Ryan,Karen Coast Road CD

A musician, teacher and promoter, it would be no exaggeration to say that Karen Ryan lives and breathes traditional Irish music. Born in London to Galway and Mayo parents, it was a strong Connemara tradition of melodeon players and traditional singers on her mother's side that initially fired her love of the music. Karen started playing music at the age of nine, taught by the North Leitrim musician Tommy Maguire at the London Irish Centre, where she herself now teaches. It was here that she met lifelong friends and fellow fiddle players, Elaine Conwell and Teresa Connolly (n?e Heanue), with whom she won the under 12 Trio competition at the All-Ireland Fleadh in 1985. 'That a London style of traditional Irish music has evolved from the 1960s to the present day, is generally accepted worldwide. The product of great immigrant musicians from all parts of Ireland getting together. Goodwill and good will music being foremost at the London sessions. Listening to Karen's recording of 'The Coast Road' deos great justice to these musicians past and present. Sweet and neat would not be a sufficient description of this no leass than great recording. Musical sincerity and a yearning for the fifth dimension comes to mind. Well done, Karen and Pete and guests.' - Danny Meehan, musician. Karen was fortunate to hone her musical skills through playing with a vast array of musicians in the vibrant London Irish session scene and during frequent visits to musical gatherings in Ireland and the US. Whilst gleaning much from all these players she cites Brian Rooney, Brendan McGlinchey, Danny Meehan and the recordings of Andy McGann as having the most influence on her fiddle playing. 'Karen Ryan is one of our great musicians here in London. Lucky for me, I've known her since she was a little girl playing whistle and bangjo but as she got older she favored the fiddle which she plays in her very popular band, The London Lasses. Karen plays with fluency, great control and beautiful tone; listening to her playing reminds me of when me and my siblings were young - we used to play football but when we got tired we used to sit by the stream which ran at the back of the house and listen to the water flowing. I think that's the best way to describe her beautiful, flowing music.' - Brian Rooney, musician. As a founder member of the renowned traditional Irish six-piece, The London Lasses and Pete Quinn, Karen has performed at some of the world's most prestigious festivals and concert halls, including the Royal Albert Hall, where the band performed the first ever BBC Proms c?il? in 2008. The band have recorded four albums to date. 'This is a lovely CD from Karen displaying her numerous skills on a variety of instruments. She has a personal style with strong, rhythmical, expressive tones. Karen is one of the legacy of the great immigrant musicians of the 1950s and 1960s to England. She also carries on the teaching tradition of Tommy Maguire and Breandan Mulkere. Hundreds of young people have benefited from her teaching skills, taking part successfully in Fleadh Britain and Fleadh Cheoil na h?ireann. Irish traditional music is safe in her hands.' - Brendan McGlinchey, musician. Whether as a teacher with Meitheal Cheoil in north London, a workshop leader or an adjudicator both in the UK and overseas, Karen continues to pass on the tradition to both young and old.

1. Reels: The Limerick Lasses/ the Gatehouse Maid/ the Mountain Top 2. Jigs: Kitty's Rambles/ Kitty of Oulart/ An R?gaire Dubh 3. Hornpipes: Plains of Boyle/ McGlinchey's/ Walsh's 4. Polkas: Dan Herlihy's/ Tom Billy's 5. Slow Air: Sliabh Geal Gcua 6. Reels: Sally Gardens/ Miss McCloud's/ Tommy McGuire's 7. Jigs: Kiss the Bride/ Shandon Bells 8. Reels: Mrs. Lawrie's/ Karen Ryan's 9. Jigs: Dr. O'Neill's/ Saddle the Pony 10. Slip Jigs: The Gathering/ Liverpool to London/ the New Piano 11. Reels: The Swallow's Tail/ the Sunny Banks/ the London Lasses 12. Song: An Draighneßn Donn 13. Waltz and Reel: Tim O'Leary's the Rabbit's Burrow 14. Jigs: Going to Mass Last Sunday/ the Gold Ring/ the Battering Ram 15. Reels: Galway Reel/ Musical Priest/ Sailor on the Rock