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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 8, 2000)
Page 8 November 8, 2000 PnrtU nb ©beeruer Focus The Focus Grateful Dead Songs Inspire Celtic Celebration Take eight classic Grateful Dead tunes, add seven seasoned music ians who groove toajoyfulC eltic rhythm, blend it with a healthy dose o f love for both, and y ou’ve got one hell o f a party! In this case, it com es in the form o f a delightful CD, Wake The Dead. An Irish w ake is a spectacular cultural expression oflove and Wake The D ead is nothing short o f an Irish wake. From rock grooves and a touch o f bluegrass to hot Irish reels and hauntingly beautiful melodies, the com bination puts forth a new kind o f sound that conjures up memories o f the “Old & In The W ay” bluegrass sound;; and early Grateful Dead vibes, familiar to Dead Heads everywhere. The comfortable ad aptations m ake it sound as if these songs w ere written to be perform ed in this manner, prov ing once again that the m usic o f the Grateful D ead is capable o f crossing all social and cultural boundaries, including a vast ar ray o f musical genres. C o - p r o d u c e r s /m u s ic ia n s Danny C arnahan and Paul Kotapish had found D ead tunes making their w ay into their Celtic/folk sessions for years, and although they both harbored ideas foraC eltic D eadCD , neither had approached the other with w hat seem ed like a “crazy idea.” Then, as w ith so many “crazy ideas,” the m om ent o f sanity happened when it was spoken and another creative gift w as put into motion. The blending o f traditional Irish jig s and reels together in one song is hardly uncom m on in Celtic music; how ever, the m elding o f such jigs and reels with Grateful Dead songs is a unique yet natural phenomenon. The m elancholy and sincere version o f “Black M uddy River” (Garcia/ H u n ter) flo w s e x q u isite ly w ith “ B rig id C r u is e ” (T u rlo u g h O ’Carolan, traditional Irish harp air), “ Friend O f T he D evil” (Garcia/' H unter/Dawson) blends effortlessly with “Banks o f Lough G ow na” (tra ditional Irish jig ) and “The R eunion” (jig by Russ Barenberg). The joyful, upbeat "C hina C at Sunflow er" and “ Bertha” (both by G arcia/Hunter) are seamlessly woven among “Christ mas Eve,” “ Bank O f Ireland,” “The Bear” (all traditional Irish reels) and “Cliffs o f M ostar” (unreel based on traditional Irish reel). O ther Dead songs presented on Wake The D ead range from early, greatly-loved favorites like“Sugaree” (G a rc ia /H u n te r), “ T h e W h e e l” (G a rc ia / V in ce W e ln ic k , p erfo rm in g on V alentine’s Day 1995 at the Fillmore. C arnahan was also on the 1995 trib ute to G arcia CD , “ Eternity Blue.” Paul Kotapish plays mandolin, octave mandolin, guitar, and National Steel guitar. He is equally confident and inventive on every fretted instru m ent and has m ost recently m ade a nam e for him self with his concerts and recordings w ith Kevin B urke’s “O pen H ouse,” a headlining act in Celtic and international folk festi vals. His gifted guitar and mandolin skills help drive “The Hillbillies From M ars,” the “Q uirks” and other C ali fornia-based acoustic groups. M aureen Brennan, an accom - Fall Cleanup Carpef &- Ulphos-fery cleaning Martin Cleaning Service C arpet cleaning: I Hall Free and Pre-Spray Traffic Area • Vacuum $5.00 each area • Stairs $1.50 Ea. Additional Services Upholstery Cleaning • • If you insure both your home and auto with American Family, you could save up to 20% on your auto insurance. And your home can be a house, apartment, mobile home or condo. 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I S _____| MARTIN CLEANING SERVlCf Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Commercial & Résidentiel Services and its Subsidiaries Amencan Standard Insurance Company of Wisconsin J | Martin Cleaning Service Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Appointment (503) 281-3949 H u n te r/K re u tz m a n n ), “ B ird S o n g ” (G a rc ia / H u n te r) an d “ R ow Jim m y” (Garcia/Hunter) to the more recent “Touch ofG rey” (Garcia/Hunter). D anny Carnahan and Paul Kotapish assembled astellarcastofm usicians. C arnahan provides vo cals, guitar, octave m an dolin and fiddle. H e re leased his first all-origi nal CD, “Cut and Run,” in 1994 on R ed H o u se Records in the U. S. and Fledg’ ling Records in Brit ain, making “Ten Best” lists from California to Italy. The CD included“Laughing in the Dark,” a collaboration with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. Carnahan also perfonns and records with Henry Kaiser and was part o f the band, “The Val entines,” w hich included H enry, Bob W eir and plished early classical and folk harp ist, brings her Celtic Harp to the project. Brennan has toured through out the U.S. and Canada and has recorded with “Paradise Lost” and “ Kingfisher.” She has released three solo CDs and participated in the ac claim ed “Harpistry” collection. Vocalist Sylvia H erold has been singing professionally for twenty years. She is a m em ber o f the popular swing trio, “Cats & Jam m ers," who have performed together for over a decade at major festivals throughout the U. S. She recently released her solo debut album, “ABowlofCiystalTeais,” to glowing reviews in the U.S. and Britain and is currently working on her second album with the band“HotClub”. Kevin Carr, plays uilleann pipes, fiddle, and pennywhistle on If oAr The Dead. Carr, an Irish piper par excel lence, is best known for his work with the cult contradance and concert band, “The Hillbillies From Mars.” He is renowned throughout the U. S. and Canada and teaches extensively at mu sic camps and workshops nationwide.
