Spillane

Spillane

ASIN: B000005IYR

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Before John Zorn broke with the Nonesuch label to form his own record companies, he recorded a series of excellent titles there, of which Spillane may be the best. The title cut temporarily removes the moratorium on the use of the phrase tour de force; it splices dozens of brief musical motifs to tell a plotless tale of haunting, affectionately tongue-in-cheek film-noir pastiche. "Forbidden Fruit" is a deeply intricate, speed-induced collaboration with Kronos Quartet, which includes Japanese vocalist Ohta Hiromi and turntablist Christian Marclay. And "Two-Lane Highway," the track that makes this album a true must-have, is a kind of blues concerto written for guitarist Albert Collins, who is prodded willingly through a selection of tight settings, matched riff for riff by Robert Quine's heavily echoed six-string, and supported by, among others, dual drummers Ronald Shannon Jackson and Bobby Previte and organist Big John Patton. --Marc Weidenbaum

Spillane,John Zorn,Nonesuch,Avant-Garde,Classical Crossover,Jazz,Jazz Music,Modern Composition,Pop,Structured Improvisation

Grief Never Grows Old { Various Artists }
Average customer rating:

WHAT A SAD SONG!

Touching grief

Happy With Purchase.

Aid for tsunami relief

Where is Jon Anderson & Rick Wakeman??

Grief Never Grows Old { Various Artists }

Manufacturer: Umvd Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Guilty Pleasures

The Studio Albums 1967-1968

Guilty

ASIN: B0007LNJIW
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

Grief Never Grows Old (Single Version)
Grief Never Grows Old (Orchestral Version)
Grief Never Grows Old (Choral Version)

Customer Reviews:

WHAT A SAD SONG!.......2006-06-06

GRIEF NEVER GROWS OLD IS A VERY SAD SONG EVERYTIME I HEAR IT IT MAKES ME SO SAD!

BARRY & ROBIN SOUND GREAT ON IT SO DOES THE OTHER SINGERS ON IT!

FROM KIRSTEN

Touching grief.......2005-12-15

For anyone who understands the depth of their own personal grief, this cd helps you remember. But, surprisingly, it is also empowering to remember the universality of grief. Both track 1, with the two surviving Gibb Brothers and the track 3, the melding of the children's voices, were powerful and touching. The orchestal version on track 2 was only okay.
I'm glad that I have this in my collection. I wish the recordings were longer, though.

Happy With Purchase........2005-08-20

I purchased this CD having heard two versions of it on "Classic FM TV" for the first time.The first of the three versions by a host of famous performers is not bad.The second and third versions, orchestral and then choral, are much better and the reason why I purchased this CD.

Aid for tsunami relief.......2005-03-11

I bought this album from AmazonUK as soon as it was released, after having heard the title track online.

It didn't surprise me to hear Barry & Robin Gibb lend their voices to the project, as they have long been involve with many charity functions throughout their career. Other musicians lending their time and voices include Boy George, Sir Cliff and Brian Wilson.

The album has 3 tracks, with different variations of the "Grief Never Grows Old" song. The first is the one that I had heard online the day of the album's release - the voices blend throughout the melody to give a message of hope through loss.

The second version is entirely instrumental and shows the depth of emotion by the very tune itself.

The 3rd and final cut is a chorale version, which is quite good also.

The proceeds of the album are being donated to assist those who lost their homes, possessions and families as a result of the tsunami that struck along the Indian Ocean during the holiday season.

Where is Jon Anderson & Rick Wakeman??.......2005-03-06

The "Yes World" web site made note of this release having Jon Anderson & Rick Wakeman contributing on this "Tsunami Relief" effort. Being a huge "YES" fan I sent off for the release. I've just received it and have played it over and over numerous times.....where is Jon's vocals and where is Rick's "Korg Synthesiser" part??? The song is O.K. and I guess my $$$ has gone to the relief effort but I was hoping for at least 1 line where I could tell Jon was singing and some kind of riff where you could tell Rick was playing. Oh well....again "Yes" gets no respect. If you're a Yes fan....pass on this!!!!!

Average customer rating:

Best CD Mix of Balkan & Irish Music with C. Euro Vocals
Bringing it all back home
Took weeks to leave my CD player!

East Wind
Andy Irvine & Davy Spillane
Manufacturer: Green Linnet
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Irish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000001JB5
Release Date: 1993-01-05

Tracks:

Chetvorno Horo
Bear's Rock
Dance of Suleiman
Illyrian Dawn
Pride of Macedonia
Antice
Two Steps to the Bar
Kadana
Hard on the Heels

Album Details

Unavailable Since 1994. Features Vocals of Marta Sebestyn (Of Musikas Fame) and Musicians that Feature in the 'Riverdance' Show. Irvine Was a Founder Member of Planxty.

