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 "Kentucky-born
violinist Liz Knowles's accomplishments include membership in the touring
Riverdance ensemble, a soloist's role on the Michael Collins soundtrack,
and recording credits with artists ranging from Paula Cole and the Sirius
String Quartet to jazz pianist Marcus Roberts and Steve Reich. Her speciality
and passion is Celtic fiddling, a talent nurtured by her grandmother
(whose violin Knowles uses today) and her bagpipe-playing mother. Her
debut album features 11 handsome acoustic instrumental tracks--three
original compositions and eight traditional pieces Knowles arranged.
While a full album of fiddle music could become a wearying, monochromatic
affair, Knowles smartly varies textures, tempos, and supplemental instrumentation
(Chris Cunningham on guitar, pipe-player Jerry O'Sullivan on one track,
accordion whiz John Whelan on another, et al.) to deliver a winning,
largely upbeat package. Knowles's selections reveal a fondness for works
with modest starts and spirited, reeling endings. Noteworthy: her surging,
sparkling interpretation of "The Crooked Road"; the momentum-building,
near-hoe-downs of "The Kinyons" (a splendid original) and "The Blacksmith";
the yearning ballardry of "The Gift of Falling"; and the unexpected
"Laz," a fiery, percussion-heavy traditional Turkish number executed
in demanding 7/8 time." --Terry Wood - Amazon.com
La is currently
filling in for Eileen Ivers in the Irish Dance Troupe, Riverdance, while
Ivers takes a leave of absence to promote her new CD.
 Friend
of Zeta
Discography
The Celtic Fiddle of Liz Knowles
(1998)
Real Audio samples:
Kinyons
Hardiman the Fiddler
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