Mary Courtney - Another Story

New York has a thriving Irish music scene and through the years many great players, singers and bands have passed through its plentiful hostelries. One of the bands that has thrived in New York is Morning Star who continue to keep both local New Yorkers and Irish immigrants entertained every week. Mary Courtney is the singer with Morning star and is herself one of those happy immigrants who like many Irish has taken to the big city life like a duck to water.

Recently Mary has taken a little time out from Morning Star to release her solo album. The album is called Sceil Eile which means Another Story is Irish and is a lovely collection of songs that Mary grew up singing in her native Kerry. Mary plays guitar and Bodhran on the album making it an almost truly solo offering. (Mary even took the cover photo)

The album is a great showcase for Mary's voice and testimony to how great songs sound best when set against a simple backdrop. Is Mise Eire (I am Ireland) is a haunting melody opening the collection and leading into Trasna Na Dtonnta (crossing the waves) a pretty natural progression for us wandering Irish. There is no set theme here except singing the songs she loves and that have moved her over the years.

These are songs of love and loss and like many Irish albums some of the songs are of politics and injustice. And Mary takes the songs and gives them a genuine Irish session feel and simplicity that make this a little jewel of a CD to while away the day.

None of this will stop Morning Star though who are still out and about playing and taking irish traditional music to new audiences every night.

More information on this CD is available at

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mcourtney

and for info on Morning Star go to

http://artists.iuma.com/IUMA/Bands/Morning_Star/

Mary has already released the album at a show in New Jersey and her NYC release gig will be on

Tues. 18th Nov. - Rocky Sullivan's Pub ( 7:30PM )
Lexington Ave. (btwn. 28th & 29th St 's)
Manhattan , NY
212-725-3871

I might have to travel up for that myself.