George since the Chieftans poularised Irish Traditional Dance Music there have been many good and not so good bands follow them - IMHO - there are not that many people capable of playing a Reel well. I despair of bad music even in Celtic, it sounds like you've never been spoiled like me.

Fact is if you had the opportunity(is that a pun?) to hear some of the great exponents of the 'art' I believe like me you'd be more enthusiastic than most. Try listening to Jim Morrison Fiddle(Seanachie Records) or Joe Cooley Accordian (Dont know which label) or any of the 'Kerry Slaibh Lucra' players or a folk player in that tradition like Matt Crantitch Fiddle (He has a new CD out it's in a Band cant think of the name r now BUT it is great from all accounts). Put it this way ( Don't wanna make any one mad) you'll have to poke around to find the good session players - by all accounts I made there are 100 fakes and one genuine article.

I have been into and out of celtic and currently involved with 'Old Timey Gospel' which is very very beautifull music. As an aside I play the Old Timey Banjo which is yet not as exposed to the Public as say the Flute Pipes etc.,

The very same problem surrounds the 5 string Banjo as the Pipes/Fiddle etc., people play em in public without first getting the music right before hand and that is why so many people make fun of Banjo pickers with slogans on their tee shirts like 'Tune it or else' !