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"Crossing The Bridge"
One
of our favorite releases of 1999, Irish fiddle sensation and musical
star of "Riverdance" Eileen Ivers puts together an impressive
set of Irish/World fusion music with some of the top musicians
in the recording industry. The material ranges from the lavishly-produced
and extremely energetic "Gravelwalk" and Afro-Celtic
"Jama" to "Nearer My God To Thee" (from the
"Titanic" soundtrack) and "polka.com", which
are bare bones solo pieces. Eileen's artistry shines throughout.
Brian Keane produced and orchestrated the CD, and co-wrote many
of the pieces on the CD with Eileen, including the lushly beautiful
"Bygone Days", which has already appeared in several
movie soundtracks, and on the Windham Hill sampler "Thanksgiving".
Prominent musicians on the CD include Steve Gadd, Bakithi Kumalo
(both of Paul Simon's band), guitarist Al Dimeola, keyboardists
Jeff Bova and Bobby Mayo, "Riverdance" lead dancers
Maria Pages, Tarik Winston and Colin Dunne, trumpeter Randy Brecker,
percussionists Alex Acuna and Tommy Hayes, African musicians Vieux
Diop and Valerie Naranjo, and Irish musicians Seamus Egan, Joanie
Madden, Jerry O'Sullivan and John Doyle, among others. Recorded
mostly at Little Big Feet Studios, with additional recordings
at The Carriage House, Aire Studios in London, and Windmill Lane
Studios in Dublin, among others. "Crossing The Bridge"
was in the Billboard World charts.
Track
List:
1. Gravelwalk
2. Jama
3. Bygone Days
4. Whiskey & Sangria
5. Crossing The Bridge
6. Nearer My God To Thee
7. Bunch Of Keys
8. March Up Fifth
9. Polka.com
10. Islanders
11. Crowley's/Jackson's
12. Dear Irish Boy
Release
Date: February 9, 1999
Label: Sony Classics
Reviews:
Hot Press: "Breathtakingly beautiful...There is real
magic at work here, folks. A meeting of minds and traditions,
a forging of new and exciting alliances, wrought with passion,
imagination, and love. Irish music has yet again a new coat to
wear. This is music without peer. An astonishing achievement.
12/12 on the dice roll = a certifiable classic" -- Oliver
P. Sweeney
Bergen Record: "Way beyond Riverdance...An
Irish fiddler comes of age."
Baltimore
Sun:
"An irresistable journey"
Celtic
Connection:
"Eileen Ivers bridges the gap between a multitude of cultures
-- with ease, with fun, with superb playing"
College Music Journal: "...a strong album...in Ivers'
hands, the music rings true."
Amazon.com: 
"Excellent -Irish music with an international flavor;
Eileen Ivers shows innovation with this latest release. A joy
to listen to."
Boston Globe: "Ivers tackles each setting with tasteful
virtuosity"
Irish American News: "Inspiringly expanding Irish
expression"
New York Daily News: "Fresh & thrilling to hear"
-- Jim Dwyer
Irish
Edition:
"Ivers' distinctive playing -- moving, punkish, flowing,
and full of swing -- is simply delightful...Keane is a master
of orchestration...This is an exciting album."
Irish American Magazine: "Celtic fire"
New Age Voice: "Extraordinary...Haunting...Vibrant
fiddle virtuosity...A hot Irish fusion album." -- Carol Wright
Aquarian
Weekly:
"Refreshingly different"
BPI Entertainment News Wire "...A musical breakthrough"
RPM Music: "Just when we thought we'd heard enough
Celtic music, along comes Eileen Ivers with this brilliant fusing
of Celtic music with everything that's not supposed to go with
Celtic music...."
Billboard Magazine: "On her Sony Classical debut,
young American/Irish fiddle sensation Eileen Ivers bridges the
gap between her Celtic roots and styles ranging from jazz, salsa,
and flamenco to rock, funk, and even electronica"
Rhythm Magazine: "...spices up the traditional with
just the right amount of ornamentation, never straying too far
from the actual melody."
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