The album was originally conceived for use by step-dancers; today it is a testament to an older generation of Irish musicians and the direct, unarranged playing that lets the music speak so well. (Reynolds is 76; Charlie Mulvihill dies in 1975 at the age of 58; Felix Dolan has been playing piano for 40 or more years.) The feel of Dolan's piano drives this album, with a beat as solid as a clock, and the music is so clear that I can close my eyes and see the musicians, even their looks over the instruments at each other.

I think that the musicians would say there's nothing extraordinary about this disk; other people might say that everything about it is extraordinary--its great music played by four masters--and I could listen to it forever. Extensive liner notes round out a beauiful package of pure, beautiful New York Irish traditional music.

Rating: A.

Track listing: