Live in Palma

Amazon.com
Dervish's music was born in countless pub sessions and house parties in County Sligo in Ireland. On Live in Palma, recorded in Spain in 1997, the band members bring the intimacy and electricity of those informal gatherings to CD. Accordionist Shane Mitchell, flautist Liam Kelly, and fiddler Shane McAleer form the melodic heart of the band, and they negotiate the twists and turns of the liveliest reel with aplomb. Mandolin player Brian McDonagh and bouzouki player Michael Holmes provide the driving but still sprightly rhythm, and on selections like "The Trip to Sligo" and "The World's End," they create a complex harmonic framework that is contemporary but still rooted in the old traditions. But as good as the instrumentalists are, the star of the show is vocalist Cathy Jordan, who sings in both Gaelic and English. Her specialty is love songs, and the selections include "Ar Éirinn ní Neosfaiin Cé Hí," a rare ballad that turns out happily; "Edward by Lough Éirn's Shore," a tragic song that gets a lovely a cappella reading; and "Sheila Nee Iyer," a funny tune about a pompous suitor whose high-flown language drives away the girl he is pursuing. Dervish are one of the finest traditional Irish bands to emerge from the 1990s, and Live in Palma shows them at their very best. --Michael Simmons

Tracks:

Packie Duignan's (Jigs)
Intro
Spailpin Fanach (Song)
Slow Reels
Intro
Sheila Nee Iyer (Song)
Intro
The Trip To Sligo (Reels)
Intro
The Hungry Rock
Intro
Ar Eirinn Ni Neosfainn Ce Hi (Song)
Molly And Johnny (Song)
The Green Mountain

Tracks:

I Courted A Wee Girl/Josefin's Waltz (Song)
Intro
Drag Her Round The Road (Reels)
Intro
Maire Mhor (Song)
Intro
I Buried Me Wife And Danced On Top Of Her (Jigs)
Intro
The Hills Of Greanmore (Song)
Intro
The World Ends (Reels)
Peata Beag (Song)
Intro
Pheigin' Mo Chroi (Song)
Intro
Jim Coleman's (Mazurka/Reels)
Happy Birthday To Felip
Intro
Edward Ny Lough Eirn's Shore (Song)
Introductions
Killavil Jigs
Allellu Na Gnamha

Amazon.com

Dervish's music was born in countless pub sessions and house parties in County Sligo in Ireland. On Live in Palma, recorded in Spain in 1997, the band members bring the intimacy and electricity of those informal gatherings to CD. Accordionist Shane Mitchell, flautist Liam Kelly, and fiddler Shane McAleer form the melodic heart of the band, and they negotiate the twists and turns of the liveliest reel with aplomb. Mandolin player Brian McDonagh and bouzouki player Michael Holmes provide the driving but still sprightly rhythm, and on selections like "The Trip to Sligo" and "The World's End," they create a complex harmonic framework that is contemporary but still rooted in the old traditions. But as good as the instrumentalists are, the star of the show is vocalist Cathy Jordan, who sings in both Gaelic and English. Her specialty is love songs, and the selections include "Ar Éirinn ní Neosfaiin Cé Hí," a rare ballad that turns out happily; "Edward by Lough Éirn's Shore," a tragic song that gets a lovely a cappella reading; and "Sheila Nee Iyer," a funny tune about a pompous suitor whose high-flown language drives away the girl he is pursuing. Dervish are one of the finest traditional Irish bands to emerge from the 1990s, and Live in Palma shows them at their very best. --Michael Simmons

Customer Reviews:

A favorite.......2006-11-18

I am a big Dervish fan, and this is my favorite recording. Typical instrumentation for a Dervish song is violin, mandola, bazouki, and flute or whistle (and maybe a touch of accordian?) which makes for a delicate, ethereal sound--almost like a music box but more intense and driving--which is complemented perfectly by Cathy Jordan's high, strong voice. And this recording sounds as good as a studio set, with the extra thrill of a live audience. Simply phenomenal!

Excellent live album of a top Irish group.......2006-08-02

This is an excellent live album by one of my favorite Irish traditional music groups, Dervish. All of the musicians are in fine form and playing excellently. Cathy Jordan's voice is of particular note here, as her soaring vocals in both Irish and English are the delight of the album. The tunes are also excellently performed.

One really nice feature of this live album is that the talking is separated from the actual songs and tunes. This is useful if you don't want to hear the band talking, but I recommend that you listen to the inter-song banter at least once. Cathy says some really funny things. "Girls, if you have one man in your life, you'd better get another, so if one leaves you, you still have one left."

Note: this was recorded shortly before the departure of Shane McAleer (to New Zealand, of all places) and is the last album of Dervish's with his fiddle playing.

Simply the best.......2005-09-06

If you like traditional Irish Celtic music, this album is a must-have. Yes, there are introductions before most of the songs, but that's what a live album is about. If you don't like the introductions, then rip it to your MP3 player and leave the intro tracks off. This is a fantastic album from a fantastic group.

Me pick for the number one traditional Irish Music CD.......2003-03-07

Failte! (Greetings!) It is so hard to say , "the number one CD" without thinking of all of the other wonderful Irish musicians out there. Fill up a pub with all of this talent, keep their mugs filled up, and I'm sure no one will want to make a primate "pissing contest" out of fine music. Everyone would simply be jamming with each other and having fun. However, I do need to get your attention if you love Irish the traditional Irish way, as I do. This CD is a must have or at least a must hear. "Live in Palma" is a summary of previous best works from previous albums. This includes the infamous "Drag Her 'Round the Road," a quaint, old Irish phrase for asking your love for a dance. Things have gone feminist at me household, and I can't mention this phrase out loud without getting "chased 'round me house" by all of the feminists of the clan. This album has the same music as "Decade," but has introductions to songs through a live performance. These usually sell out in Ireland and Europe, and are a real experience. Cathy Jordan dresses like an Irish Gypsy and moves to the rhythm and music, as well as plays Irish drum (bodhran) and bones. This is infectious. Crowds respond with at least toe tapping, if not clapping, standing and moving, or getting in the aisles and dancing. The "Pheigin' Mo Chroi" track on disc 2 is a good example of the chemistry between Cathy and audiences for a Gaelic Karoakie. Several band members have won all Ireland awards for their instruments, and as a group Dervish represents immense individual talent. It is the team work that sets this group apart and makes them THE group all new groups are now being compared to in traditional Irish Music. Cathy's golden voice, excellent flute, fiddle and button accordian lead (and sometimes double and triple leads that sound like one musician and instrument) and a three person team on Octave Mandolin, Bouzouki (deep voiced Octave Mandolin) and a specially low tuned 12 string guitar weaving a tapestry of counterpoint notes with each other and the lead, distinguishes this group with their own unique sound and arrangements. "Midsummer's Night" has come out since the Palma album with new material and trademark sound. Most recently (June 2003) "Spirit" has come out with the same trademark Dervish sound and experiments in new directions. Please take these albums out for a "drag round the road." Slan!

Outstanding.......2002-11-11

This set of 2 CDs would appeal to most fans of traditional Irish music. I am not a huge fan of most Irish ballads but Cathy Jordan is awesome, I believe her voice would appeal not only to traditionalists but also to those with more mainstream tastes. Their instrumentals are great and for me were the highlight of this set. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars was I did not care for so much talking between songs. After repeated listenings the banter gets a bit tiresome, after all, who wants to hear them sing Happy Birthday to some guy named Felip again and again? Still, that's what the skip button on CD players is for, if you are looking for great Irish traditonal music done in a very accessible way, then look no further.

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