Count kansas City based Nine Mile Burn among the hardest working regional Celtic bands.
This instrumental trio builds sets around fiddler Rebecca Pringle, who once backed
Connie Dover, but guitarist/bassist Bill Banks is the guts of the band. He adds hints
of rock-a-billy, surf guitar and thick bass reminiscent of Steeleye Span's Rick Kemp.
Fans of the late- 1970s lineups of Fairport Convention will enjoy the music of the
Kansas City instrumental trio Nine Mile Burn... have a crunchy, rythm-accenting sound
that's often only a full-kit drummer short of classic folk rock.
Their music is some of the best around...Gravel Walk makes you want to do more than just walk
and Eibhli Ghael Chiuin Ni Chearbhaill certainly tugs at your heart for your homeland or a lost
love, if you let your imagination go.
If you're of a mind for some authentic, expertly performed Celtic tunes for a pleasant listen
or a serious examination of the very best acoustic music around, I'd have to say you couldn't
go wrong with Kansas City favorites Nine Mile Burn in their self-titled debut CD.
After having run this particular collection of completely acoustic tunes (with nary a human
voice to be heard throughout the entire 41 minutes of playing time) through my CD player over
and over again, I can say without a doubt this is quickly becoming one of my favorite
collections of such tunes to come down the pike in a very long time.
The tunes are the usual mix of traditional and original instrumentals cleverly woven into
intricate tapestries that, I guarantee, will paint a different aural picture for you with
each listen.
The musicians responsible for this enjoyable experience are Bill Banks, Rebecca Pringle, and
Denise Reid-Shoaff, with guest artists Mike Chamberlin and Lynette Reid-Gregg joining the
trio in true "session" style.
Let's hope we hear more from this talented group.
Myself, I quickly fell in love with the light, lyrical Eibhli Gheal Chiuin Chearbhail Air
(never mind trying to pronounce it; I've already given up myself) and the delicate picking
on Diplodicus/Peter Byrne's Fancy Jig and Miss Casey's/Child of My Heart. But then again,
I have always been a sucker for the mandolin.
But don't get me wrong, this CD is not only a collection of whispery tunes but mostly robust
jigs and reels that almost dare you to keep your foot from tapping.
Tunes like Irene's/Brian O'Lynn's Jigs almost seem to invite you out onto an imaginary dance
floor while the driving undercurrent in Farrell O'Gara's/Connemara Shuffle Reels can make you
downright uncomfortable just sitting still.