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Irish Traditional Fiddle Music

By James Kelly, John Kelly, Michael Crehan, Michael Gavin

Search for James Kelly, John Kelly, Michael Crehan, Michael Gavin.

  1. The Star Above The Garter
    The Lisheen
  2. The Foxhunter’s
  3. The Ace And Deuce Of Piping
  4. Jackson’s
    Up Sligo
  5. The Monaghan
  6. The Brown Sailed Boat
    The Humours Of Tullyknockbrine
  7. Dublin Porter
    The Ballymahon
  8. The West Wind
    Sporting Nell
  9. The Old Grey Goose
  10. The Curlew Hills
    James Cannon’s
  11. Ceathru Cavan
    The Wild Irishman
  12. Jackson’s
    The Boys Of Ballisodare
  13. Strop The Razor

Twenty-five comments

Duplicate Album Entry

Turns out this is a duplicate entry. My search on “John Kelly” didn’t pull up the album. However, the album is already listed under the artist name “John and James Kelly” (as on the CD).

Outlet Recording Company, PTICD 104. CD Reissue. No publication date. Minimal liner notes. Outlet is now defunct.

See the other entry for possible ordering information.

The original recording of this album was simply called “Irish Traditional Music”.

The before mentioned ‘duplication’ is no more…

‘2ndFiddle’ mentions a previous submission, but alas that is no more. I’m hoping ‘slainte’ will submit comment and the latest address for ‘Outlet’. He found this CD at an amazing price when he was in Ireland, just. Then I had the pleasure of hearing these two lads again, and damned fine music, relaxed and unhurried, like their da John Kelly Sr.. They do the music justice and this is a joy to the ears and the soul and a recommended purchase…

John and James Kelly

Yes, I got this for 5.99 while searching for “Hidden Fermanagh” CDs in Enniskillen. It was among compilation recordings like “Popular Irish Pub Songs.” I heard a couple of tracks on the radio, so knew how gorgeous their duet playing is. I’m not sure who the guest musicians are, but myself and ‘c’ suspect one of them is from the well-known musical family of West Clare.

It seems 2ndFiddle is right. Their website is gone. Try Celtic Grooves: http://celticgrooves.homestead.com/CG_Kelly_James_John.html It’s obviously underrated though.

’twas me

I’m positive I posted this album in 2004, but it , along with comments I made at the time, seems to have vanished. Guest players are Michael Crehan on uilleann pipes and the much under-rated Mick Gavin on flute. Agree totally with “ceolachan” - a great recording.

Great recording!

Spent some time raving about this album just 2 weeks ago at a St Patrick’s Day gig. One of the best recordings of Irish traditional music EVER. Indeed, the musicianship all round is outstanding and Mick Gavin is a great flute player.

So, then please add some more info on Michael Crehan and Michael Gavin. Kenny? LongNote?

There are at least two ‘Mick Gavins’ I’ve had the pleasure of coming in contact with, one being the above mentioned flute player and the other being a fine fiddle player I’d come across in the West of Eire via a friend, Con Foley. The flute player I knew as another fine teacher, if memory serves me right, Dublin, and someone with a nice relaxed style of playing, one that compliments this recording beautifully, though only contributing to a few of the tracks. I have searched the net for a bio but mostly it only gives information about “The Flags of Dublin” recording. I had as little luck seeking information on the piper as well, Michael Crehan. It would be interesting to know more, if anyone can offer that information ~ bios, any other recordings, their current wherabouts???

Outlet Recording Company Ltd.

15 / 21 Gordon Street
Belfast, Northern Ireland BT1 2LG
( 01232 ) 322826 / fax ( 01232 ) 332671

This information is from the CD itself, but I have heard and read various things about ‘Outlet’ changing hands. Let’s hope their catalogue is alive and well…

Mick Gavin

This is for “slainte” - I’ll post the biography on Mick Gavin from the sleeve notes of the “Flags Of Dublin” recording.
Can’t help much with Mick Crehan, but I believe he’s related to that well-known musical clan from Co.Clare. He was still playing at the Willie Clancy week last year, and was once a tutor there, but I’m not sure if he still is or not.