Customer Reviews:

Best CD Mix of Balkan & Irish Music with C. Euro Vocals.......2005-04-12

I love all these regional styles of music and singing *separately* ... therefore I had to have this CD ... where they are combined to experience this new phenomenon. The experiment is not definable but it works! It works superbly ... due to the depth and range of musicians and vocalists who have all achieved notice on the world music stage. Given the rise in status of Celtic music in the past 10 or more years, and since the Bulgarian Female Choirs/Choruses have done world tours -- the 5/16, 7/16, 9/16, and 11/16 rhythms have captivated many listeners wherever they have performed. This mix of music is fresh and exciting, very much alive and dynamic. The fact that Bill Whelan of River Dance fame helped produce it and adds his talent on keyboards and piano is a major plus. Andy Irvine of Planxty fame who is credited with having revived Old Time Irish music plays the bouzouki and hurdy gurdy with great talent and total committment. Davy Spillane provides the uillean pipes and low whistling music to round out the golden Irish touch. Nikola Parov adds more of the Balkan flavors playing the gadulka, kaval, gaida (bagpipes), and bouzouki. It is further spiced up with multiple percussions, saxophone, fiddle music and the accordion. The uniquely different mix of instruments proves highly successful. It creates a most pleasing sound, anyone who loves the original regional music will feel quite at home with this combination. Combine these tempting instruments with the ethereal haunting female vocals of Marta Sebestyen who opened the eyes and ears of the world to traditional Hungarian and Transylvanian songs and tunes ... this CD was destined to be a stellar musical production. It will not disappoint anyone who loves any of the individual styles of music or instruments which are featured in this production. Most highly recommended.
Erika Borsos (erikab93)

Bringing it all back home.......1999-10-09

This is a very fine recording by some of Ireland's top musicians. The project is the brainchild of Andy Irvine (of Patrick Street) and is a labour of love resulting from his youthful tour of Eastern Europe. Bringing in Bill Whelan as arranger, Irvine assembled a group capable of any task to tackle and reveal the odd meter rhythms and melodies he encountered in his travels. This music soars even as it trips up the ear and dancer unaccustomed to it's beat. Davey Spillane (once of Moving Hearts, and a brilliant composer/performer in his own right) adds uillean pipes to the mix, Marta Sebastien (of Muzsikas) sings original language vocals on the two non-instrumental numbers. Most of the rest of the crew are Spillane's studio familiars and well able to render traditional and contemporary music with vitality and vigor. Check out the Bulgarian slow air "Illyrian Dawn", as beautiful as any known to Ireland, and made all the more so by Spillane's passionate piping. Get out your feet and move to "Chetvorno Horo" or "Pride of Macedonia" - even if you can dance to it you may find yourself stopping just to listen. Fine performances, fine material, fine production, and a wonderful bridge to the music of Eastern Europe for Celtophiles everywhere. The only reason I hold back a star is that Andy Irvine didn't find a song around which to wrap his own sweet voice - but maybe that's harsh - make it 5 stars. And then go out and make these guys and gals rich!

Took weeks to leave my CD player!.......1999-08-15

Bought this as am Riverdance fanatic. Wasn't even remotely disappointed. Can't say enough good about this. Enchanting, exciting, refreshing, still not tired of it. Never will be. May be other CDs of the gendre as good; absolutely none better.

Average customer rating:

i've played it over and over and OVER

M Squad; Mickey Spillane's Mike
Original Soundtrack
Manufacturer: Collectables
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Thriller: Richard Diamond
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Hawaiian Eye
The Music from Peter Gunn (1958-1961 TV Series)

ASIN: B00005B526
Release Date: 2001-05-08

Tracks:

M-Squad (Theme) - Stanley Wilson
Chase - Stanley Wilson
Search - Stan Wilson
Phantom Raiders - Stanley Wilson
Lonely Beat - Stan Wilson
Juke Box - Stanley Wilson
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Discovery - Stanley Wilson
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Customer Reviews:

i've played it over and over and OVER.......2007-05-17

I hated the tv show (and Lee Marvin), but boy oh boy did I love the soundtrack.

