Tommy Halferty, one of Ireland's finest guitarists, leads three French musicians in a successful marriage of jazz and folk. Irish songs such as My Lagan Love, Raggle Taggle Gypsies and The Bold Fenian Men get a new lease of life, with arrangements by Michel Zenino.
The group, collectively known as Ogham, respects the original tunes while building on them imaginatively -- and Halferty is adventurous in his interpretations. Apart from the traditional tunes, there are two originals with a folky sound: Fire and Rain by James Taylor and Ballade Irlandaise by Eddy Marnay and Emil Stern. The French trio is totally in sympathy with the undertaking, and Halferty's soloing is a joy.
OGHAM is the name of the secret ‘Tree Alphabet’ of the Celtic Druids, used as an unique early form of arcane writing in Ireland in ancient times. According to the medieval Irish ‘Book of Ballymote’ the name comes from the ‘honey-mouthed’ Ogma, Celtic God of Eloquence, also linked with the Gaulish God Ogimus, whose ‘golden speech’ was recorded in Gallic artwork as a fine gold chain linking the tip of his tongue to the ears of his listeners. OGHAM is an Irish-French group which brings together traditional Irish songs with Jazz music of today.
Artists
Tommy Halferty (guitar)
Mario Canonge (piano)
Michel Zenino (bass)
Stephane Foucher (drums)
Track List
- The Blacksmith
- Van Diemans Land
- Fire & Rain
- Raggle Taggle Gypsies
- My Lagan Love
- The Banks of Ohio
- Mairi’s Wedding
- The Bold Fenian Men
- Ballade Irlandaise
- She Moves Thro’ the Fair
To get your copy of this album contact Tommy on 087 698 9355 or send him an email