Get this record cheap

This record is included in a 10 CD set called “Celtic Souls” that you can pick up for $13.99 on amazon.

For me, their rendition of Dublin Porter/ The Ballymahon reel is worth the price of the whole set.
But you also get the “Cherish the Ladies” 1981 record by Peg McGrath, Kathleen Smyth, and Mary Mulholland (discussed on its own page in The Session), and a Finbarr Dwyer record, a
Seamus Tansey record and several samplers that have some good items as well.

#3 of 10 ~ “Celtic Souls: Irish Celtic Ballads & Traditional Music”

10 CDs for a fiver (£5) ~ Support a good thing!!! 😎

The previous link no longer exists, here are the other recordings in the set:

1.) “Séamus Tansey: Traditional Irish Music”
~ also issued as “The Best of Séamus Tansey”
https://thesession.org/recordings/1074

2.) Finbarr Dwyer: Pure Traditional Irish Accordion Music
https://thesession.org/recordings/1726

* 3.) John & James Kelly: Irish Traditional Fiddle Music (& friends)

4.) “Tara Folk: Folksongs of Ireland”
~ not on site as yet, primarily songs

5.) “Best Of Irish Ceili Music”
https://thesession.org/recordings/2698

6.) “Rince: Complete Irish Dancing Set”
~ also issued as “First Steps and Beyond”
~ not on site as yet

7 & 8.) “Festival Of Traditional Irish Music, Volumes 1 & 2”
https://thesession.org/recordings/2697

9.) “Cherish The Ladies: Peg McGrath, Mary Mulholland & Kathleen Smyth”
https://thesession.org/recordings/1069

10.) “Armagh Pipers’ Club: Song of the Chanter”
https://thesession.org/recordings/1737

