A major influence on this album has been the collaboration of well known Danish violinist Kim Sjøgren. Kim started accompanying my repertoire with his classical style when we chanced upon each other in 2005. Hence, he influenced the arrangement of many of these tracks. Soon, he was discovering his own Danish folk heritage and more folk tunes in need of re-invention. He even wrote a reel for this collection.

We imagined producing one CD for Irish audiences - A Visit to Ireland -  and another for the Danish audiences. The latter has now been produced, and you’ll find it on Kim Sjogren’s website and Google Play under the name “My Ireland”.   It contains several other interesting tracks and the inevitable comedy version of an Irish standard,  Molly Malone, in which Kim discovered his Sicilian ancestry......  ( you’ll just have to hear it..!)

This, the Irish CD,  is comprised of songs and tunes some of which I love, some of which I viewed as a re-arrangement challenge and some of which were requested by audiences with such frequency that it was impossible to ignore them. Inevitably, as musicians, one can be more enthusiastic when performing new pieces in a repertoire but audiences eventually insist on hearing “I’ll Tell My Ma” and “Dirty Old Town”, with which they can sing along and stamp their feet. These are included ‘by popular demand’ especially for our continental audiences.

Notes particular to each track can be found on the individual track page ( see menu above). 

Painting by Liam Daly.