Track Listing

1. Cregg's Pipes: Cregg's Pipes/Uist Reel/Johhn Doherty's
2. Welcome Home: Welcome Home Grainne/I Have a House of My Own With a ...
3. Harp and Shamrock: Harp and Shamrock/Mick O'Connor's Reel
4. Fest Noz: Ridees Six Temps
5. Spoil the Dance: Cillian's Midnight Dip/Tuttles Reel/Spoil the Dance
6. Stor Mo Croi: A Stor Mo Croi/Stack of Rye/Ladies Step Up to Tea
7. Dublin to Dingle: James Kelly's/The Foxhunt/John Brosnan's/West ...
8. Lady Ellen: Tana/Lady Ellen
9. Cotati Nights: Enez Sant Loran's/Princess of the Manor/Hunter's Road
10. Two-Fifty to Vigo
11. Temple Hill: Patrick Conneely's/Johnny McIljohn's/Temple Hill

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #103158 in Music
• Released on: 2003-07-14
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .19 pounds

Amazon.com
Lunasa’s past three albums have sometimes dabbled with outside influences, but Redwood is really proof of how much life there is in these traditional renderings of Irish tunes. Recorded in Northern California during a break in its 2002 tour, the instrumental quintet sounds as a comfortable as an old pair shoes here, but ones with plenty of support left in them--the musicians easily sprint through "Temple Hill" at a pace that barely leaves room to breathe. "Harp And Shamrock" is lovely duet between flutist Kevin Crawford and fiddler Sean Smyth (both acclaimed in their own right as players), where Crawford opens with a long solo passage before he hands the song off to Smyth, who solos to the conclusion as the rest of the band accompanies him. The arrangement is a simple idea, but one that’s well executed with dramatic results, which is actually something that can be said about all of Redwood. --Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews

Lunasa continues to inspire
The main claim to fame of Irish traditional band Lúnasa is their ability to blend trad songs with their own compositions so that the average listener cannot tell the difference between the two. This tradition continues on their 2003 release, Redwood (their last for the Green Linnet label after a long struggle).

Lúnasa say in the liner notes of the CD that their intention was to capture the live experience of their tour onto disc, so they took some time off in February, 2002, to record these tracks. I have to say they've done the job because I can feel the gasp for life in each breath taken between flute blows on "Harp and Shamrock." Ten of the eleven tracks on Redwood (with the sole exception of "Two-Fifty to Vigo" are composed of medleys of multiple reels--which compositions by the band members blended in inconspicuously--and the arrangements make for cohesive listening, with each track seeming like one song.

Now I have to admit here my minimal education in Celtic music--I'm generally more acquainted with Celtic rock like Boiled in Lead or the Saw Doctors. However, Lúnasa's Redwood makes me want to increase my knowledge--at the very least of their music. Their virtuosity and their ability to blend their instruments into one sound, make for a fascinating experience that simply makes me want to get up and dance--or, if that's not appropriate, at least to tap my foot.

High class
The music fan from Boulder who reviewed this album to say it was not "band-approved" didn't look carefully enough. The CD is actually the same as they sell on their own website - the dispute with Green Linnet seems to have been only over the artwork.

Basically so far there's no duds from this classy Irish band, so if you have one of their albums you know what to expect from the others. They're excellent musicians and they have a flair for interesting, if occasionally quirky, arrangements. Of the five albums so far, my own top choices would be this one and the first self-titled album. Redwood, like the debut album, flows along effortlessly and just makes you feel good. What more could you want?

This awesome album grows stronger the more you listen to it!
I have all 5 Lunasa albums and this was the last one I bought. Initially I played it and thought that the tunes were "also rans" but of course well performed and recorded, this is now my favourite album by far now. Like some fine vintage wine or whisky this album gets better the more you listen to it. Georgeous melodies and masterful playing make this a must buy for enthusiasts of this type of music, you won't regret it.