[caption id="attachment_69768" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Paddy Moloney pictured on a visit to WFUV’s “Ceol na nGael” studio."]
Paddy Moloney is full of surprises. I learned that first hand back in March of 2010 when the Irish music legend and one of the founding members of the Chieftains visited WFUV radio for an interview on “Ceol na nGael.”
I was thrilled to have him in the studio for a chat, not at all expecting him to play live music for us. Then, mid-sentence during the interview, he pulled a tin whistle out of his pocket and gave the audience a live tune. I was surprised that he brought his instrument with him, that he concealed it so well, and that he played a tune so spontaneously without a sound check or the fancy microphone we would have provided had we known he was going to play. He quickly took note of the surprised looks coming from the show hosts and producers, held up his whistle and said: “She’s my mistress – I take her everywhere!”
Moloney’s whistles have traveled with him far and wide during the Chieftains’ 50 years of music making. After decades of touring the world and recording over 40 albums, just when you start to think that the group might begin slowing down, the Chieftains pull something else out of their bag of tricks.
“Voice of Ages,” due out on Feb. 21, is the collaborative project from the Chieftains recorded to celebrate their 50th anniversary. The album features a superb line-up of guest artists described by the Chieftains as “a dazzling array of like-minded musical visionaries and kindred spirits.” The musical visionaries include the Decemberists, Bon Iver, Punch Brothers, the Civil Wars and more. If you’re not familiar with these artists, “Voice of Ages” is the introduction you need. If you are, I think you’ll be delighted to hear their take on Irish music. I sure was.
Highlights for me include the song “Carolina Rua” featuring the Dublin rockabilly songstress, Imelda May, and the Grammy nominated duo, the Civil Wars singing “Lily Love,” a song they wrote specifically for the Chieftains project. I also love the purity of two beautifully sung traditional Irish songs on the album: “Lagan Love” by Irish singer, songwriter, Lisa Hannigan and “Peggy Gordon” by the Alabama duo, the Secret Sisters. While they have mastered the art of keeping their music current, the Chieftains have definitely maintained their signature, traditional sound, and the 11-minute “Chieftains Reunion” set on the album is a fine example of that.
Who knows what the Chieftains will pull out of their bag of tricks during their upcoming live performances in our area. You can find out on March 10 at NJPAC or on St. Patrick’s Day at Carnegie Hall. And you can look forward to the Chieftains’ 50th Anniversary Documentary featuring footage from the recording of the album, also due out on Feb. 21.
Meanwhile, here are some of my picks for some of the best Irish shows coming up around NYC: SongLives at the Irish Arts Center featuring Susan McKeown and Declan O’Rourke on 2/17, Flogging Molly at The Hammerstein Ballroom on 2/23, and Ashley Davis’s CD Release party at Joe’s Pub in NYC on 2/23. That’s the Sound Around this week!
