Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The "New" Traditional music, August 29, 2002
Most casual listeners and even more seasoned enthusiasts of Traditional Irish music operate under the assumption, an altogether understandable one, that the catalog of Irish tunes is finite, and that every venerable melody heard in pubs and sessions across the globe is at least centuries old. In fact, the process of composing Irish tunes is an ongoing one. Many reels, jigs, and the like composed within the last half century have already entered the standard repertoire. If she hasn't done so already, Chicago fiddle icon Liz Carroll is sure to ultimately take her rightful place in the pantheon of music, not just by virtue of her stunning artistry as an instrumentalist, but as quite possibly today's leading composer of tunes. Her latest Green Linnet release, Lake Effect, is chock full of catchy melodies, rich harmonies, and dramatic texture. And though the disc brims forth with timeless elegance... surprise! All but 3 of the album's 28 tunes are newly composed by Carroll herself. Continuing the driving, rhythmic sound so well established by her last offering, Lost in the Loop, Carroll and her mates play with an infectious sense of energy and drama. Starting with her frequent collaborator (and here co-producer) guitarist John Doyle, Carroll has assembled a group of players who in every way complement her own playing, and who make it easy for Carroll to maintain her title as Greatest Living Irish-American Fiddler. Especially notable are the opening set, "The Rock Reel/Morning Dew/Reeling on the Box", which immediately sets the high energy tone with sassy flavoring enhanced with added percussion; "Oh Bedad/For the Love of Music", teeming with bubbling rhythm and startingly unexpected harmonies; and most enticingly with "Catherine Kellys/Lake Effect", featuring a guest turn by the Turtle Island String Quartet in a picture-perfect illustration of what a cross-disciplined collaboration should be. Down the road, it's hard to imagine if Liz Carroll will be revered more as a legendary fiddler or as a refreshingly creative composer of Traditional tunes. But if Lost in the Loop firmly established the former, Lake Effect is sure to make Traditional purists (read:anachronisms) sit up quicky and take notice of the latter.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Me Own Celtic Music Queen Elizabeth!, December 20, 2002
By A Customer
Liz Carroll is one of the very best Celtic fiddlers currently playing. I have no doubt that there are many other fine fiddlers and, if put together in the same pub, they would not worry about who is best due to the sheer fun of jamming with each other. I suppose it is this sense of having fun in pushing the envelope and collaboration that sets this CD apart from other CD's. Non traditional percussion and string instruments are used in various arrangements. At one end of the range is what sounds like chamber music. At the other, Latino percussion Salsa is added. Then you are admiring the traditional, old reels and jigs and realize Liz is composing her own. They sound as legit as the traditional songs that are as eagerly washed down with the traditional Guinness. I admire Liz's collaboration with other artists in finding different chemistries that work. My wish list, however, is that she maintain her collaboration with Solas band members, especially John Doyle. His counterpoint guitar chords to her fiddle are exquisite. Even in fast reels, such as the Jump Ball set, John and Liz are hitting the notes and chords together perfectly. Number two on my wish list : I can't help but wonder what some of the reels might sound like with a Tommy Hayes, Johnny McDonagh, Frank Torpey, Jackie Moran, or Donnchadh Gough on Bodhran (Irish Drum) for some Irish Salsa.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Raises New Standards of Irish Fiddle Playing, June 27, 2003
Liz Carroll's 'Lake Effect' is the CD to be had. It's a fine one at that. 'Lake Effect' has moved to a higher parallel from her last album 'Lost in the Loop.' 'Loop' that became a smash hit is another fine album to listen to. In other words, both are a superfine tour de force. Reason I say this is that both albums were named by Irish Echo as "Traditional Artist of the Year" in 2000 and 2001, respectively. Founding member of "Cherish the Ladies," the Chicago-born Carroll has on her own done well for herself on a more adventurous solo undertaking. After some hiatus, Carroll's comeback produced a more freedom and style and much deeper tone and dynamic slides that not to far from dazzling traditonal dance rhythms. The pitch and tempo are graceful and dead-on riveting. Those who accompany Carroll are Solas guitarist John Doyle and Galway's own accordion player Máirtín O'Connor and Turtle Island String Quartet. Carroll does a stunning work-of-art of new mastering on an old tradition. 'Lake Effect' is sure to take Irish music by storm. This is a must own for those who appreciate a little different from the traditional to a new standard of Irish fiddle music.
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by Liz Carroll 
