East Galway and East Clare-a region rich in Irish traditional music and players of legendary caliber. Three of those players--Woodford, Galway, flutist Jack Coen, Eyrecourt, Galway, button accordionist Martin Mulhaire, and Killaloe, Clare, fiddler Seamus Connolly -- join forces to celebrate the native Irish musical heritage they share on an album of impeccable taste, stunning virtuosity, and summit-scaling craic. The 16 tracks feature brillant trio playing as well as dazzling duet and inspired solo playing, beautifully backed by the peerless piano playing of Felix Dolan. Reels, jigs, slip jigs, hornpipes, and a set dance all flow effortlessly from these three Irish traditional musicians, each an acknowledged master of his instrument. Along with Felix Dolan, Jack Coen played in the New York Ceili Band, arguably the greatest ever formed in America, and in 1991 he was accorded a National Heritage Award, the highest honor bestowed on a traditional artist in the United States. Martin Mulhaire, an All-Ireland solo button accordion champion as a teen-ager, later won an All-Ireland ceili band title with the renowned Tulla Ceili Band. He’s a gifted composer besides, with seven of his compositions featured here. Seamus Connolly is the most successful solo competitor in the history of the All-Ireland championships, copping an unprecedented 10 fiddle titles, and has played with the Kilfenora and Leitrim Ceili Bands as well as with the late Tipperary button accordionist Paddy O’Brien. Three names that virtually define hard-core Irish traditional playing at its pinnacle, Martin Mulhaire, Seamus Connolly, and Jack Coen make Warming Up red-hot!
