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Click image below for larger view  RONAN TYNAN With his first solo release since leaving The Irish Tenors, Ronan takes the opportunity to perform songs that allow him to stretch both his vocal chords and his repertoire. Supported by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Ronan performs a collection that mixes religious anthems like How Great Thou Art, with more popular inspirational songs like From A Distance. Once again he draws on the Broadway musical, Man of la Mancha, for the title track of the show from which he earlier recorded the better known Impossible Dream. Among the standout tracks are two songs associated with Ireland. On Phil Coulter's tribute to his father, The Old Man, he combines a heartfelt rendition of the lyrics with a beautiful orchestral background. Amazing Grace, which he sang at President Ronald Reagan's funeral, is beautifully performed and includes a bagpipe to help set the mood. Another song, performed at the funeral by Armed Forces Choir, Mansions of the Lord, is given an emotion laden performance by Ronan. The album's final track, Passing Through, was written by Ronan and Margaret Byrne. It is a tribute to his mother who suffers from Alzheimer's disease and reflects the sadness felt by Ronan at his mother's situation living in the house once filled with laughter. This is a beautifully produced album and shows Ronan's voice in all its magnificence. This CD is due for release on March 15th. We are taking preorders now.
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 SOLAS On this, their sixth album, the music of Solas remains as fresh and dazzling as it was on their first album. All four of the players are masters of their instruments and capable of virtuoso solos, but the magic of Solas is in the ensemble playing. An outstanding example on this album is the set of Polkas, where Mick McCauley, accordion; Winifred Horan, fiddle; Eamon McElholm, guitar and Seamus Egan, flute compliment and give vibrant color to each others playing. On the reel Coconut Dog, which he wrote, Seamus takes up his banjo, and accompanied by Carlos Nuñez on pipes, delivers an exciting and complex tune. Seamus also wrote The Ballerina Jig, played brilliantly and expressively on flute. Mick McCauley truly comes into his own on this album. His accordion work is outstanding on both the fast reels and the lovely The Doireannis Waltz, which he composed. He is also credited with composing one reel, one polka and two jigs. Winnie Horan composed and plays a beautiful aire, Mi Pequena Estrella (Little Star), to which Eamon's guitar accompaniment provides the desired Spanish flavor. The selection of songs reflect the wide range of influences that contribute to Solas' music. Vocalist, Dierdre Scanlon, gives angelic voice to the Appalachian ballad, The Silver Dagger, for which Winnie Horan composed new music. She also performs contemporary American composer, Richard Shindell's On a Sea of Fleur de Lis, in which the singer ironically asks the Virgin Mary to turn her back into a witch. On the traditional song, The Ploughman, her vocals are surrounded by the percussive sounds of the band. Her final vocal track is a duet with Mick McCauley on the traditional ballad The Night Visit. McCauley also sings on the moody, but politically oriented, Erin, by Antje Duvekot, whose songs were featured on their earlier album, The Edge of Silence. New guitarist, Eamonn McElholm also contributes to the vocals on Lowground, by alternative rocker, Casey Niel. By combining the traditional and the original, in both tunes and songs, Solas continues to reinvent themselves and their music and have come up with another winner. |
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