5/7/10

Kevin Burke and Cal Scott Knock Down the Genre Walls


KEVIN BURKE AND CAL SCOTT
Suite
Loftus 004
* * * * *

Since the days of the Bothy Band in the 1970s Kevin Burke has been the standard against which Irish fiddlers are measured. The years and the road have not dulled his creativity or passion; this collaboration with guitarist extraordinaire Cal Scott is among Burke’s finest projects. It also throws us a curveball. It opens ands closes with three crisply rendered sets of reels, jigs, and waltzes, but sandwiched in the middle is “The Irish Session Suite,” four movements that move between traditional music, the tense solemnity of the Russian Romantics, and a mashup of string quartet and a folk ensemble. It forces us to hear well-known session favorites with completely new ears. Burke plays with the spirit of a man possessed. He’s still the standard of excellence in his craft. Catch Burke and Scott at Memorial Hall in Shelburne Falls on May 21. If you are not within driving distance of western Massachusetts check out the full tour schedule at http://www.kevinburke.com/html_concerts.html

Here’s one of several good YouTube clips of Burke and Scott together: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8nPNEnbkOU&feature=related

No comments: