CHRIS MURPHY - The Tinker’s Dream
Teahouse Records THR003
New York born but Los Angeles based violinist, Chris Murphy, is a prolific and varied music maker with a large back catalogue. Here he turns his attention to what is described as “original Irish fiddle music”, and that is exactly what the music on The Tinker’s Dream is.
I had expected solo Irish fiddle music. OK, there are jigs, reels, airs, even a waltz and some songs, but what I hadn’t expected was the wall of sound provided by the numerous players right from the start and throughout the whole album. No two tracks are the same, but all hang together perfectly.
Chris plays violin, guitar and mandolin, and provides the lead vocals on the songs. I love the happy feeling he generates on Wicklow, whist the opening track, Connemara Ponies, is one of the best opening tracks I have heard in a long time.
There’s some really good playing here, not least Chris’s fiddle playing, the uilleann pipes of Patrick D’Arcy and the flute and whistle of Zac Leger. But what stands out for me is the real sense of fun everyone seems to be having and I found myself smiling as a result of the infectiousness of The Tinker’s Dream, something that’s needed in these troubled times.
www.chrismurphymusic.com
Dave Beeby
 |
Many CDs we review are available from The Listening Post. Check to see if this CD is available. The Listening Post is the CD mailorder service of The Living Tradition magazine. This album was reviewed in Issue 120 of The Living Tradition magazine. |