Over the years I've collected a number of albums by guitarists who play, or have played, this style of guitar music. The list below is not complete but probably definitive.

NEW CDS OF NOTE

• Aurora : Todd Habekost

  Canadian Guitarist Todd Habekost and fiddler Mary Brunner hail from British Columbia and have recorded an album of new "Celtic" music that sounds old and traditional, a rarity, and difficult to achieve! Todd is one of few guitarist/composers writing in the Celtic vein. His music, though new, remains true to the Irish/Scots tradition. Todd is an accomplished player with overtones of Tony McManus in his ability to execute triplets with his right hand! (On a Larrivee OM) Mary Brunner's fiddling is sweet and precise, the two perform in a well matched duo. This is a neo-Celtic CD with great potential. Check it out!

• Far Green Country - John Sherman.

  John's third solo album continues his explorations in DADGAD of the traditional Irish/Scots repertoire. There is also an excursions into Vaudeville Irish music with such as "The Sidewalks of New York" Hey why not! This guy could make any tune sound fresh. John does keep his sense of humor throughout. These days he's playing a Taylor 514C, showing that a great Celtic fingerstyle player need not find himself a small builder guitar to make lyrical music on. John is one of the most unknown and underrated players I know of yet one of the best!

• Castlerea by Jim Tozier

  . Jim is a new player who has studied with Al Petteway. Thus, we know he will be a lyrical, taste conscious performer with considerable chops. Al recorded this CD and the sound is marhvelous!!! Not all the material on this CD is Celtic, although Jim says its "Celtic Inspired." He does several from the traditional repertoire including Carolan's Planxty Irwin, The Rights of Man, and Pretty Girl Milking a Cow (!) (Is this the next Julia Roberts movie title???) Much of the CD is dedicated to New American Steel String Guitar playing a la, Kottke, Fahey, Basio and others. Jim is a Taylor guitar player and shows off four, all cedar topped. (Do you prefer Cedar Jim?) A really good first effort.

• Celtic Guitar Summit - Steve Baughman Robin Bullock

  - Solid Air Records CD 2029. I was asked by the performers to write liner notes for their new CD. In part I wrote: "Simply put, it is also the loveliest guitar album I have heard," (In the Celtic genre). This is a wonderful duo CD with lots of interplay with both guitarists in melody mode. There are few Celtic guitar duo CDs out there so it's a rarity. But these two are great performers and the combination really shines. Do not pass this one up!
  
  
• Also brand new is Jim Earp's newest

  "Be Thou My Vision: Hymns For Solo Guitar

  available at Guitar9's web site. Last summer (2002) Jim asked me if he could license the use of a photo I had taken of Clew Bay in Ireland at summer sunset (about 10 PM!) for his new CD. So, here it is and I admit the cover looks great. The music is wonderful too. While this is not a Celtic CD, it has that feel and Jim plays in a variety of open tunings. What most impressed me is that he avoided making these religious melodies sound overly "precious". There's a fresh feel to the CD and I highly recommend it for all guitarists and listeners.
  
  
• I'm putting myself out on a limb with

  Hummingbird

  by Accordionist Jeremiah McLane and fiddler Ruthie Dornfeld. That's correct, no guitar content at all! Why you ask? Simple, Jeremiah is both a great player (as is Ruthie), but they are also fellow Vermonters. Jeremiah and I both played on a Spencer Lewis CD a few years back and his tune "Time Will Tell" was recorded by both El McMeen and John Sherman. And, Jeremiah also plays with guitarist David Surette. Circuitous, yes. But wonderful World Music. Give it a listen!
  
  

• A CD of Irish music from an Irish guitarist

  Frank Simon' s Slipstream CD. Simon lives in Boyle which is near Keadue in Co. Roscommon, where Turlough Carolan spent his youth and is buried. This is Irish music flatpicked. Simon plays in standard tuning. There are few albums of Irish music on flatpick guitar, so this stands out.Only Arty McGlynn and Dick Gaughan have produced flatpick instrumental albums, I know of. Simon recorded this CD using an Ovation acoustic.
  