Average customer rating:

raw and powerful - two masters at their best

Forgotten Days
Davy Spillane
Manufacturer: Davy Spillane
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Uilleann Pipes of Ireland
The Sea Of Dreams
Shadow Hunter
Pipedreams
A Celtic Peace

ASIN: B00005MB45
Release Date: 2001-12-04

Tracks:

Pigeon on the Gate/Within a Mile of Dublin
Fermoy Lassies/Steam Packet
Lark in the Morning/Pipe in the Hob
Farewell to Connaught/Cornie Is Coming
Lucy Campbell/Trim the Velvet/The Abbey Reel
Cda Reel/Ravelled Hank of Yark
Trip Over the Mountain
Golden Eagle/The Rights of Man
Lord Gordons Reel
Cailleach an Airgead/CeannabhB
Green Fields of America/The Geese in the Bog
T in Arrears/Hardiman the Fiddler
Port Na Bp

Customer Reviews:

raw and powerful - two masters at their best.......2002-03-20

Davy and Kevin are two of the finest players of Irish music today, and their abilities are well displayed on this album. The selection of tunes is excellent, with many well-known tunes and a few lesser known gems. The instruments play unaccompanied, making for more intimate recording, and a more traditional sound than anything Davy's recorded in the past. The playing is tight and crisp, and not too fast. Davy makes good use of the drones and regulators, especially on the slow air that finishes the album. If you're looking for raw, traditional sound, this album is one of the best.

Average customer rating:

Magnificent
Beautiful, but not traditional Irish
A sea of beautiful moods.
I'm hooked!
DAVY SPILLANE BLACKSHEEP OF THE PIPERS.

The Sea Of Dreams
Davy Spillane
Manufacturer: Covert Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Uilleann Pipes of Ireland
Forgotten Days
Pipedreams
A Celtic Peace
A Place Among the Stones

ASIN: B00000ADFA
Release Date: 1998-09-15

Tracks:

River Of Gems
Big Sea Ballad
The Dreaming Of The Bones
Daire's Dream
Inagh
Midnight Walker
Danny Boy 'The Derry Air'
The Dreaming Of The Bones (Instrumental)
Equinox
The Sea Of Dreams
The May Morning Dew
My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme From 'Titanic')-Pop Mix

Amazon.com

There's something to be said for specialization in any field--and that includes the music biz. Davy Spillane plays Uilleann pipes, which isn't exactly like playing the bass. You don't get calls to every session. But if you're a world-class Uilleann pipe player of Spillane's rank, the likes of Van Morrison, Sinead O'Connor, and Elvis Costello come calling when a particle of piping is required. The Sea of Dreams finds the veteran woodwind player continuing to explore his muse as a leader. Unwaveringly cinematic in scope, Spillane's music conjures images of rolling hills and crashing waves. O'Connor, who employed Spillane on her 1987 Gospel Oak EP, returns the favor here, singing "The Dreaming of the Bones" and "Danny Boy." That latter warhorse is particularly striking; say what you will about Sinead, she's always been a commanding interpreter. Her presence brings this Irishman's ethereal music down to earth, where at least a portion of it belongs. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

Magnificent.......2004-09-05

I fell in love with Davey's music while watching Riverdance, but I didn't know how to find out more about him. I finally found and bought Sea of Dreams and I can honestly say that it's beautiful, haunting music that grips your heart and takes you to Ireland. My great-grandmother from County Cork would be in seventh Heaven if she was alive to hear his music. Thank You, Davey!

Beautiful, but not traditional Irish.......2003-09-16

"Sea of Dreams" is moody, ethereal and outright spacey. If you like Nightnoise and Enya, you'll love this CD. If you want anything resembling traditional Irish reels and jigs, you won't find it here. Contemporary keyboard sounds and dirge-like tempos water down the Irish tone of the arrangements. Davy Spillane is outrageously talented and a master technician but I'm personally disappointed to see him move farther and farther afield with this....Irish meditation music.

A sea of beautiful moods........2001-04-13

I have heard the powerful pipes of Davy Spillane almost everywhere. With Enya, with Maire Brennan, on the original Riverdance, on "Celtic Solstice" with Paul Winter, and on Adiemus's "The Eternal Knot". He seems to me to be the best uillean piper of Ireland, but this is the first time I've heard his own music, and I am very impressed. "The Sea of Dreams", starts with the very uplifting "River of Drums", in which the pipes play a very slow, flowing rythm. The rest of the music continues that mood, with the guitar and keyboard adding to the mood. Sinead O'Conner even plays a role in "Dreaming of the Bones" and "Danny Boy 'The Derry Air'"(she does well with traditional music) on track 7. Track seven actually combines Danny Boy and the Londonderry Air, two songs with the same tune, but different lyrics. All of the tracks of this album provide a dazzling blend of Celtic and pop music, with the harmonies and melodies of the low whistle and uillean pipes. I adored the traditional sounds of "Inagh",the dramatic sounds of "Equinox", and the very simple, poignant "The Morning Dew". One of the best tracks is "Midnight Walker", one of Spillane's greatest hits. It's a musical piece that gave good influence to Paul Winter, and was the prequal to "Dawnwalker". Spillane has done well in influencing the musicians and artists he has worked with, for his music brings great wonder and inspiration to those who hear. Those who love the unique sounds of the uillean pipes and want soothing music well feel at home hear.

