From the folk rich far north comes a CD to please a bevy of tastes. THE BANJO SPECIAL is a carefully crafted feast of traditional genres of this most American of instruments. Artie Naiman and Chris Coole are subtle masters of the clawhammer approach, that amalgam of frailing percussion and double thumb precision that is the signature sound of Appalachian traditional music and the dance band form it became, which we call Old Timey. The discipline of the genre precludes crispness and close definition but Naiman and Coole have the skill to offer melodic diversion without sacrificing authenticity. If you are a stranger to real folk banjo, you couldn't pick a better introduction. Their talent is even more evident when one considers the company they keep on this recording, company like Bluegrass whiz, Chris Quinn. On four featured selections (and one "everybody, take a solo" finale), Quinn shows both the tradition of three finger style and the evolution and expansion that has taken the 5 string from Scruggs and Reno to Keith and Fleck. On his cuts, he is joined by blazing solos from guitarist, Marc Roy, and mandolinist, Dan Whiteley.
The fourth star of this superb CD is County Sligo born Brian Taheny, whose mastery of tenor banjo is almost magical. He speeds through three reels, a hornpipe, a set dance, slip jigs, double jigs and that finale with triplets erupting from his strings like sparks from a Roman Candle. His tone and touch are mystic and correct and his musicianship is unlimited. I play some tenor, myself, and I can assure you that Mr. Taheny is the real deal. This CD is a release from Merriweather Recording Ltd. in Aurora, Ontario. They have a website, www.merriweather.ca

Next month, we'll cover new CDs of children's songs, sea songs and a few surprises. Of course, the biggest surprise would be if I ever finished my own recording but who am I to tempt the Evil Eye? (Excuse me while I spit three times).
--- Michael Miller