  

• Al Petteway has recently released "Shades of Blue" (SACD 2032)

  his foray into the Blues. While I don't normally include CDs out of the Celtic genre, Al has in the past recorded primarily Celtic-based material and his extensive use of DADGAD on this new Cd shows how versatile this tuning is. This is definitely a different venture for the Washington D.C.- based guitarist but worth listening to.
  
  

• El McMeen"Breakout" Piney Ridge Music PRM109

  This is an aptly titled CD. On this his ninth album, McMeen has included several of his own compositions and several non-Celtic melodies from Motown hits, to Somewhere Over The Rainbow. Also, he is now playing Martin guitars! This after a long line of other makers instruments. Not to worry, the Martin OM 28V he plays sound great. Surprising, yes, but the warmth of his music and his continued development of CGDGAD tuning make this another in a long line of lovely CDs. Also, for those of you who have followed El's decade long career, the inside photo shows a man who looks years younger. The stress of full time employment is gone and McMeen is flourishing as a result.
  
  

• Christopher Dean, The Gael, Cairney Hill Music,

  San Diego based Chris Dean has recently issued his second Celtic CD. This 10 tune CD includes less familiar tunes such as Inverness Gathering, Dargai, The Ewie with the crooked horn, and The Bonnie Earl O'Moray. There's also nice versions of Inisheer and Star of the County Down. Chris has a precise touch with his two Taylor guitars.
  
  

• Scottish guitarist Tony McManus'

  most recent "Ceol More" on Compass Records adds another to his growing body of work. Tony is an amazing player who does triplets fingerstyle (get his videos to learn how) and is one of the fastest players around. This new Cd includes lots of finger twisters but also some slow tunes with a venture into Jewish music with Shalom Aleichem (Tony are you getting Bar Mitzvahed??) In all a great CD from a great player.
  
  

• Dominique Riviere

  Plus Loin. This Frenchman is a wonderful player who is also adept at bouzouki and accordion. His web page has a nice video of him playing Hardiman the Fiddler. This CD includes several Breton melodies, a wonderful addition to the Celtic fingerstyle library of tunes and CDs. Hard to find but highly recommended.
  
  

• Steve Baughman: The Angels Portion Solid Air Records SACD 2021

  San Francisco based guitarist Steve Baughman continues to dazzle the listener with his facile guitar playing. Beyond his lovely arranging and interesting repertoire, Steve shows his enormous grasp of technique. He's got the MFT (Right hand Middle Finger Thwack) down pat. He also uses Clawhammer banjo technique (frailing) to great advantage on "Hickory Jack".

  This CD is a wonderful compilation of traditional Celtic - Roslyn Castle, One Draught Too Many (Carolan's Draught- played on a 7 string guitar), Jigs- Including a favorite of mine the Rose in the Heather, Reels- John Kelly's and St. Anne's. There are French flavored melodies include Danses des Deux Pommes Frites and Breton Dance/Le Funque Trunk. Steve has even gotten the Hawaiian Slack Key idiom down with Bonnie Wahine, although I doubt if any Slack Key player has ever tuned his guitar to DAAEAB! Also he's included two melodies from the Swedish tradition in this CD. Steve's ability to play and arrange is awesome. He's as good as it gets on fingerstyle guitar, and this CD shows off his talents.

  Visit Steve's website or the Acoustic Music Resource page for more information.

• Ian Melrose, A Scottish Legacy, Acoustic Music Records Best.Nr.319.1249.242

  While Irish music has seen a lot of fingerstyle guitar interpretation -- El McMeen, Martin Simpson and Steve Baughman are examples-- Scottish music hasn't been nearly as fully explored. Tony McManus and Tony Cuffe come to mind. Thus, Ian Melrose's new CD "A Scottish Legacy," is a welcome addition to a meager list. This Berlin, Germany based Scottish guitarist has dabbled in the music of his homeland on his previous albums, but this CD is full blown Tartan. The 15 tracks include familiar composers J.S. Skinner ("The Mathematician, "The Music O'Spey,") and Neil Gow, ("Farewell to Whiskey," "Lament for the Death of his Second Wife") and traditional tunes such as "Mrs. McLeod," and "Lochaber No More" in the 15 tracks.