I'm hooked!.......2001-01-04

I first became aware of Davy Spillane and his hauntingly beautiful music when I saw the movie "Wurthering Heights" with Ralph Fiennes. I was hooked from the first note. I was disappointed to learn that the sound track was not available to purchase, however, I did purchase the "Sea of Dreams" CD, and have become a forever fan of Mr. Spillane's. I will continue to purchase his CD's both past and future.

DAVY SPILLANE BLACKSHEEP OF THE PIPERS........2000-11-05

The opening track on Sea of Dreams River of Gems is Davys second undertaking of this tune also Daires dream and May morning Dew have appeared before on recordings,the first two tracks I mention are previously available on Davys first solo album Atlantic Bridge,although the production here is far superior to the origional recordings,the track May Morning Dew previously appeared on the Moving Hearts final album The Storm a milestone in Irish music.Midnight Walker was first recorded on the album Pipedreams,and Equinox appears on Shadow Hunter.This leaves us with Big Sea Ballad,Dreaming Of The Bones featuring Sinead O Connor on vocals,the beauitiful haunting Inagh,Danny Boy also featuring Sinead and the title track The Sea Of Dreams,but I must admit here its the bonus track which sticks out for me,My Heart Will Go On(theme from Titanic minus Celene Dion).All in all I would have to say because I have followed Davys career through out the 80s and have purchased everything in the past this album comes across to me personally as a sort of compilation of remixed Davy Spillane tunes,this is not to say I am dissappointed with this offering,this album is a fantastic tribute to the Irish Uilleann Pipes played by the greatest piper in the world today,Davy has singlehandedly taken Irish music by the scruff of the neck(to coin a phrase)and shown the world what an emotional instrument the Uilleann Pipes are,I take my hat off to you Davy Spillane,continued success.

Average customer rating:

Good & Hard to Classify
Three extended works.
Awwwwww yeah.
One of my Favorite Albums of all time, defintely on my DiD
Three Remarkable Pieces

Spillane
John Zorn
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000005IYR
Release Date: 1991-07-01

Tracks:

Spillane
Two-Lane Highway: Preacher Man - White Line Fever - Nacogdoches Gumbo- East Texas Freezeout - San Angelo Release - etc.
Two-Lane Highway: Hico Killer - Long Mile To Houston
Forbidden Fruit

Amazon.com

Before John Zorn broke with the Nonesuch label to form his own record companies, he recorded a series of excellent titles there, of which Spillane may be the best. The title cut temporarily removes the moratorium on the use of the phrase tour de force; it splices dozens of brief musical motifs to tell a plotless tale of haunting, affectionately tongue-in-cheek film-noir pastiche. "Forbidden Fruit" is a deeply intricate, speed-induced collaboration with Kronos Quartet, which includes Japanese vocalist Ohta Hiromi and turntablist Christian Marclay. And "Two-Lane Highway," the track that makes this album a true must-have, is a kind of blues concerto written for guitarist Albert Collins, who is prodded willingly through a selection of tight settings, matched riff for riff by Robert Quine's heavily echoed six-string, and supported by, among others, dual drummers Ronald Shannon Jackson and Bobby Previte and organist Big John Patton. --Marc Weidenbaum

Customer Reviews:

Good & Hard to Classify.......2006-11-04

I first discovered this album as an LP which came into the radio station which, at the time, employed me. It did not fit our format, and so was never aired, and our program director eventually gave it to me, knowing that my musical taste is eclectic to the point of eccentricity. I listened to it at home out of curiosity, and was more than intrigued. The album is the work of John Zorn, who is a highly respected avant-garde musician, whose music is hard to classify. The title track, "Spillane" is, in my opinion, mostly related to jazz, and is intended, I think, to be a generalized musical impression of the "worlds" of the late Mickey Spillane in particular, and a certain level of hardboiled private eye fiction (and Movies!) in general. In this aim it succeeds admirably, using music, narration and sound effects which are at times episodic, and more often layered. Much influence from contemporary Japanese pop culture, which Zorn obviously very much admires, is present in the additional tracks, one of which evokes for me a subtly creepy Japanese vampire story. This music is not for least-common-denominator taste. Some might not even call much of it music. But it is undeniably art, and a very rich experience in it way.

