By: Jeff Meade

The iridescent Nuala Kennedy

The New Shoes
Nuala Kennedy
Compass Records
Release Date: April 24, 2007
Irish Traditional

The players:

• Nuala Kennedy (vocals, flutes and F whistle)
• Claire Mann (flutes, fiddle, F whistle and vocals)
• Marc Clement (guitar and vocals)
• Julian Sutton (melodeons)
• Mhairi Hall (piano)
• Donald Hay (percussion)
• Mario Caribe (bass)
• Cathal Connell (vocals)
• Donald Lapp (trumpet)

The review: With all due respect to Forrest Gump, “The New Shoes” is like a box of chocolates. We’re not talking about Whitman’s from Walgreen’s, with the nonpareils that are anything but. No, this is all grand cru, like the artisan indulgences that sell for 90 bucks a dozen in Nieman Marcus.

On this CD, Kennedy travels the well-worn road of Irish traditional music, with occasional side trips to Cape Breton, the Hebrides and Brittany.  Kennedy's voice is iridescent.;her flute and whistle performances, unearthly.

Each track is luscious, exceptional and soul-satisfying. Savor each one.

You can listen to my top tracks, listed next.