  Melrose is a fine interpreter, fast fingered on the jigs and reels and full of pathos on the laments. He colors the music with occasional drum, bass and mandolin accompaniment. Notable is the new ground he covers with several slide driven resonator guitar tracks. I can't remember previously hearing this technique used on any other Scottish fingerstyle guitar albums.

• Al Petteway & Amy White and Robin Bullock

  have released a Christmas CD, "A Holiday Sampler" and it's a beauty. I am not enamored with most holiday albums, the old, tired and worn, as I see it. But this CD is lovely, warm, and very appealing. The tracks alternate between the Petteways and Robin's tracks, and the tunes are not all standards. Although there is the obligatory "Greensleeves," by the Petteways there is also "Tomorrow Shall be my Dancing Day" by Robin. What really impressed me was Amy's many talents on mandolin, harp, piano and vocals. She does a great rendition of Ave Maria no less. She's great. This is a sit-by-the-fireplace-hot-toddy-in-hand-hug-your-honey-and-open- the-presents type CD. They should have put a warning on the Cd, "Can Be Played With Pleasurable Experience Any Time of Year."

• Todd Habekost

  has produced "First Light Over The Cove" and it is a wonderful introduction to his music. Todd wrote me saying he was a guitarist who had a CD in the Celtic style. I thought "oh sure, another guy who tunes to DADGAD so he thinks its Celtic." But NO, these compositions, mostly his own and two traditional tunes, DO hove to the traditional sound and format. Todd has honed the three-finger triplet technique developed by Tony McManus, and he gets a very "fiddle-like" sound from his Larrivee OM. These melodies are quite accessible and sound as if they came right out of the tradition. Definitely worth a listen.

• Dick Gaughan

  has a new CD "Outlaws & Dreamers". It's not a fingerstyle instrumental CD and it is mostly vocals, but I'm giving it a plug because it's a great CD. With the exception of two cuts which include Brian McNeill, it's all Gaughan, voice and guitar. Great tracks like "The Yew Tree", "When I'm Gone" by Phil Ochs (thanks Dick!) and "Tom Joad" by Woody Guthrie (again, thanks Dick) this is a folksinger CD in the best tradition. If you get a chance to stop by Dick's web site there's a lot of great info on his career.

• Alec Stone Sweet's "Memory & Praise" on Appleseed Records APR CD 1042 and, Christopher Dean, "Highland Heritage", Cairney Hill. Both are Californians and both play in a relaxed style reminiscent of the pacing of El McMeen. Sweet, who I am told will be featured in an upcoming issue of Acoustic Guitar Magazine, recorded his album primarily on a Martin OM 28 from the 1970s. He uses a variety of tunings but favors DADGAD and FGDGCD, and DGDGCD.

  The CD, his first, includes a goodly number of Turlough Carolan harp pieces - "Carolan's Concerto", "Squire Woods'", "O'Carolan's Farewell to Music", "Mabel Kelly", and "The Lamentation of Owen Roe O'Neill". There's a fast paced jig, "The Choice Wife", and also two cuts using the clawhammer banjo technique. This technique is catching on and guitarist Steve Baughman has just set up a web site Frailing.com to familiarize players with the style. Steve credits Alec with being a master at this style.

  As you might guess, Sweet's playing is anything but frenetic. His pacing is slow and relaxed, an approach I favor myself. The music stretches out and is easy to listen to and understand. Alec appears to be a player we'll hear a lot more from in the future.
  

• Chris Dean, also takes the relaxed approach on his 2000 release CD. This El Cajon-based guitarist, plays the locally made Taylor 612ce and 314ce, on the album. He is a former 5 string banjo contest winner who gets a very bright sound from his instruments.

