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The Chieftains (Chieftains, the)

This time I am going to introduce to you a group called The Chieftains, of which the concert I saw just recently in Tokyo. They are an Irish group, working together for over 35 years. They basically play traditional Irish music, and at the same time they are very enthusiastic to work with musicians in various fields. Their latest album "Tears of Stone", basically a collection of traditional Irish songs, features female singers like Bonnie Raitt and Natalie Merchant and among many, a Japanese singer Akiko Yano is singing in Japanese. They have also worked with well-known musicians like Sting and Gipsy Kings. They have been in Japan a few times for concert and this time was the first in two years.

It was a very nice, at-home atmosphere concert with a pair of Irish dancers, a female Irish singer and former Riverdance main fiddler Eileen Ivers as guests. It was just like something you would think you were sitting in some Irish pub listing to a very good local group playing. I personally think Bodhan (a drum-like Irish instrument) and flute sound somehow like traditional Japanese music. Celt music also gave a lot of influence to Country music.

7/8/'99


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