Dave Sheridan: Drivin' Leitrim Timber

Guest Musicians:
Dave Sheridan (flute, guitar), with Michael McCague (bouzouki, guitar), Brian McGrath (piano), Neill Lyons (bodhrán),
Kevin Doherty (double bass), Rick Epping (harmonica, jew's harp), Hugh Sullivan (bodhrán)

This album is a thoughtfully organised collection that celebrates a fluid, free-flowing regional flute style, shot through with just enough sharp edges to keep the listener’s antennae on high alert for the next hairpin bend. Sheridan’s generosity is everywhere evident in the arrangements, with guitar, bouzouki, bass, harmonica, piano and bodhrán subtly bolstering the tunes.

Dave Sheridan is a music teacher and traditional Irish flute player originally from Co. Leitrim in the north west of Ireland. His flute playing has been described as “a highly accomplished free flowing fluid style, with sound technique and solid driving rhythm” (Hot Press Magazine) and a flute style, which takes on “Lark like qualities' (fRoots Magazine). On the back of his critically acclaimed debut album ‘Sheridans Guesthouse’ in 2006, he released his second solo flute album entitled Drivin’ Leitrim Timber in 2010. This album has also received rave reviews, with the Irish Times describing it as “a joy..a thoughtfully organised collection, that celebrates a fluid free flowing regional flute style…with enough sharp edges to keep the listener’s antennae on high alert for the next hairpin bend”. Dave has been head of music at St. Michael's College in Ballsbridge Dublin for the last 19 years and has spent his career developing methods to make music more accessible to his students. He has taught flute at the highest level in many workshops and summer schools both in Ireland and abroad. Dave has recorded with artists from renowned traditional groups like Lunasa, Dervish, Planxty, De Dannan and At the Racket, as well as performing and touring on many occasions with the Sligo based band Teada. He is also a founding member of the band Garadice with Eleanor Shanley (De Dannan), Padraig Mc Govern and John Mc Cartin.

As with good whiskey, the timber is very important - but so is the spirit, and Dave Sheridan's spirit is exactly what Leitrim music needs.As with good whiskey, the timber is very important - but so is the spirit, and Dave Sheridan's spirit is exactly what Leitrim music needs.

Audio

Track 1: The Letterkenny Blcksmith

Track 2: P.J. MacNamara's Hornpipe

Track 3: I Buried My Wife

Track 4: Colonel Fraser

Track Listing

1. Reels: The Letterkenny Blacksmith - Matt People's - Famous Ballymote.  03:04
2. Jigs: A Smile for Shiela - McKenna's - The Leitrim Quickstep.  03:18
3. Reels: The Wishbone - John Doherty's.  03:03
4. Hornpipe & Reels: Fisher's - Johnny Gorman's - P.J.MacNamara's.  04:13
5. Reels: Lough Allen - The Singing Kettle - John Blessing's.  03:41
6. Jigs: I Buried My Wife And Danced On Her Grave - O'Dea's - Ryan's.  03:18
7. Reels: Morning Dew - Col. Frazer.  03:46
8. Jigs: Off To the Hunt - The Flying Wheelchair.  03:44
9. Reels: The Hunt in the Bog - Tom Dowd's Favourite - The Trip to Cullenstown.  03:41
10. Jig & Reel: The Whinny Hills of Leitrim - The Boys of Portaferry 02:27 Jig & Reel: The Whinny Hills of Leitrim - The Boys of Portaferry. 02:27
11. Waltz & Mazurka: Grey Ridge Breeze - Tommy People's.  03:31
12. Reels: Big John's - Stoney Steps - John Kelly's Concertina 03:18

Also available from Copperplate :
Dave Sheridan: Sheridan's Guest House
Garadice
Garadice: Sanctuary

Press Reviews:
The Living Tradition

Following up on his Sheridan's Guesthouse release of a few years back, a collaborative venture with several Leitrim musicians, Dave Sheridan presents undiluted Leitrim flute music on what is effectively his solo debut. There's plenty of fine accompaniment from the likes of Michael McCague, Neill Lyons, Brian McGrath and Kevin Doherty, but with the exception of a bonus tenor guitar solo and a couple of cameos from Rick Epping, Dave maintains the melody on solo flute. Both timber and timbre are solid enough, an excellent example of the flowing Leitrim style with occasional percussive passages. Tackling big reels mostly, there are a few technical imperfections but the soul of the music is wonderfully expressed. Famous Ballymote, John Blessing's, Colonel Frazer, The Sunny Banks and more, each tune is a delight. Dave breathes life into jigs and hornpipes too: Fisher's, The Whinny Hills of Leitrim, O'Dea's, Ryan's, and that well-known Leitrim phenomenon The Flying Wheelchair. There's a bravura performance of PJ MacNamara's Reel, lovely deep crans on a very pipey version of The Leitrim Quickstep, and bags of atmosphere for the haunting reel Lough Allen.

I gather Dave Sheridan is something of an evangelist for Leitrim music. Teaching and performing, his county's flute tradition is clearly a passion. On his previous recording, Dave was sparring with the button box alongside the flute: here he finishes with a flourish on tenor guitar, perhaps a sign of things to come. Along the way, he has become a very fine fluter. His own tune Grey Ridge Breeze, dedicated to Leitrim, is a fine addition to the body of Leitrim music and a charming contrast to the faster sets on this CD. Not that the reels and jigs drag on Drivin' Leitrim Timber: quite the opposite. Tunes like The Morning Dew and The Boys of Portaferry are handled with a skill and energy which is simply beautiful to hear. I Buried My Wife - a personal favourite of mine - leads off a storming set of jigs, while the final Martin Rochford selection combines the grace and lyricism of that great East Clare fiddler with the spark of Leitrim dance music. As with good whiskey, the timber is very important - but so is the spirit, and Dave Sheridan's spirit is exactly what Leitrim music needs. Find out more at www.sheridansguesthouse.ie - apparently they do a great breakfast too!  Alex Monaghan