  The CD includes several Celtic standards, "Mist Covered Mountains", "Wild Mountain Thyme", and "Danny Boy". He also performs Pierre Bensusan's "Voyage to Ireland" on this 11 track CD. All are done with great skill. Dean is a guitarist who favors a good deal of ornamentation in his performance as witnessed by this CD.

  Chris did his CD in a home studio and created a very professional sounding recording. Its is clear to me that it does not take a wad of cash, or great technical skill at recording to produce quality sounding music using a minimal amount of digital equipment.

  ---

• El McMeen and Friends, The Lea Rig

  El McMeen's seventh recording, The Lea Rig, finds the "king of C G D G A D tuning" adding others to his musical vision. Until now McMeen has let his lyrical solo guitar sensibilities carry each recording, but on The Lea Rig he's joined by Bob Pegritz on pennywhistle, Kate MacLeod on fiddle, Steve Black on harmonica, and Larry Pattis on second guitar. The material includes several Turlough O'Carolan compositions ("Carolan's Concerto," "Bridget Cruise, Third Air," and "Carolan's Receipt/Morgan Magan") as well as the Celtic standard "Mo Giolla Mear." McMeen's interest in popular music is reflected in the inclusion of Bruce Springsteen's "Sad Eyes," George Harrison's "Here Comes the Sun," and the Motown classic "Stop in the Name of Love." It's good to see an artist as mature and assured as El McMeen leave his safe harbor and explore new elements. (Piney Ridge)

• Other CDs or Players I have listened to and reviewed

• Jim Goodin a Brooklyn-based guitarist with an Arkansas accent, has released "Celtic Journey To The Path". Here's a CD that combines cuts featuring the music of O'Carolan with Jim's more modern New Acoustic Steel String Guitar style reminiscent of Hedges, DeGrassi, Fahey et al.
  

• Jim Earp has released his second CD "Smiles To Go" JECD9901. While this CD has no specific Celtic content, Jim is such a fine player, whose melodic sense is very strong he should be playing Celtic music.

• If you haven't heard of John Renbourn I guess you just arrived from Mars (but they do play Celtic music there I'm told). John's recent CD "Traveller's Prayer" on Shanachie 78018, is perhaps his most Celtic album to date. I particularly liked his version of "At The Break of Day" which Martin Simpson plays as "Banks of the Bann." Also includes Carolan's Loftus Jones, South Wind and several other wonderful pieces. Some nice singing too, by friends of John. A great CD in my estimation.

• Clive Carroll has a new CD "Sixth Sense" . Who is this young wippersnapper? Just 24 years old, this Englishman is an amazing player and composer. His music is lyrical and often in the Celtic mode if not exactly traditional. Get this CD to hear the future of fingerstyle guitar playing.

• Chris Newman, no slouch to guitar playing himself, has recorded Clive on his own Old Bridge Music label which has produced some superb music in recent years. I also like the fact that Chris had the balls to take on the Boys of the Lough and quit the band when they came down heavy on Christy O'Leary for doing his own music when the B of L weren't playing.

• Jody's Heaven, the San Francisco based trio which includes guitarist/banjoist Junji Shirota (Japan's gift to Celtic guitar playing) has a new CD, Garden of Butterflies on Aniar Records I highly recommend this CD and their first "Jody's Heaven" because this band plays some of the best Irish music on the planet. Simple, unadorned, fiddle, concertina/flute and guitar. Wonderful music, a must find and purchase.

• Keith Hinchliffe-- A new CD from Keith. "Islands" is a really fine album with 21 tracks all solo guitar. I thought his versions of The Musical Priest and Monaghan Jig were killer renditions of these rarely heard (on guitar) melodies. This CD is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

  This English guitarist came to my attention when he released "Carolan's Dream" an album of Carolan Music for solo guitar in 1993. This album is a must listen but probably very hard to find outside of England. Keith's book of transcriptions for Carolan's Dream has 19 transcriptions, all in tablature, covering the entire album. Published by Dave Mallinson Publications, 3 East View, Moorside, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, England BD19 6LD. Keith's address is 23A Spring Hill Sheffield S10 1ET, England. You can order the book for 10 English Pounds, the CD for 13 English Pounds and the cassette for 8.50 English Pounds.

