Search - Laurence Nugent :: Windy Gap

Flautist Laurence Nugent is a traditional Irish musician who adds subtle traces of jazz, classical, and world music to the old melodies. On The Windy Gap, some of Ireland's finest musicians, including piper Paddy Keenan, fiddler Martin Hayes, and guitarist Dennis Cahill, join him for a session of jigs, reels, and airs that manage to gently stretch the boundaries of Irish music without sacrificing the essential character of the tunes. The tracks include "Sean Ryan's Hornpipes," which features some gorgeous cello playing by Larry Gray; the haunting tin whistle-bowed bass duet on "The May Morning Dew"; and the hard-driving medley of dance tunes "The Colliers/Toss the Feathers," which includes some surprisingly effective electric slide guitar. Even when Nugent adds new twists to the old tunes, his playing always remains true to his Celtic roots. --Michael Simmons