Description
Cincinnati's premier Celtic band celebrates its tenth year by delivering high-energy instrumentals and haunting ballads with a unique and personal style. Fiddler, Susan Cross, is the founder of the Riley School of Irish Music. Cindy Matyi, on flute and concertina, is the founder of the Cincinnati Celtic Music and Cultural Festival and a nationally known Celtic artist whose work is now touring with the American Celtic exhibition. Stephen Matyi, on bouzouki, guitar and banjo, is also well known for his photography of musicians. They are joined by Tim Benson on uillean pipes, flute and whistle, who also plays with the Portersharks and Katie Else, vocals, formerly of Julia's Feathers.
The members of Silver Arm have been regulars in the Southern Ohio Celtic music scene for nearly two decades. Their first CD “The Beechtree” was produced by Ged Foley. They are also featured on a compilation disk in Ireland “Trees Are Life” which is being sold to support reforestation efforts. Their new CD “Never Despair” features lively Irish dance music, beautiful ballads and Swedish and Romanian selections along with the Irish music.
Reviews
"Gentle, healing music..unusual textures contrast nicely with the more familiar Irish pieces that remain Silver Arm's forte... lives up to its title in a warmly played, sweetly sung set..." -Cincinnati Enquirer
"While the band revels in traditional reels and jigs, its arrangements remain original and modern....the group's most intricate musical effort yet, creatively weaving banjo and oboe with such traditional Celtic instruments as bouzouki, pipes, whistles, flutes and concertina..." Cincinnati Post
"Never Despair" mixes tender balladry with up-tempo, adrenalized Irish dance tunes.... a lovely example of refined traditionalism spotlighted by singer Katie Else's lilting, emotive vocals and the musicians' often spellbinding playing ability.... City Beat
"This is a wonderful album of Celtic music with an Eastern European influence. This band is based in Cincinnati, Ohio, and I had several opportunities to see them live before buying the CD. The jigs, reels and polkas are all very good, with "Swedish Medley" and "East European Medley" being particular favorites of mine. "As I Roved Out" has some of the saddest lyrics I have ever heard. I'd recommend this album to anyone who enjoys Celtic music and is looking for something solid and traditional, but a little bit different." -Arachne
Tracks
1) Song: The Female Smuggler
2) Swedish Medley: Sol Polska / Magdalena Polska
3) Slip Jigs: Give Us a Drink of Water / The Cock & the Hen / A Blast of Wind
4) Song: As I Roved Out
5) Polkas: O' the Britches Full of Stitches / Jer O'Connell's / Din Tarrant's
6) East European Medley: Bartok Romanian Melodies / Macedonian Tune
7) Song: Come Up the Stairs
8) Hornpipes: Grier's #16 / Cooley's
9) Air/Reels: Anach Cuain / Easter Rising / Collier's Reel / Shaskeen Reel
10) Song: Seven Gypsies
11) Jig/Reel: The Bank of Turf / Limerick Lasses
12) Reels: Dogs Among the Bushes / Cronin's / Sergeant Early's Dream