• Also of note is the new CD by San Francisco-based guitarist/banjoist Junji Shirota, "Heathery Breeze" While this is primarily a tenor banjo album Junji includes several fingerstyle pieces. He's from Japan, a great player and well worth seeking out. You should get both his CDs if possible. He also plays with fiddler Dale Russ. You can e-mail Junji Or contact him at 830 Balboa St., San Francisco CA 94118.

• El McMeen El plays almost exclusively in CGDGAD "Low C" tuning. He has several books of arrangements all available through Mel Bay publishing.

• William Coulter--His album "Celtic Crossing" on Gourd Music (GM 121) is lovely. Bill plays alot in DADGAD.

• David Surette--David lives in Maine and may not perform much outside of New England but his playing is wonderful. (He also plays great mandolin) He owns a couple of Froggy Bottom guitars made in Newfane, Vermont by Michael Millard. David's album "Back Roads" and his newest album Trip To Quimper, is available from Madrina Music, P.O. Box 4225 Portsmouth, NH 03802. David's book of transcriptions "Down The Brae" is available from John August Music 1-800-664-8482 for $22.50. It's well worth the investment.

• Al Petteway--Two albums of interest, "Whispering Stones" Maggies Music 206, and "Midsummer Moon" Maggies Music 210. Al mixes Celtic melodies and "new age" styles, but he's an adept player and well worth the listen.

• Martin Simpson--Martin's "Leaves of Life" album, Shanachie 97008, absolutely floored me and got me into alternate tunings. I even took a lesson from him. This album and the later "When I was on Horseback" Sh 97016, are his most "celtic" but the man is a monster player. Martin has three videos on Homespun that show his approach to arranging melodies. Well worth the bucks as home entertainment.

• Chris Newman--Chris is half of the duo with harper Maire Ni Chathasaigh which call England home. I highly recommend his recent album Fretworks .This album is a tour de force of styles from swing to blues to celtic. Chris shows himself not only a great guitarist on his venerable Martin OM 18 from 1930, but also a fine mandolinist. This album really kicks. It's amazing how much sound Chris gets from his OM. His playing is brilliant. I mention him because the duo have recorded "The Carolan Album" on Old Bridge Music (02) and also "Out of Court" (OBM 03) both heavily "celtic".

• John Feeley--John is a classical guitarist from Ireland who has recorded several albums of traditional Irish music and several Carolan pieces. Someone sent me a copy of his first album, and I don't have the label or number but I believe its on Ossian from Ireland. His next album "Celtic Classics" is Oss 047 and Andy's Front Hall music has it.

• Another classical guitarist is Simon Taylor. I have an album "Classic Irish Guitar" but don't know the label.

• Anisa Angarola is one of few women playing Celtic style guitar. She plays a classical guitar and can be heard on several of Joemy Wilson's albums on the Dargason label. Her solo album is "Irish Airs and Dances" Dargason 110.

• Eileen Niehouse hails from the Denver area. One of few women I have located who play in this guitar style. She performs locally but I doubt if she tours. El McMeen turned me on to her album "Mad Grace" which is on Banbh CD-1001 (Banbh Music P.O. Box 260192, Lakewood CO 80226-0102. Eileen plays a Lowden tuned DADGAD.

• Another Englishman whose early work had Celtic influences is Davey Graham. His album "The Complete Guitarist" Kicking Mule 138, was an early work in this field. It's probably out of print but check the KM catalog.

• Columbus Ohio guitarist John Sherman recorded a brilliant album "Farewell to the Creeks" I obtained a copy when he offered it through the Internet at bargain basement prices. John should be much better known than he is. He released "Ceol Anam" with guitarist Carol Barney on Folk Legacy records one of very few Celtic duo guitar CDs.