Three extended works........2006-03-24

"Spillane" is an illustration of John Zorn's "file card" compositional technique-- the notion is really quite simple, Zorn immersed himself in a subject matter and produces snippets of music, arranged on index cards (as a matter of convenience originally) and then recorded as snippets that were then juxtaposed together. The extended work featured on this album ("Spillane") is backed by two further pieces-- a study in guitarist Albert Collins that is more a series of movements design to serve as a springboard for him ("Two Lane Highway") and a string quartet, turntable and voice piece composed in tribute to Japanese film star Ishihara Yujiro ("Forbidden Fruit").

It should be noted that Zorn's two extended, early file card compositions have been assembled remastered as and released as "Godard/Spillane" (titled after the two extended works) with a third file card composition. In the case of both albums, the material other than "Spillane" is not available elsewhere, so both are worthwhile purchases and both have value.

"Spillane" is a reflection on the work of Mickey Spillane and the Mike Hammer novels. Zorn takes the noir atmosphere painted by the novels and the music juxtaposes through various passages, from ambient scapes (often featuring narrations by John Lurie and/or Robert Quine) to frantic guitar workouts (featuring Bill Frisell), loungey jazz (cocktail piano from Anthony Coleman) and r&b (check Zorn's alto blowing on the faux-"Night Train" motif towards the beginning of the piece). The net result is a constantly shifting backdrop over which some fine performances are turned by pretty much everyone-- it's like "Torture Garden", only slower, more relaxed, and with more patient development and thematic unity. A lot of people find this to be among Zorn's most powerful work-- I actually find that while it works nicely as an extended and narrative piece, and it certainly sets an atmosphere as well as (if not better) anything else out there, it lacks some of the real immediacy and impact of Zorn's greatest works.

"Two Lane Highway" is quite a different piece-- written as a presentation for Albert Collins-- Zorn utilizes a set of his regulars (guitarist Robert Quine, pianist Wayne Horvitz and drummer Bobby Previte) along with a handful of jazz luminaries (organist Big John Patton, drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson and bassist Melvin Gibbs) to whip up an avant-blues stew within and over which Collins could work his magic. Zorn again had immersed himself in the subject matter, and his composition shows a remarkable inclination to meet the artist halfway-- while it is not exactly a straight blues per se, it is about as on-center as anything Zorn has ever done as it musically paints the picture of Collins travelling through Texas. It also, by the way, proves to be as exciting as anything too-- Collins seems to take nicely to the environment as soloist and the backing band is about as good as they get, whipping together a funky, bluesy stew over an extended (over 18 minutes) piece that feels like it ends too quickly.

In many ways, the closer "Forbidden Fruit" paints the path for zorn's work in the last decade or so-- the Kronos Quartet, augmented by turntablist Christian Marclay and vocalist Ohta Hiromi, perform a piece that in feel and sound very similar to "The String Quartets"-- frantic energy passages that find the strings exploding against each other (and occasionally Marclay providing a completely unpredictable element) interchange with long tone arco playing creating a platform for Hiromi's largely spoken vocal. All in all, the piece ends up being not quite as satisfying as Zorn's then not-yet-written string works, but it is an intriguing and reasonably interesting listen.

One really nice thing is a set of detailed liner notes drawn from interview with Zorn-- it paints a nice picture of the composer now nearly twenty years ago.

"Spillane" is, however, overall a rewarding listen, and it may be one of the more viable entry points into Zorn's catalog. While I feel many other of his works are both superior and as or nearly as accessible ("Naked City", "Kristaalnacht" and virtually anything by Masada all spring immediately to mind), this one is a worthwhile pickup. Recommended.

Awwwwww yeah........2004-03-20

John Zorn, Spillane (Nonesuch, 1987)

Spillane was the first Zorn album I was ever introduced to, when my radio show co-host put on the twenty-six minute title track when we needed to take a break. I was instantly hooked, and have been ever since (it's been about fifteen years now).

Spillane is a jazz record, but not a jazz record like anything you've ever heard. This is the style that would eventually morph into Zorn's spinoff project Naked City; lots of sampling, complex rhythms that suddenly cut out and then pop back in, structure that requires a dissertation to dissect. It's the aural equivalent of a Jean-Luc Godard film. The title track is an absolute must for all fans of... well, okay, for everyone.

The second side of the album is a little more traditional, but not much. It's more recognizably John Zorn, if that makes any sense. Ghosts of bop float through Zorn's avant-garde style, lending the whole thing an oddly nostalgic feel, but again, it's unmistakably jazz.