Someone was asking for the jacket info on this

1. THE USHEEN SLIDES (featuring Michael Crehan and Michael Gavin). These slides are typical of music played for house dances in many parts of Kerry.
2. FOXHUNTER’S JIG — A piper’s tune played in slow jig time. This grand piece of music is not the common Foxhunter’s Jig, but a version which the piper WILLIE CLANCY introduced to his musician friends around Milltown-Malbay in Co. Clare. Some traditionalists attribute it to GARETH BARRY, the Clare piper, from whom Willie’s father learned so many tunes.
3, ACE AND DEUCE OF PIPING — Although this is a piper’s tune, it is played by most traditional musicians. It is a three part Set Dance having its own particular pattern of steps and danced by a solo dancer. To quote John Kelly Sr. “Woe to the fiddler who played it wrong — he was culled’
4, JACKSON’S JIG / UP SLIGO — WALTER JACKSON, an eighteenth century gentleman piper from Co. Limerick, is remembered for his vast repertoire of dance tunes, most of which he composed himself. The Kellys attribute this version of Jackson’s Jig to Sligo fiddle player MICHAEL COLEMAN. Up Sligo has been adapted from JOHN J. KEMMEL’S ten key melodeon setting of the tune.
5. MONAGHAN JIG — This jig can be found in FRANCIS O’NEILL’S collection of Irish music. According to John Kelly Sr. the fourth part was added by MICHAEL COLEMAN, the famous Sligo fiddle player. Although Coleman lived for many years in America, other musicians traveling to and from the States brought home versions of his music. John Sr. got the version in 1934 from one such fiddle player, JOHN SMITH.
6. JOHN DOHERTY’S SELECTION — The first tune is a Strathspey. The name Strathspey comes from the valley of the Spey and is a description of a Slow Reel played in the Scottish style. The Strathspey is followed in true highland tradition by a Fast Reel. Both tunes were played by the DOHERTY BROTHERS from Donegal, the last of the bardic fiddlers, and the music has been adapted to suit the Donegal style of fiddle playing.
7. DUBLIN PORTER I BALLYMAHON REEL — The first Reel was a great favourite of PADRAIG 0 CUIBH, the master fiddle player from Sliabh Luachra in Co. Kerry. Having a definite Munster flavour, John Kelly Sr. says that with a slower dotted rhythm, the tune could easily be played as a Hornpipe. SEAN KEANE, the fiddle player, introduced the Ballymahon Reel to the Kellys. It is a very old Reel and was played by Seen Keane’s grandfather who lived in Ballymahon, Co. Longford.
8. THE WEST WIND / SPORTING NELL (featuring Michael Crehan end Michael Gavin). The West Wind is a three part variation of COLONEL FRAZER. According to John Sr. it is more likely that this is the original tune as it is more traditional and unspoilt. Sporting Nell or Gorman’a Reel was known to SONNIE BROGAN, the old Dublin box-player. This is his version of the tune. The Reel originated with JOHNNY GORMAN, the blind piper who player at the piper’s conventional the Rotunda, in 1912.
9. THE OLD GREY GOOSE — This is a six part Jig and a great favourite with most traditional fiddle players. According to John Kelly Sr., The Old Grey Goose is often used to test a musician’s ability and Woe to the fiddler who can’t give a good rendering of it John Sr. has a further two parts to the Jig.
10. CURLEW HILLS POLKA / JAMES CANNON’S BARN DANCE — John and James first heard these tunes played by their father on the fiddle. Barn dances were enjoyed by older generations in different parts of the country and these dances were played as a respite from the faster tempo of the Set.
11. CEATHRU CAVAN / THE WILD IRISHMAN — John Sr. got this tune from Vincent Campbell from Donegal. It is named after Ceathru Cavan, a travelling fiddle player from Co. Cavan. The Wild Irishman, also known as the West Clare is played here in the Doherty Donegal style.
12. JACKSON’S REEL / BOYS OF BALLISODARE (Version of B. 0. Ballisodare). — The first tune is very similar to Ships Are Sailing which was a great favourite of SEAN O RIADA’S. This variant of the Boys of Ballisodare is just one of the many variants of the Dublin Reel which is played by SEAMUS ENNIS and other pipers in a lower key to suit the pipes.
13. STROP THE RAZOR — A piper’s tune of which there are two versions in the O’NEILL collection. Michael Crehan’s pipes add the necessary flavour to this arrangement and Michael Gavin on the flute completes the foursome.

EAMON DE BUITLEAR
John and James Kelly are two fine fiddle players. Though born in Dublin, they play in a style rooted in the traditional fiddle playing of West Clare, birthplace of their father John Kelly, himself a much respected concertina and fiddle player. On this album they play traditional tines with an understanding that comes only through years of playing and listening together, carrying on the unique West Clare “regional” style of fiddle playing passed down to them in its purest form. They are joined here by West Clare uileann piper Michale Crehan and concert flute player Michale Gavin.

Usheen ?

The Lisheen Slides.

Thanks tracywag!!! ~ much appreciated… 🙂

Re: Irish Traditional Fiddle Music

I’ve been groovin’ to this disc for many years, excellent stuff. The Foxhunter’s Jig referenced in the liner notes (track 2) bears a strong resemblance to the Humours of Derrycrossane (is the same tune, in my humble opinion).
https://thesession.org/tunes/1550

Re: Irish Traditional Fiddle Music

Tracks on “Yotube” :

Track # 1 : https://youtu.be/rCpE_26xkN8


Track # 3 : https://youtu.be/AvhUxPDVQDo


Track # 5 : https://youtu.be/mB0rDEMsEVc


Track # 6 : https://youtu.be/YVio_Nv6s4E


Track # 7 : https://youtu.be/hvGF6vxe4A0


Track # 11 : https://youtu.be/dd0c-G3L8ys


Track # 12 : https://youtu.be/xDMI8tCaMJA


Track #13 : https://youtu.be/8KX4Zt4F5wo

Re: Irish Traditional Fiddle Music

There is no link showing above, but this classic fiddle recording can be downloaded from “iTunes” for only £3.99.