iBAM! Chicago - Irish American News

October 2009 IRISH AMERICAN NEWS 13
Tradition
In Review
Bill Margeson
Well, this is just perfect. Mick
Moloney is out with his brand
new album on Compass. Entitled,
If It Wasn’t For The Irish and the
Jews, it is a continuation of the
albums in which Mick is the
acknowledged best—turn of the
20th century Irish-American, Tin
Pan Alley music. The previous
album, McNally’s Row of Flats,
was a hit, and won every award
available in Irish music, including
a couple from this venue!
As usual, with a Moloney album,
the liner notes are worth the
price alone. There
is such an education
to be had here. No
one has done more
than Mick and The
Ward Archives of
Irish Music in Milwaukee
to preserve
this critical part of
both American and
Irish culture and
music. It is truly
Irish-American in
the broadest context.
And, oh, the
history! Blanche
Ring? Nora Bayes?
William Jerome?
Jean Schwartz?
George M. Cohan? All here all
fab all the time. Don’t know
who they are? You should. You
will. The album title also gives
us a real insight into one of the
most important musical dynamics
of the era, with the numerous
collaborations between the Irish
and the Jews. This magical time
was enhanced by great music
created by the conjunction of two
cultures so full of music, history
and creativity. There are detailed
notes on each of the 14 songs,
and a marvelous overview of the
music from Mick. He is joined
by so many wonderful musicians
playing the original melodies and
arrangements. Vince Giordano
and The Nighthawks are perfect
at providing the brass and other
instruments so necessary in creating
a ragtime elegance and sound.
Perfect. Several well-known Irish
musicians also join in. Collaboration.
Just like back in the day.
The bar keeps getting raised
higher and higher in the music,
almost monthly. David Mun-
nelly’s brand new Tight Squeeze
joins The Irish and The Jews in
showing what can now be done
with the music. No longer is
it enough to simply record the
307th version of Pigeon at the
Gate or Bucks of Orranmore. If
you want to play ball at THIS
level you need your “A Game,”
and a fresh approach. What is
that approach? Well, albums like
The Irish and The Jews take a ton
of prep time—no showing up at
the studio, one practice, and away
we go. There is another current,
supposedly major album that
tried this from a collection of really
good Irish musicians, and it
bombed. Awful. But, here’s what
we know. It must be traditionally
grounded. Deeply. It has to
be fresh. It must have superior
musicianship and arrangements.
It must be finely honed. The Irish
and The Jews joins the best in the
business like The Brock-McGuire
Band, Liz Carroll and Munnelly
in being completely and truly trad,
and completely new at
the same time. Sound
impossible? Of course,
it does! This can’t be
written about. It must be
heard. So, go get it! This
album will be around
forever, as it should
be. It is fun, gorgeous
and moving—all at the
same time.
Wow! Mick! You
ARE the boyo!
Rating: Four Harps
for this sure to be award
winner.
Check elsewhere in
the paper for the following,
Read, get up
and be there! Support
the music, or we won’t
have it! Magical stuff
coming in:
There are two eagerly
awaited Irish music concerts
approaching. The
aficionado should mark
the dates, well!
First up are Matt
and Shannon Heaton
returning to Space, the
wonderful new concert
venue in Evanston. The
talented duo from Boston
will be joined in a
special appearance by
Chicago’s Liz Carroll
and fellow Bostonian,
Lissa Schneckenburger. Liz and
Lissa will be playing fiddle, of
course, with Shannon on flute and
vocals, all supported by Matt on
guitar and vocals. A great night.
Wednesday evening, October 14,
at 8pm. The venue is at 1245
Chicago Ave. in Evanston. Phone
number is (847) 492-8860. Ticket
pricing is $12 in advance, $15 at
the door and $22.50 for special
table seating. Big night for the
trad fan. The website is www.
evanstonspace.com
The Brock-McGuire Band
will also be appearing in an intimate
concert on Thursday night,
November 5th at McNally’s Pub
in St. Charles. This band is the
best instrumental group in Irish
music. Based out of Clare, Galway,
and Limerick, there are no
awards the group has not won in
Irish music. The legendary, Paul
Brock and Manus McGuire on
button box and fiddle, respectively,
are joined by All-Ireland
fiddle and concertina player,
Niamh Ni Charra, and the
best all-round pianist in
Ireland, Denis Carey. The
essence of the McNally’s
Irish Arts Series is going
to be close up, intimate
experiences in the very
best of Irish culture—and
no none better to begin it
all than Brock-McGuire.
Appearing as the first act
in the McNally’s Irish
Arts Series, the group
will be in the private
second floor venue, at
8pm. Tickets will be $20
and available at the door
for open seating. Seats
will be available only
for the first 100 guests. Early
arrivals are encouraged. More
announcements will be made
later regarding this major Series
celebrating the Irish arts, but it
may be hard to top this opening
night with the all-star band.
World class.
www.mcnallysirishpub.com.
Pub phone: 630-513-6300.