Review from Dirty Linen Magazine, February/March, 2003
JOHN CREAVEN
The Story So Far
John Creaven comes from near Galway, and now lives in Chicago. He is quite a different sort of player (to Harry Bradley - "As I carelessly did stray..." reviewed in the same issue), though one might again imagine his having been influenced by Tansey. Paddy Carty is also occasionally evoked, but really his playing could be more easily likened to the Galway style of fiddling: straight forward and quietly passionate, with ornamentation kept to a minimum and maximum attention given to instrumental tone. Creaven's sound is full, round and beautiful and he relies on it thoroughly on this striking debut, which features mostly solo playing apart from simple but very effective bouzouki work by Dennis Cahill on five tracks. Very musical and very enjoyable.
Duck Baker
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Review from Irish Times Newspaper, May 2, 2002
JOHN CREAVEN ****
The Story So Far
A débutant flute player, John Creaven is a native of Galway but now resident in Chicago. The Story So Far packs a mean belly punch, albeit with a velvet glove. This is a revelatory collection; Creaven's low-key style is intimately sympathetic to his chosen tunes. Whether rising to a gallop on the set of Belfast jigs, The Broken Lantern/Grogan's (Creaven upping the ante with the authority of Van Morrison at his demanding best) or pacing the desolate song air, Shamrock Shore, this is a young player who taps the pulse of a tune with precision. Bare-boned accompaniment from Dennis Cahill on guitar provides the ideal hammock. Makes you want to pour a mint julep and swing alongside them.
Siohhán Long
Track List:
1. Paddy Carty's favourite/O'Sullivan's march (Jigs)
2. Swinging on the gate/Johnny Henry's favourite (Reels)
3. McGibbney's fancy/From Galway to Dublin (Hornpipes)
4. Money in both pockets (but not mine)/Maids of Ahoghill (Marches)
5. An seanduine dóite/Johnny Henry's (Jigs)
6. The broken lantern/Grogan's (Jigs)
7. Gannon's (Barndance)
8. Mary MacMahon/Lady Gordon's (Reels)
9. Paddy Taylor's favourite/The orphan (Jigs)
10. Shamrock shore (Song Air)
11. The honeysuckle/Stack of barley (Hornpipes)
12. Scotsman over the border/The tenpenny bit (Jigs)
13. Noone lasses/Eddie Duffy's favourite (Reels)
14. Sailor on the rock/The morning of the day (Reels)
15. Killavil/Miller's maggot (Jigs)
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
JOHN CREAVEN
The Story So Far
John Creaven comes from near Galway, and now lives in Chicago. He is quite a different sort of player (to Harry Bradley - "As I carelessly did stray..." reviewed in the same issue), though one might again imagine his having been influenced by Tansey. Paddy Carty is also occasionally evoked, but really his playing could be more easily likened to the Galway style of fiddling: straight forward and quietly passionate, with ornamentation kept to a minimum and maximum attention given to instrumental tone. Creaven's sound is full, round and beautiful and he relies on it thoroughly on this striking debut, which features mostly solo playing apart from simple but very effective bouzouki work by Dennis Cahill on five tracks. Very musical and very enjoyable.
Duck Baker
________________
Review from Irish Times Newspaper, May 2, 2002
JOHN CREAVEN ****
The Story So Far
A débutant flute player, John Creaven is a native of Galway but now resident in Chicago. The Story So Far packs a mean belly punch, albeit with a velvet glove. This is a revelatory collection; Creaven's low-key style is intimately sympathetic to his chosen tunes. Whether rising to a gallop on the set of Belfast jigs, The Broken Lantern/Grogan's (Creaven upping the ante with the authority of Van Morrison at his demanding best) or pacing the desolate song air, Shamrock Shore, this is a young player who taps the pulse of a tune with precision. Bare-boned accompaniment from Dennis Cahill on guitar provides the ideal hammock. Makes you want to pour a mint julep and swing alongside them.
Siohhán Long
Track List:
1. Paddy Carty's favourite/O'Sullivan's march (Jigs)
2. Swinging on the gate/Johnny Henry's favourite (Reels)
3. McGibbney's fancy/From Galway to Dublin (Hornpipes)
4. Money in both pockets (but not mine)/Maids of Ahoghill (Marches)
5. An seanduine dóite/Johnny Henry's (Jigs)
6. The broken lantern/Grogan's (Jigs)
7. Gannon's (Barndance)
8. Mary MacMahon/Lady Gordon's (Reels)
9. Paddy Taylor's favourite/The orphan (Jigs)
10. Shamrock shore (Song Air)
11. The honeysuckle/Stack of barley (Hornpipes)
12. Scotsman over the border/The tenpenny bit (Jigs)
13. Noone lasses/Eddie Duffy's favourite (Reels)
14. Sailor on the rock/The morning of the day (Reels)
15. Killavil/Miller's maggot (Jigs)
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
- WORLD: Celtic
- FOLK: Traditional Folk
- SOLO INSTRUMENTAL