Music is served … - Irish American News

January 2006 IRISH AMERICAN NEWS 13The Sharon Shannon CollectionReleased by Compass this monthWith the energy and stage presence of a rocker and the unpretentious traditionalroots of a pub musician, Sharon Shannon has become one of the brightestcreative forces in all of Irish and traditional music. Giving a modern push toancient jigs and reels, blending tunes from other genres and enjoying it all asmuch as her foot-tapping audience, Shannon is by critical consensus the mostadventurous spirit to emerge from Ireland in any genre. In only fifteen yearsshe has risen from the pubs of Galway to global acclaim as the preeminentfemale instrumentalist in Irish music. www.compassrecords.comWired by MichaelMcGoldrickWired, the new album fromflautist, piper, and composer,Michael McGoldrick, is morethan just the long-awaited follow-upto his groundbreakingThe result of three years offocused composition, recording,arranging, and experimentation,Wired takes the many threadsthat define McGoldrick’s musicand splices and re-connectsthem in intriguing new ways.While the mix of styles andvibrations encompassed byWired is indeed refreshing andastonishing, it is not surprisingthat music so exciting andinventive has emerged fromthe visionary imagination ofMichael McGoldrick.www.compassrecords.com2000 album Fused. It is theculmination of musical pursuitsfirst hinted at by his formativedays in Manchester – pursuitsthat have defined him as oneof the most vital and inventivemusicians in today’s British Islesfolk renaissance. From spaciousjazz trappings to surging Indianpercussion, electronic loops tobluegrass banjo, Wired brilliantlyharnesses the rhythmicmomentum of Celtic folk musicwhile bravely pushing into newsonic realms.Celtic Woman, who just completed their second leg of their U.S. tourwere presented by Manhattan Records/EMI with a plaque for PlatinumDVD sales and Gold CD sales on November 8th after their show atCarnegie Hall in New York City. Their self-titled release has been the #1World Music album for the past four months. Their U.S. fall tour was atremendous success with sold out dates in several cities including Boston,Minneapolis, San Diego, Cincinnati, and others. The five-member groupwill return to the U.S. for a spring tour. Photos by Gary Gershoff.At the Carnegie Club in New York City (L-R): Deirdre, Orla, Lisa ofCeltic Woman, David Downes, Musical Director Celtic Woman, Maireadand Chloe of Celtic Woman.