KAREN ASHBROOK & PAUL OORTS: Celtic Cafe

Karen Ashbrook & Paul Oorts

Celtic Cafe

© 2001 Maggie's Music, Inc.

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Irish, Scottish, French and Flemish traditions merge in celtic cafe. Celtic cafe, a new recording from maggie's music, sends an authentically fresh album of pan-european music into the deluge of celtic releases this march.

notes

Washington Post
"A thoroughly enjoyable and evocative travelogue."
complete review below:
KAREN ASHBROOK AND PAUL OORTS "Celtic Cafe" (MM224)
If you think an album named in honor of the cozy cafes and noisy pubs that have long nurtured Celtic and Continental music would be filled with lively but somewhat ragged performances, you're half right. The latest release by multi-instrumentalists Karen Ashbrook and Paul Oorts is the product of a series of wonderfully energetic and exquisitely arranged collaborations.

Ashbrook is an American Irish hammer dulcimer player well known for her work with the Ceoltori Celtic Ensemble. Oorts, her husband, is an exceptionally versatile Belgian musician and scholar, well versed in Flemish, French and Celtic traditions. Reflective of their common interests and abiding passions, "Celtic Cafe" finds the duo (and several guest musicians) exploring pan-European music with uncommon verve, grace and imagination.

These virtues are particularly evident on the album's most ambitious arrangement -- the three-part, 16-minute "Napoleon Suite," which makes cinematic use of traditional themes and sound effects. But the smaller scale performances have a special charm and vitality of their own, as evidenced by the soulful, then sprightly air of the "Flemish Carillon Set," the curious, cross-genre trajectory of "The Celt Goes South" and the radiant blend of dulcimer and guitar rhythms propelling "Belgian Jig Set." Each of these selections takes a different route to "Celtic Cafe" and helps make up a thoroughly enjoyable and evocative travelogue.

Improvijazzation Nation (issue # 47) Rotcod Zzaj
"If you love music full of raw energy & cultural diversity you won't be able to eject this CD."

And also read Bridge Guitar's Review for Celtic Cafe- scroll to the CD from this link...www.xs4all.nl/~guitars/performance.html

The intermingling of Celtic and Northern European music has historic roots which are explored in the album. Its centerpiece, the Napoleon Suite, is a 16-minute evocation of the repertoires of mercenary soldiers who fought at Waterloo in Belgium, the crossroads of Europe. The suite binds together such traditional tunes as Will You Go To Flanders,Wellington's Coming and Bonaparte's Retreat introduced by an impressionistic collage of pipes and battle sounds created by producer Bobby Read.

Special guests include: Bonnie Rideout on Scottish fiddle & viola; Mark Hillmann, uilleann pipes; Bobby Read, woodwinds & soprano sax; Dwight Purvis, French horn; Ralph Gordon, bass; Dave Wiesler, piano; Andrea Hoag, fiddle and Paddy League on percussion.

more details:
Celtic Cafe, a new recording from Maggie's Music, sends an authentically fresh album of pan-European music into the deluge of Celtic releases this March. It is a lively evocation of a cafe at the crossroads of European culture, with Flemish carillon and Parisian musette music, clog and row dances from Belgium, & airs, jigs & reels from Ireland & Scotland. The intermingling of Celtic and Northern European music has historic roots which are explored in the album. Its centerpiece, the Napoleon Suite, is a 16-minute evocation of the repertoires of mercenary soldiers who fought at Waterloo in Belgium, the crossroads of Europe. The suite binds together such traditional tunes as Will You Go To Flanders,Wellington's Coming and Bonaparte's Retreat introduced by an impressionistic collage of pipes and battle sounds created by producer Bobby Read. Belgian musician Paul Oorts joins American multi-instrumentalist Karen Ashbrook in this tour de force of imagination and scholarship. Ashbrook is considered one of the world's finest hammered dulcimer players. Her specialty is Irish music, and she is also a gifted Irish flute and pennywhistle player. Karen Ashbrook has five releases on the Maggie's Music label: the solo albums Hills of Erin (MM207) and Knock on the Door (MM212); and albums with Ceoltoiri Celtic Ensemble -- Women of Ireland (MM218), Silver Apples of the Moon (MM202) and Celtic Lace (MM203). Oorts is an accomplished, oft-recorded string player (mandolin, cittern, classical and steel string guitars) who also plays the musette accordion. A medievalist and translator, he teaches French at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. Oorts's musical education took place in the pubs, cafes and coffee houses of Belgium and France. Karen Ashbrook spent several years as a musical expatriate in Europe and Asia. They say: "This CD celebrates an institution that contributed mightily to the development and the vitality of folk music - the cafe and its Irish cousin, the pub. Our best recollections are of late nights spent in these venues, sessioning with old musicians and listening to the lore of the buskers (street performers). We invite you into our café here music, old and new, Celtic and continental, brought together a Belgian and an American Irish musician who fell in love." also,Bonnie Rideout on Scottish fiddle & viola; Mark Hillmann, uilleann pipes; Bobby Read, woodwinds & soprano sax; Dwight Purvis, French horn; Ralph Gordon, bass; Dave Wiesler, piano; Andrea Hoag, fiddle and Paddy League on percussion.
Celtic Cafe, a new recording from Maggie's Music, sends an authentically fresh album of pan-European music into the deluge of Celtic releases this March. It is a lively evocation of a cafe at the crossroads of European culture, with Flemish carillon and Parisian musette music, clog and row dances from Belgium, & airs, jigs & reels from Ireland & Scotland. The intermingling of Celtic and Northern European music has historic roots which are explored in the album. Its centerpiece, the Napoleon Suite, is a 16-minute evocation of the repertoires of mercenary soldiers who fought at Waterloo in Belgium, the crossroads of Europe. The suite binds together such traditional tunes as Will You Go To Flanders,Wellington's Coming and Bonaparte's Retreat introduced by an impressionistic collage of pipes and battle sounds created by producer Bobby Read. Belgian musician Paul Oorts joins American multi-instrumentalist Karen Ashbrook in this tour de force of imagination and scholarship. Ashbrook is considered one of the world's finest hammered dulcimer players. Her specialty is Irish music, and she is also a gifted Irish flute and pennywhistle player. Karen Ashbrook has five releases on the Maggie's Music label: the solo albums Hills of Erin (MM207) and Knock on the Door (MM212); and albums with Ceoltoiri Celtic Ensemble -- Women of Ireland (MM218), Silver Apples of the Moon (MM202) and Celtic Lace (MM203). Oorts is an accomplished, oft-recorded string player (mandolin, cittern, classical and steel string guitars) who also plays the musette accordion. A medievalist and translator, he teaches French at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. Oorts's musical education took place in the pubs, cafes and coffee houses of Belgium and France. Karen Ashbrook spent several years as a musical expatriate in Europe and Asia. They say: "This CD celebrates an institution that contributed mightily to the development and the vitality of folk music - the cafe and its Irish cousin, the pub. Our best recollections are of late nights spent in these venues, sessioning with old musicians and listening to the lore of the buskers (street performers).

We invite you into our café here music, old and new, Celtic and continental, brought together a Belgian and an American
Irish musician who fell in love."

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