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Lunasa is the contemporary Celtic band wowing audiences and fans since arriving on the music scene in 1996.  The group is named for a Celtic harvest festival honoring the Irish god, Lugh. This album was put together from studio work and live recordings done in 1996 at the Lobby Bar, Cork and was available only as an import album until now. There are twelve tracks, eleven from the original album and a bonus one.  The Lunasa group is comprised of five musicians and a variety of instruments including guitar, fiddle, double bass, flute, low whistle and uilleann pipes (bagpipe family). 

The unique sound of Lunasa has to do with the combination of instruments and a distinct sense of rhythm.  This is music with purpose.  "Eanair," the opening number, for example, is a danceable melody played by guitar and whistle.  As the music segues from a march into a gavotte and then a reel, the group adds fiddle, broadening the music structure with increased tempo, much like a group of musicians marching along a street, speeding up and adding members at the same time.  The sixth song, "Meitheamh," a set of reels, is another prime example.  This piece was recorded live and begins with a fiddle solo by Smyth.  His style sounds remarkably like Stephane Grappelli on the soundtrack of the 1990 French film, _May Fools_ (starring Michel Piccoli and Miou-Miou).  "Meitheamh" adds guitar accompaniment, flute and eventually ends as a three-way dialogue between instruments going from minor key to major to minor.  It is a tapestry of Celtic sound.

Lunasa also plays klezmer music, but there is only one selection on this CD and that is "Ivil."  It succeeds in sounding mournful.  On the other hand, "Bealtaine" (a combination of slow reel and single jig) has fiddle and flute dialoguing on top of guitar and bass like two people conversing at a party.  "Airbreann" (hornpipe) uses the low whistle extensively; in fact, you can hear the player inhale as though you were sitting next to him.  The bonus twelfth track is traditional melodies of "Jacky Molards" and "The Hunter's Purse."  "Jacky Molards" uses fiddle and whistle and is, indeed, standard in tempo, while "The Hunter's Purse" has a syncopated beat with guitar and whistle giving it a jazz sound and making a contemporary piece of an old song. 

Lunasa brings Celtic music, which one may think of as moody and dark, into the light of contemporary music with instrumental combinations such as fiddle and uilleann pipes (example, the reel "Mean Fomhair").  Most selections are comprised of two or three Celtic dances (jig or reel) and the group segues well from one to another.  Lunasa is, indeed, a festival unto itself.

Copyright 2002 Marie Asner 3/11/2002

Lunasa has recently brought their traditional Irish sound to the states and if you take a listen you will have a hard time sitting still.  Recently, on their first American tour to New York City, they had sold out shows all by word of mouth.  To fill a sold out show by word of mouth takes some good music and Lunasa has brought that about. 

The band derived its name from the ancient Celtic harvest festival in honor of the Irish god Lugh known as the patron of the arts.  The band members have an impressive resume with most of them playing with some of the greatest Irish groups of the decade such as the Waterboys, The Sharon Shannon Band, Coolfin, and Moving Cloud. 

Although Lunasa plays traditional Irish music they interweave their tunes with jazz, as well as improvisational forms. The first track, "Enair," brings the fast and furious sounds of Irish music as we know it and sets the tone for more. "Marta," track three, relies heavily on the flute to bring across its relaxing melody while "Airbeann," track four, brings its jig to life with the hornpipe. 

The musicians; Trevor Hutchinson, Donogh Hennessy, Sean Smyth , Kevin Crawford, John McSherry, and Cillian Vallely are distinctive in the use of their instruments all being inspired by the 1970's group 'he Bothy Band. 

If you like this brand of electrifying Irish music then make sure you check out Ashley McIssaic known for his special brand of kicking (literally) Irish music as well. 

Leslie Bogar 4/14/2002 

(I really like Irish music and this ranks at the top)