The much anticipated new CD by Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas. Following on from their award-winning album "Fire & Grace", which won high praise and "Scots Trad Album of the Year" for 2004 the music on this album is highly original with most of the pieces being written by Alasdair Fraser and a wonderful new composition by Natalie Haas. Also includes performance favorite "Trip to Pakistan" by Niall Kenny. Guest artists include Haneke Cassel, piano and Eric Rigler, pipes.
Emma’s Waltz is a colorful dance through traditional and contemporary acoustic music styles. Neal’s latest recording features seventeen different musicians playing compositions from Ireland, Scotland, Finland, America and France. Tracks include “Breton Lullaby,” “Sliabh na mBan,” “Farewell to the Creeks,” the exciting “Tuileries” by dulcimer legend Richard Fariña and four original compositions by Neal.
Special guests: Olaf Johansson (nyckelharpa) from the group Väsen, Sean Óg Graham (button accordion) from Beoga, Kim Robertson (celtic harp) and Karen Mueller (autoharp). Neal is also joined by many of the Gourd Music artists including Barry Phillips (cello), Shelley Phillips (English horn and oboe), David Brewer (Scottish small pipes) and William Coulter (guitar). Produced by William Coulter.
Internationally acclaimed for her lush harmonies and atmospheric arrangements, Mary Mc Laughlin introduces her latest album. A Gaelic Christmas is a collection of Christmas carols and hymns all sung in the Irish Gaelic language. The material spans several centuries and includes ancient traditional Irish carols such as "The Wexford Carol" as well as Gaelic versions of beloved Victorian carols including "Holy Night," "I Saw Three Ships," and "Silent Night". Guest musicians, including many Gourd artists, enhance Mc Laughlin's rich multi-tracked vocals to create a unique and timeless holiday album.
Guest musicians: Steve Coulter (harp), Barry Phillips (cellos), Steafan Hannigan (percussion, uiilleann pipes), Robin Petrie (hammer dulcimer), Danny Carnahan (octave mandolin) and Bill Coulter (guitar).
Release Date - November 20th
The musical collaboration of the decade, Raising Sand is the sound of two iconic figures stepping out of their respective comfort zones and letting their instincts lead them across a brave new sonic landscape. Despite hailing from distinctly different backgrounds, Alison Krauss and Robert Plant share a maverick spirit and willingness to extend the boundaries of their respective genres. This spirit, expertly honed by producer T Bone Burnett, has resulted in an album pitched three steps beyond some cosmic collision of early urban blues, spacious West Texas country, and the untapped potential of the folk-rock revolution. Supported by the unparalleled musicianship of Marc Ribot, Dennis Crouch, Mike Seeger, Jay Bellerose, Norman Blake, Greg Leisz, Patrick Warren, and Riley Baugus, Plant and Krauss -- as both solo and harmony vocalists -- tackle an intriguing selection of songs from such tunesmiths as Tom Waits, Gene Clark, Sam Phillips, Townes Van Zandt, The Everly Brothers, and Mel Tillis. Raising Sand finds Robert Plant and Alison Krauss exploring popular music's elemental roots while still sounding effortlessly, breath-takingly contemporary.
From the first colonists to the American Revolution and the birth of our republic Hesperus' music reflects a time of new ideas, freedom and vitality. In town and village, parlor and ballroom, from the Appalachian Mountains to the great concert halls hear the musical pulse of early American music performed on a wide variety of folk and early music instruments. Includes: lively country-dance tunes, evocative Shape Note Hymns, old time Appalachian fiddle tunes, graceful European parlor music, French cotillions, divisions and improvisations.
Carol of the Bells is a delightful collection of seasonal favorites and new compositions, spanning the centuries with haunting medieval melodies, lyrical Renaissance dances, playful Celtic jigs, classics by Tchaikovsky and other composers, and decidedly contemporary takes on familiar carols. Creative arrangements feature hammered dulcimer, Celtic harp, guitar, fiddle, recorders, and more -- including rarely heard instruments such as mando cello, mando bass, harp guitar, and cornamuse. Guest performers include Paul Oorts (fretted instruments), Ellen James (Celtic harp), Barbara Heitz (flute), Andrea Hoag (fiddle), John Guillory (recorders and other wind instruments), and other fine musicians.