• Steve Baughman hails from northern California, and has produced a beautiful album of fingerstyle guitar--A Drop Of The Pure on Tall Tree Records, his own label. His Goodall guitar has a very warm and thick sound. He uses several different tunings including. EAAEAB, EABEBC#, and EABEBB. An album recently sent me The Owner's Daughter features Steve on guitar, banjo and backing vocal with Valerie Price on lead vocals and violin. It is reminiscent of the work Martin Simpson did with June Tabor back in the early 1980s. Steve also does a couple of guitar solos on this album. Very pleasant listening! Steve has several books published by Mel Bay

• Two compilation albums come to mind. "Music of Ireland" Shanachie 97004, features Graham, Simpson, Stefan Grossman, John Renbourn, and Duck Baker. Lots of different styles on this album. Also "Irish Reels Jigs, Airs & Hornpipes" Shanachie 97011 with Duck Baker, Dave Evans and Dan Ar Bras.

• There are many other guitarists who play some "Celtic Fingerstyle Guitar" I suggest Pierre Bensusan's early albums, Martin Carthy, Daithi Sproule (A Heart Made of Glass-Green Linnet 1123) and Robin Bullock, "Green Fields" Dorian 80112.

• Bruce Abrams

  I met Bruce in Dingle Co. Kerry this September. He is a native Angelino living part time in Ireland. His album, "The Truck Stops Here" is a combination of music from African and Celtic sources thus the "Aftro-Celtic" designation he gives it. To buy this album you'll need to be a bit adventurous (oh go ahead, you only have one pair of ears!) He's a fine fingerstyle guitarist and harpist. If you really need a reason to get this album, Martin Simpson guests on slide guitar. You can obtain the album by contacting BAA Musi 4355 Sepulvida Blvd, Suite #103 Sherman Oaks, Ca. 91403. Fax (818)990-9288.

• Jon Hicks hails from England, lives in Ireland, plays a Lowden and flatpicks. His album "Chasing The Bear" on the Talltree record label recently arrived. This player has all the ornaments of Irish music down cold. His right hand is solid and lyrical. He's also a very good singer. I thought his guitar sounded wonderfully rich on this CD. There's also guest appearances by Patty Keenan, Niamh Parsons and Athena Tergis among others.

• Tommy O'Sullivan "Legacy" I picked up this album while in Dingle. Tommy mainly flatpicks Irish session tunes and he is also a good singer. His playing is very accessible as he plays in standard tuning. You can contact him by writing to him at Mountain road B&B Deerpark, Lispole, Co. Kerry, Ireland Phone 066-51149.

• Tony McManus "Tony McManus" CDtrax 096 (Greentrax) Wow can this guy play. He must be flatpicking the first set of tunes or else he's got the most nimble thumb in the west. Anyway, this fellow should be heard. He's from Paisley, Scotland. Studied Mathematics at Glasgow University and went to Exeter University to study for his PH.D. He turned professional during this time and never completed his doctorate. "The tunes got in the way" he says. Most of his material is played in DADGAD , occasionally in standard but with a dropped D. His main guitar is a custom built parlour size instrument (with a huge sound) by William Kelday a Scottish guitar builder. He also owns a baritone guitar by Kelday and a L'arrivee. He frequently tweaks his tunings on stage ala Martin Simpson (who is one of his great influences) . He also speaks highly of the Breton guitarist Siog Siberil. He has a video produced by Stefan Grossman

• Roger Landes "Dragon Reels" This album emanates from former Scartaglen member Roger Landes. Roger plays guitar, mandolin and cittern. Cittern is a 10 string instrument much like the Irish bouzouki. While not a fingerstyle guitar album per se , this is a very pretty production with some great playing by Roger, with Zan McLeod on DADGAD backup guitar and several other Celtic music stalwards. You'll find out more about Roger and his cittern at his web site

• Also consider listening to the following singer/guitarists: - Richard Thompson (UK) - Stephen Fearing (Ontario) - Mick Hanly (Irish) - Luka Bloom (Irish) - Dougie MacLean (Scotland) - Jil Burns (UK) - Dick Gaughan (UK) -flatpick too - Bert Jansch (UK) - - Archie Fisher (UK)

  ---

  Celtic Fingerstyle Guitar Main Page