OK, I have spent the entire weekend listening to this one. My buddy, and fellow Beef Brother, tells me he thinks this is his finest work. I don't think I agree with him on that. But that is because everytime he gets in the studio with the other Beef Brother, Mr. Paul Mills, the product is excellent. One only has to listen to the musicianship, the vocal excellence, the wonderfully crafted lyrics and the way Jed turns a phrase, to know he is an artist par excellence, and that the work is going to be to a very high standard. So it is with this one. Sands of Aberdeen just slides right in with his other works as fitting into the "must have" category. Every single time he heads to the studio, the product marks another step along the path to legacy. Each one of these CD's shows Jed at another waypoint along the path to greatness as an artist, songwriter, and musician. In this chapter of the legacy he is joined (as is noted above), by Hugh Morrison and Mason Brown. The result is a wonderful collection of songs, interpreted to a tee, and produced with the stunning results that one gets working with Paul Mills. This entourage of performers led by our Jed, and produced by Paul, have created a touchstone recording. One of my favorites (although not sung by Jed) is their take on Lily of the West. The opening track, which is the Title Track, grabs you by the heart and works you over. Take the time to listen to it several times over, in order to get the emotion it brings. The Low D whistle track, Willie Coleman's, will eat you alive. I love their take on Star of the County Down, and was very happy to see it included, as well as Down by the Glenside. He also does the Broon o' Cowdenknowes, and does it great honor by the rendition. I also liked the tip of the hat he gave with the Belles of Ontario.

Just a first rate piece of work, in my opinion. The trouble that Jed will have is that he continually sets the bar so high that one expects him eventually to have a letdown. Based on this work, I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Get this one, folks. You won't be sorry.

All the best,

Big Mick Lane
Conklin Ceili Band