http://www.pipersgathering.org/CD/cd.htm
Check it out…looks awesome!
Aaron Welsh
I had a chance to hear an advance version of this, and while I don’t want to demean their efforts to raise funds, it wasn’t all that good. I don’t think they were plugged into the main board when they did the recordings. However, there were some fairly good tracks, and some facinating stuff by Moebius.
I would say yes, buy it to support the N Hero Gathering, but no, don’t expect a professional recording.
djm
Haven’t heard it…I just thought the selection of musicians was superb…that’s a bummer if the quality of the recording is lacking.
Plus it’s around $20. Cost of CD duplication’s down to under $1.50/per with jewel cases and 4 color printing. Granted they’re probably trying to raise money to support their group.
Dionys
Those who do not consider this CD phat enough should perhaps check out a newly-released live recording from the most recent William Kennedy festival in Armagh.
Featuring (in no particular order):
MICHAEL MCGOLDRICK (Uilleann Pipes, Flute) * JOSÉ MANUEL TEJEDOR (Gaita Asturiana) * ROBBIE HANNON (Uilleann Pipes) * GORDON DUNCAN (Highland Pipes) * KATHRYN TICKELL (Northumbrian Pipes) * ALLAN MACDONALD (Scottish Small Pipes) * ANXO LORENZO (Gaita Gallega) * LUIGI LAI (Launneddas) * TIARNÁN Ó DUINNCHINN & CILLIAN VALLELY (Uilleann Pipes) * CERI RHYS MATTHEWS (Pipe Cwd) * MICK O’BRIEN (Uilleann Pipes) * MOEBIUS - JON SWAYNE, DON WARD, DAVID FAULKNER (Border Pipes in G & C) * FIELD MARSHALL MONTGOMERY ‘MINI’ PIPE BAND * GIANNI PERILLI & GUIDO IANNETTA (Ciaramella & Zampogna) * TIARNÁN Ó DUINNCHINN (Uilleann Pipes) * ROBERT WATT (Highland Pipes) * TOMMY KEANE (Uilleann Pipes).
…And a special guest appearance by RUSSELL CROWE on gut bucket drum.
Got that from www.musicscotland.com. Probably available from a few other places as well.
Nice link, SP. I keep forgetting about these folks at Music Scotland, but they often have Irish stuff you can’t even get from the Irish sites, stuff like Gael-Linn, CCÉ videos, etc. Looks like a good album, too.
djm
As one of those involved in the Pipers Gathering and the development of the CD, please let me add some information to the discussion.
The advance copy mentioned above was raw material intended to let folks see what was proposed for the CD — a rough draft not a finished version. Considerable engineering went into the final product which has gotten good initial reviews from listeners both as to content and sound quality.
Cost of the CD is $15 US. Postage and packaging is an additional $4.25 making the total cost $19.45. At this point we are only selling by mail.
We hope you will listen to the finished product before deciding whether it is worth purchasing. We also submitted copies for review from the various piping journals that deal with “alternative” pipes so, hopefully, there will be some impartial reviews forthcoming rather than my biased fulminations.
Best wishes.
Steve
Steve, sorry if I upset you. Good to know you finished the product and brought it up to grade. I hope you were able to get a better recording of Debbie Quigley than the one I heard.
As I noted, I would still buy the CD, regardless of the quality, just to support the Gathering. It has become the premier event of alternate piping in N America.
djm
Not at all upset. Just want to get the message out that the current product is the “new, improved” version. As noted, the CD is intended to raise money for the events. The performers and tune authors, bless their hearts, donated their performances and material. We had to pay for sound and production, but otherwise all income goes directly back into the event.
[Shameless plug]
For more information about the event and the CD check our web site at www.pipersgathering.org
[End shameless plug]
Best wishes,
Steve
Just wanted to bump this one back up. I have just received and am listening to the CD The Pipers’ Gathering - Live from North Hero. Boy, that was fast service!
This version is well cleaned up from the advance version I previously heard. Lots of good UP tracks, as well as Northumbrians, Borders, Scots smalls (or is that small Scots … in their wee kilts … etc.). Sorry, but the boop-boop-beep-boop of Northumbrians still makes me break out laughing. God help me, I’m starting to fall for border pipes. The stuff by Moebius is way cool, too.
I know some people grumped a bit about the cost, but this is a fund raiser, after all. I’m surprised none of the other regular tionóls haven’t picked up on this idea as a source of revenue.
djm
I don’t see where people get the idea of this being expensive comes from? Haven’t they been to a record store lately? $20 is the standard price for CD’s these days and that is directly in the store! This one is only $15 plus shipping and handling, very good value if you ask me… oh but nobody did… ah well 
Patrick.