I was just poking around on Caoimhín’s website and saw that another duo album with Mick O’Brien has been recorded and should be released in the near future. Their “Kitty Lie Over” album has been one of my favorites for years and I’m very excited for this release!
I don’t usually seek out fiddle players specifically but Caoimhín has been one that I pay attention to. I got a copy of “Comb Your Hair and Curl It” recently and it’s been in the player nonstop. He seems to pick great people to play with and his recordings are very much in line with my musical taste. I also remember seeing (and I can’t remember if it was RTE or TG4) a short film where he was playing the pipes himself.
What else are you all listening to right now? I’ve been trying to track down a reasonably priced copy of Brian McNamara and Tim Collins’ “Reed Only” as Brian is quickly becoming one of my favorite pipers to listen to (and I just love the concertina as well).
That’s good news! The last time I talked to Caoimhín a year and a half ago, I think he said another album with Mick was “in the works.” Glad to hear it’ll finally see the light of day soon.
Best possible news!
Caoimhín gave a masterclass on the pipes at the Turning Wave festival in Gundagai in 2008. He kept apologizing, saying he hadn’t touched pipes in four years… and proceeded to give three days of brilliant tuition, focusing largely on how to get expression out of the pipes in light of the lack of dynamics available. A few good tunes and ideas to ponder for years. He’s a lovely piper, but told us he’d decided to concentrate on the fiddle because it was more able to get the music in his head out into the world.
Don’t get me started about Mick, I’ll start blubbering.
Comb Your Hair And Curl It is my most played record at the moment AND THERE ARE NO PIPES ON IT! That tells you something.
Their concert in Toronto at the Chris Langan weekend was unforgettable. I have a wonderful recording of the event - it was an “Ennis suite”. They played for 24 minutes solid, not sure if it was rehearsed or spontaneous, either way it was huge. I’d always love to hear more Mick, and with Caoimhín, a bounty of aural delights!