Lovely stuff, perhaps Zorn's finest moment. Highly recommended. **** ½

One of my Favorite Albums of all time, defintely on my DiD.......2003-12-24

DiD- Desert Island Discs
Never before have i come a across such a unique album that moves in three different musical directions. The first title track is like a long movie trailer for a Mike Hammer movie, except with all the visuals taken out--truly a surreal experience. the second track, Two-Lane Highway, divided into two parts is a brillant blues-odyssey-through-Texas track starring the great Albert Collins, not only does it feature his brilliant guitar playing, but humor, too. the last track is my favorite, Forbidden Fruit, which has a Japanese woman speaking over the Kronos Quartet's moving strings and Christian Marclay scratching string records. John Zorn is a true original and listening to Spillane feels like listening to a radio with the station always changing. sure, the tracks are long, but if you can't sit through one section of any of these songs, you should have yourself treated for A.D.D. Zorn is famous for saying "if you don't like my music, wait a few seconds 'cause you don't know which direction my music is heading next".
also included in the liner notes is a brilliant interview with John Zorn in which he explains his methods in detail and the lyrics to Spillane and Forbidden Fruit, both in English and Japanese and to top that off, Pictures of the People who inspired the tracks. What more could you ask for?

Three Remarkable Pieces.......1998-05-19

Three compostions by John Zorn and co. The first, "Spillane," is an homage to the pulp writer narrated by John Lurie and punctuated with cheap, lurid, brilliant jazz. The second, "Two-Lane Highway," features the guitar of Allbert Collins and smokes the difference between jazz and blues. The final piece, "Forbidden Fruit," is a noisy, celebratory collaboration with the Kronos Quartet that stretches the mindspace a bit. Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Awesome blend of sounds
These are not your father's Uilleann pipes
World Bridge
Bend those notes Davy!

Atlantic Bridge
Davy Spillane
Manufacturer: Tara Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Irish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

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Out of the Air
Pipedreams
Shadow Hunter
Forgotten Days

ASIN: B000001JAY
Release Date: 1995-07-13

Tracks:

Davy's Reels
Atlantic Bridge
Daire's Dream
Tribute To Johnny Doran
O'Neill's Statement
By The River Of Gems
Sliverish
The Pigeon On The Gate
In My Life
Lansdowne Blues
Track 11

Customer Reviews:

Awesome blend of sounds.......2003-07-31

This is a magnificent blend of traditional Irish uillean pipes and mainly bluegrass but also some country and western style guitar.

Celtic fusion varies in how it works. At times it can be great and at times you just want one or the other. But on this album the combination is superb especially the banjo and the pipes.

Davy's Reels is an oustanding start to the album with it's movement from a traditional sounding pipe melody to a riveting country and western guitar passage. Atlantic Bridge is the best track for me with some nice work from dobro, pipes and banjo.
Davy's stunning solo Tribute To Johnny Doran and the banjo heavy Silverish are the other two best tracks in my opinion but everybody could have a favourite. The last track Landsdowne Blues is another outstanding fusion.

This album is an unforgettable listen. The only poor track is the abysmal adaptation of In My Life which sounds like one of those revolting panpipe moods albums. There's also a rather pointless ten second bonus track with a brief guitar passage from Davy. However, that aside this album can be played over and over.

These are not your father's Uilleann pipes.......2002-03-13

If you've seen or heard Riverdance, you're already familiar with Davy Spillane's hauntingly beautiful Uilleann pipe and low whistle melodies. If you're hoping to find more of that kind of music, "Atlantic Bridge" is probably not the CD you want.

I found this out only after I bought the CD. What I heard instead was a really interesting blend of various musical genres, among them bluegrass, jazz and, yes, traditional Irish piping and whistling. You'll notice this quickly. Track 1, "Davy's Reels", starts out with a conventional Irish sound. Then, about halfway through the track, the country-western guitar kicks in.

The title track, "Atlantic Bridge", literally bridges the old and the new worlds, starting with a lively, finger-snapping, guitar-picking tune, which eventually turns into a pipe and banjo duet. This is one of my favorite tunes on the CD.

If you're in the mood for a lively pipe jig, try "Tribute to Johnny Doran". For more pipes and banjos, try "Sliverish". For the blues, there's "Landsdowne Blues", which my mother says sounds like the kind of music she listened to forty or fifty years ago, when she was growing up.

"By the River of Gems" features some breathtakingly beautiful piping, Riverdance-style, and ends with another pipe and banjo duet. (A shorter and much more beautiful pipe-only version of this track appears on Davy's 1998 CD, "The Sea of Dreams".)

And then there's "In My Life", the Lennon/McCartney tune like you've never heard it before, featuring the low whistle and a hammer dulcimer, both played by Davy.

A final note: there's a twelve-second untitled bonus track at the end with a short snatch of guitar music. What it's for is anyone's guess. I keep wondering if perhaps something got left out during the recording session.

All in all, this CD's a good buy, if you're interested in unconventional Celtic music.

