players around (and actually there are quite a few excellent players, Billy McComiskey, Sharon Shannon, James Keane...). This CD is as good an intro into both his music and Irish Dance Music played on the Button Accordion as any and will definitely knock down any preconcieved notion about the accordion being used for Polkas (though there are quite a few polkas in the Irish tradition). Anyway, if you love Irish Dance Music, Accordion Music or both, this CD should be on your list.

Oh one final point, one reviewer seemed to confuse the Button Accordion and the Concertina, they have certain similarities (both being free reed instruments) but they are not the same. John Whelan plays the Button Accordion and I don't think I have ever heard a concertina on one of his CDs.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seven time All-Ireland Button Accordian Champ!, June 13, 2002

By A Customer

The traditional button accordian has been a popular pub instrument in Ireland for hundreds of years. There are many talented Irish button accordian players, but none go into "the happy pub zone" as well as John. It seems that he starts playing and simply falls into a happy mega track of Celtic music that keeps rolling onward and onward. It feels like the separation between tracks is just a formality. This album and his earliar "Come to Dance" are good examples of why he has been regarded among the very best, champion concertina players in Ireland for years. The excellent fiddle playing on many tracks is being supplied by John's friend and collaborator for years, Eileen Ivers. There is also excellent Irish bouzouki (deep voiced, large, octave mandolin) playing in counterpoint to John and chording. This is great background for liftin' a'pint or two with friends and family. This is Irish the traditional Irish way with no electrical appliances in the band and nobody plugged into anything but the fine music.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for the Music Classroom, September 15, 2002

By	"renovia" (Portland, ME United States) - See all my reviews

If you are looking for a great Celtic CD to teach dances to, this is the one to get. The CD is jam-packed with jigs and reels, it just doesn't stop! Use this with your students to teach about the Celtic culture, keep the steady beat, or to learn real jigs and reels! John Whelan has a great CD out there even for the novice Celtic listener. A great CD.