Fire in the Kitchen
BMG/Unisphere, 1998 | 09026 63133-2
by Sarah Adams
This particular release by the Chieftains, Fire in the Kitchen, is a collaboration between The Chieftains and Canadian Maritime Artists. This album is a bit of a departure from some of their earlier collaborations. On this album the Chieftains play more of a supporting role and they let the other artists shine. The album is produced by Paddy Moloney and it features some of Canada's finest traditional musicians including Ashley MacIsaac, Natalie MacMaster, Barra MacNeils, Leahy, The Rankins, Great Big Sea, Rita MacNeil, Laura Smith, Mary Jane Lamond, The Ennis Sisters and the Quebec group, La Bottine Souriante. Living near the Canadian border I have had the opportunity to listen to a number of these artists on a wonderful radio program called Prairie Ceilidh on a Winnepeg, Manitoba radio station and I was pleased when I saw a number of my favorite artists from this program recording with The Chieftains.
The fiery and boisterous tracks are balanced by wonderful airs in both English and Scots Gaelic of Cape Breton Island. Several tracks from the album stand out in my mind as most noteworthy. The first track, Madame Bonaparte/Devil's Dream/Mason's Apron, on the album features Leahy, a sibling group from Ontario. The track starts out with the air Madame Bonaparte and bursts into Devil's Dream, one of my favorite American fiddle tunes and finishes off with Mason's Apron. It is a fun and fiery track to listen to and a great track to lead off the album.
The track, Fingal's Cave, with Natalie MacMaster and co-arranged with Matt Molloy has a rich texture and is played with great sensitivity allowing the true sense of the tune to come out with a bit step dancing to round it out. The track is a wonderful treat to listen to and Molloy's flute playing compliments the eloquent beauty of MacMaster's fiddle playing.The last track to catch my attention as a particularly strong track is Le Lys Vert, with La Bottine Souriante, a group from Quebec. The track blends the Irish traditional music and elements of French-Canadian music and foot tapping. It is a lively track to listen to and a fun one to grab someone and go for a whirl around the kitchen. This track in particular must have been a riot to record for the track reflects the fun and exuberance of the session and the entire album for that matter. An excellent choice to close out a strong album.
Other tracks of note are An Innis Aigh with The Rankins, Lukey/Lukaloney with Great Big Sea, A Mháiri Bhóidheach with Mary Jane Lamond, and Rattlin' Roarin' Willie with Barra MacNeils. The only track that I felt was not as strong as the other ones was My Bonnie with Laura Smith. It is a good track but it is not as strong as the other tracks on the album.
Overall it is a strong album and a riot to listen to and highly recommend it to those who want to discover fine traditional music coming from Canada. It is presented and arranged in a matter that it would reflect a jam session in anyone's kitchen. I only wish it was longer. There is something there for everyone and wonderful way to discover music of our Northern neighbors. The comment that Moloney makes referring to the tradition being alive and well in Canada is true and these artists and ones in the future will keep that tradition alive and well for many years to come.