World Bridge.......2000-07-17

The more I listen to Celtic music, and its musicians the less easy it is to label any music. This album does more than to bridge the Atlantic, it's more like a "home is where your ears are" kind of experience.

Davy and all of his guest artists seem to transend themselves, playing as one person. Davy's virtuoso handling of the uilleann pipes is as superb as always. At one moment it's a wind instrument, at another it's a violin.

I bought this and two other Davy Spillane albums on faith, based on his haunting solo in Riverdance. Now you show some faith. Stop reading the reviews and wrap your ears around this wonderful music.

Bend those notes Davy!.......1999-07-12

Come on - what can I say?? A master piece from the master of the pipes himself. This earlier recording of Davy's, puts you right up there on the moors wishing you had a pint of Guinness in you hand. Contains Daire's Dream, the best song Davy ever played. What can I say, BUY IT NOW, how ever have you walked God's green earth without it?

Average customer rating:

A Masterpiece Sampler
Eclectic Feast

Late in the 20th Century, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Percussion | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

John Adams - Harmonielehre · The Chairman Dances · Tromba lontana · Short Ride in a Fast Machine / Sir Simon Rattle
John Adams: The Dharma at Big Sur/My Father Knew Charles Ives
Adams: Violin Concerto/Shaker Loops

ASIN: B000005IYQ
Release Date: 1991-06-25

Tracks:

White Man Sleeps #1 - Kevin Volans
The Chairman Dances - John Adams
Pilentze Pee - John Adams
Spillane - John Zorn
Hattie Wall - Hamiet Bluiett
This New Generation - Wayne Horvitz
Garota De Ipanema - Antonio Carlos Jobim
John Somebody - Scott Johnson
Company Part I - Philip Glass
Company Part II - Philip Glass
Ionisation - Edgar Varese
Chohun And Gyamaduclu - Edgar Varese
Tong Geret - Idjah Hadidjah
Drumming Part IV - Steve Reich

Customer Reviews:

A Masterpiece Sampler.......2001-08-12

This CD is a real classic among enthusiasts of Late 20th Century Music. It offers jazz, contemporary, and even minimalist genres of music. John Somebody started out as my favorite selection from this CD many years ago, as it makes a good example of spoken word turned into music. In addition, the Philip Glass selections make a wonderful introduction to his music. I could go on and on about all of the music on this Sampler, as all of it is excellent.

I highly recommend this CD to anyone who is either an enthusiast of late 20th century music or anyone who is curious. My disclaimer, however, comes in that this is not for someone who is not open to new things. Some of the music on this CD can be like an acquired taste. In the meantime, enjoy!

Eclectic Feast.......2000-03-24

Every piece on this album is strikingly original. In fact, I have purchased 4 other albums from the artists on this CD just to hear more of what they have to offer! Should appeal to lovers of world music, jazz and classical.

Average customer rating:

Best CD Mix of Balkan & Irish Music with C. Euro Vocals
Bringing it all back home
Took weeks to leave my CD player!

Eastwind
Andy Irvine , and Davy Spillane
Manufacturer: Tara Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Celtic | International | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Folk | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00000IHCM
Release Date: 1996-11-14

Tracks:

Chetvorno Horo
The Bear's Rock
Dance Of Suleiman
Illyrian Dawn
Pride Of Macedonia
Antice
Two Steps To The Bar
Hard On The Heels

Album Details

Unavailable Since 1994. Features Vocals of Marta Sebestyn (Of Musikas Fame) and Musicians that Feature in the 'Riverdance' Show. Irvine Was a Founder Member of Planxty.

Customer Reviews:

Best CD Mix of Balkan & Irish Music with C. Euro Vocals.......2005-04-12

Bringing it all back home.......1999-10-09

Took weeks to leave my CD player!.......1999-08-15

Average customer rating:

File-card overview.
Helping me fully appreciate a contemporary great.

Godard/Spillane
John Zorn
Manufacturer: Tzadik
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Avant-Garde | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Aporias: Requia For Piano & Orchestra
The Big Gundown: John Zorn Plays the Music of Ennio Morricone
Spy Vs. Spy: The Music of Ornette Coleman
Kristallnacht
The Circle Maker [2-CD Set]

ASIN: B00000JIQI
Release Date: 1999-07-20

Tracks:

Godard
Spillane
Blue N

Customer Reviews:

File-card overview........2006-03-24

"Godard/Spillane" is a compilation of pieces written using John Zorn's "file card" compositional technique-- the notion is really quite simple, Zorn immersed himself in a subject matter and produces snippets of music, arranged on index cards (as a matter of convenience originally) and then recorded as snippets that were then juxtaposed together. The two works this is titled after ("Godard" and "Spillane") are reflections on the works of director Jean-Luc Godard and writer Micke Spillane, with a bonus track of a shorter file card composition titled "Blues Noel", a reflection on Christmas.

