The Chieftains - Santiago

Here the Chieftains have embarked upon an exploration of the "lost Celtic province" of Galicia (the northwest corner of Spain) and areas extending to Portugal, the Basque provinces, and Cuba. They have used the finest musicians from these areas to propel their music with a conviction that staggers the imagination. Santiago catapults the listener into a musical excursion that seamlessly flows through the styles and musics of these different lands, so that a beginning and an end can no more be distinguished than the waters of the Mississippi River can be separated from those rivers that flow into it on its journey from its heart to its mouth. Attempting to find album highlights is virtually impossible due to the incredible musicianship displayed by the guests, too numerous to mention, who populate this work. Nevertheless, the opening five-part suite "Pilgrimage to Santiago" is worthy of singling out, with its use of ancient traditional instruments such as the tralaparta (large wooden planks that are laid on baskets and maize leaves and played with sticks) and the participation, in a different section of the suite, of the Ulteria Choir. Another notable track is "Dueling Chanters" with "seventh Chieftain" Carlos Nunez, a Galician gaita player, who had toured with the group for about two years at the time of this recording. As Paddy Moloney on uilleann pipes and Nuñez on gaita trade dazzling licks, it is an absolute delight to hear these two, on their cousins to the bagpipes, playing off each other so beautifully. ~ Bob Gottlieb, All Music Guide

Name Credits Antón Requeixo Drums Bill Somerville-Large Engineer Bob Conlon Assistant Engineer Brian Masterson Engineer Carlos Nunez Recorder, Whistle (Instrument), Gaita, Bombard Ciaran Cahill Assistant Engineer Cyro Baptista Handclapping Derek Bell Tiompan, Harmonica, Harpsichord Eliot Fisk Guitar (Classical) Fernando Alvarez Assistant Engineer Greg Calbi Mastering Hipólito Cabezas Tambourine James OMara Art Direction, Photography Jeffrey Lesser Mixing, Handclapping, Engineer Jesus N. Gomez Engineer Julio Pereira Percussion, Cavaquinho Kepa Junkera Accordion, Txalaparta, Tambourine Kevin Conneff Bodhran, Vocals Linda Ronstadt Performer, Vocals Los Lobos Vocals, Percussion, Performer, Strings Martin Fay Fiddle Matt Kemp Engineer Matt Molloy Flute, Arranger Matto Congrio Dancer, Vocals Paddy Moloney Uillean Pipes, Tin Whistle, Liner Notes, Handclapping, Arranger, Producer Pancho Alvarez Mandolin Pancho Amat Double Bass Raquel Zozaya Vocals Richard Egües Flute Roberto García Percussion Ry Cooder Mandola Seán Keane Fiddle Steve Cooney Guitar The Chieftains ? Wenceslao Cabezas Vocals, Tambourine Xoven Orquestra De Galicia Orchestra Xuacu Amieva Rabel, Voices