Traditional Music From Cape Breton Island
is a lively set of Scottish-influenced reels,
jigs
, and
marches
recorded before a live audience at the
1993 Cork University Traditional Music Festival
. And while Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, is filled stem to stern with talented musicians, the array of talent here is nevertheless striking. Fiddlers
John Rankin
,
Jerry Holland
Buddy MacMaster
, and his niece
Natalie MacMaster
;
Dave MacIsaac
on guitar and fiddle; pianists
Tracey Dares
and
Hilda Chiasson
; and pipers
Paul MacNeil
Jamie MacInnis
all appear. They turn in a lively set dominated by the deliberate rhythm of the piano that runs almost constantly beneath the fiddle leads. Joined by foot-stomp percussion and acoustic guitar,
Traditional Music
is almost relentlessly energetic. The presence of
MacNeil
MacInnis
' Highland bagpipes offers a different, yet no less exciting sound. The live recording is pristine, the crowd attentive and appreciative, and the frequent whoops from the musicians lets you know just how good of a time everyone at the show was having. ~ Johnny Loftus