Our very own Seamus Kennedy has just released his 10th CD on Gransha Records. The album is called A Smile and a Tear and includes some old favorites as well as some new! Seamus is accompanied by several of his long time music friends, plays multiple instruments himself, and introduces one or two new musicians as well. He is joined by World Champion piper EJ Jones (from the very popluar Houston TX-based Celtic Trad band, Clandestine) on a humorous Seamus original called The Boogie Woogie Piper. Seamus is joined by his son Damian, who plays several purcussion instruments (Damian also produced the artwork for the project).

I particularly liked the mix of music on this record. Seamus presents some wonderful old trad tunes like Mairi's Wedding and some fine modern folk-style songs like Michael Smith's The Dutchman and a superb and moving new song from a Seamus friend named Mike Campbell called, The Wilderness Letters. The famous poem written by poet/rebel Joseph Plunkett I See His Blood Upon the Rose introduces Seamus's fine rendition of the bros. O'Meara classic, Grace. And as any Seamus Kennedy album MUST have, there are several, very funny songs.

This is a wonderful CD. Seamus and co-producer Brad Hayford have done a fine job of arranging, performing and recording these tunes. The instrumentation is traditional, and even though there is at times a complex blend of many layers, the sound is always simple and uncomplicated - the common thread on every track is Seamus's rich baritone voice carrying the song. I don't know if the album is available for sale yet on his website, but the link to Seamus's website is here.

I'd be remiss if I didn't say that perhaps some of my enthusiasm for this CD was grounded in the fact that Seamus included one of my own original songs on the record. I was honored to have Sweet Ellen Joyce selected for inclusion - and thrilled to hear the fine result!

I hope all Mucatters get a chance to enjoy this great album by one of our favorite Mudcatters.