It should be noted that there is also a release out there on Elektra called "Spillane"-- both this and that album contain three pieces, but only "Spillane" in common, and both have extraordinary value.

"Godard" is probably the ideal subject matter for Zorn-- the director's work is in many ways analagous to Zorn's music and the constant shifts in atmosphere and mood allows a stirring tribute to be painted, with cuts and changes feeling quite natural. The piece is filled with an aggressive nature, with frantic and energetic segments interspersing with just about every element possible from lounge jazz to fierce explosions, marching bands, you name it. Amidst all of it, there's an occasional series of narrations. At one point, it pretty much sounds like someone flipping through a radio station, but it all fits together cohesively. If this is something you can deal with, this might be for you.

"Spillane" is a reflection on the work of Mickey Spillane and the Mike Hammer novels. Zorn takes the noir atmosphere painted by the novels and the music juxtaposes through various passages, from ambient scapes (often featuring narrations by John Lurie and/or Robert Quine) to frantic guitar workouts (featuring Bill Frisell), loungey jazz (cocktail piano from Anthony Coleman) and r&b (check Zorn's alto blowing on the faux-"Night Train" motif towards the beginning of the piece). The net result is a constantly shifting backdrop over which some fine performances are turned by pretty much everyone-- it's like "Torture Garden", only slower, more relaxed, and with more patient development and thematic unity. A lot of people find this to be among Zorn's most powerful work-- I actually find that while it works nicely as an extended and narrative piece, and it certainly sets an atmosphere as well as (if not better) anything else out there, it lacks some of the real immediacy and impact of Zorn's greatest works.

"Blues Noel" is a brief piece Zorn recorded for a Christmas compilation-- again it intercuts different styles, with Zorn's r&b infused sax giving way to odd analog noise then to chanting and so on. Evidentally, it was constructed in consideration of Christmas themes, but quite honestly, I don't hear it (that doesn't change the enjoyability of the music, but...).

All in all, "Godard/Spillane" is an interesting overview of Zorn's file card compositions, but I found overall that within this framework, the material feels like it drags a bit-- it's funny because I really enjoyed "Spillane" on that record but less so on this one. On the other hand, about half the music (and 2/3 the tracks) aren't available elsewhere and it's easier to find then the Elektra issue, so it's definitely a worthwhile purchase, but I'd prbably recommend "Spillane" over this.

Helping me fully appreciate a contemporary great........2002-06-28

The toughest barrier in appreciating John Zorn's music remains still the sheer quantity of work he's produced in such a short period of time. Most of it is further plagued with the pretense of "vol. XVII" or "plays the music of...," or any of various cryptically titled ensembles, making it very difficult to discern an entry point to any major concept. Recently being in the mood for some of the more "difficult" titles in my collection, I've decided to give another shot at Zorn's dense discography.

My biggest problem with Zorn's music in the past has been that while everything I've been exposed to I've enjoyed, nothing has really stood above similar talents. His noise/thrash stuff lacks the childlike spark of the Boredoms' own records, his small group improv lacks the revolutionary flare of Ornette Coleman's originals(with the exception of much of Masada, which beautifully integrates traditional jewish music), and his film works are rarely fully successful as independent compositions. Regardless, all of his music is very well executed, and simply SOUNDS "important" despite it's considerable pretenses. I knew that sooner or later I would find a small handful of recordings that put everything else into perspective.

It's taken a bit of research, but I think I'm catching on. This disc, Godard/Spillane, stands as a truly satisfying and original collection of music that also ties together many of the loose ends I've been so frustrated with. Both of the major works here are free-jazz inspired assemblages that work both as conceptual statements and as fully listenable and enjoyable compositions. Passages of vocal narration and sound effects are inter-spliced with hard bop and cool jazz in the jerky breakneck manner of the Naked City recordings, but are much more successful in accumulating a narrative flow that captivates rather than shocks and assaults the listener. Apart from the music's own strengths, each piece acts as an homage to its respective namesake, memorializing the style and importance of each by incorporating their own methods, Godard through film and Spillane through written word, with Zorn's own distinctive voice. The real remarkable thing about this project is that while nodding to the avant-garde of the past, Zorn actually is progressing as the avant-garde of the present (even though these are relatively old recordings). In other words, this music doesn't sound like mere rehashing of Coltrane and Coleman, which is a rare thing in contemporary jazz.

This is hardly the ultimate John Zorn recording, but it is one that has enriched and rationalized for me much of his other work. Little is said here Zorn's Classical and Klezmer endeavors, but in regard to his Jazz compositions, it's quite definitive.

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music