Kevin Crawford
is one of the most gifted flutists currently playing
traditional Irish
music; his work as a member of
Moving Cloud
and, currently, with
Lunasa
has garnered him praise from critics on both sides of the Atlantic, and his debut solo album was, if anything, even better than his ensemble recordings. For his sophomore effort he elected to create a program of fiddle and flute duets with fiddlers he particularly admires, and the resulting lineup is very impressive: old-school legends like
Tommy Peoples
and
Frankie Gavin
as well as young masters like
Sean Smyth
(
Crawford
's colleague from
) and the exquisitely tasteful
Martin Hayes
are included.
and his cohorts are accompanied by guitarist
Arty McGlynn
, keyboardist
Carl Hession
, and, occasionally, bodhran player
Jim Higgins
. The music simply couldn't be any better: On
"Tae the Beggin'"
Gavin
prance virtuosically atop
Hession
's sprightly piano; the slow air
"Sliabh Geal gCua"
features stately and understated fiddling by
's
Manus McGuire
; and on a charming reel set consisting of
"The Bag of Spuds"
"Matt Peoples,"
Hayes
makes a powerful case for the viola as a
Celtic
instrument. In an interesting departure,
plays another slow air with
chamber orchestra
accompaniment. A spectacular album from a young virtuoso whose best work may yet be ahead of him. ~ Rick Anderson