Brotherhood of Stars - Carlos Nunez
-Carlos Nunez
RCA BM600 74321 453752
Carlos Nunez can be contacted at
Apartado de Correos 318 , 36200-Vigo,Spain .
Fax: 0034 86 436041
Carlos Nunez is the world's greatest exponent of the Galician bagpipe , the gaita
.Galicia is a Celtic region in the North West corner of Spain and shares with other
Celtic countries a rich heritage of old chapels,stone circles , stone crosses ,castles,
legends and music .
Galicia's music is the result of several influences : There is the Celtic influence
(the Celts were driven here by the Romans and there have been continual connections
with Ireland throughout the centuries through a proud seafaring tradition, and a
strong tradition of Christian pilgrimage from Ireland to the burial place of St. James in
Santiago). There is also a strong flamenco influence in the music and many Latin
sounds brought to Galicia by returned emigrants from South America.
The concoction of sound on this album is highly intoxicating as is Galician music
in general .
Carlos Nunez began his career as a musician at eight years of age . As early as 13
years he was invited to play as a gaita soloist with the Lorient Symphony Orchestra
in Brittany . It was there that he met Paddy Moloney of the Chieftains who invited
him to play with the Chieftains on a number of occasions after that . He has toured extensively
with the Chieftains over the years and has featured on a number of their albums .
Indeed , he has sometimes been referred to as the 7th. Chieftain .
As a music student , Carlos received the highest marks on the Baroque recorder in
the Royal Conservatory of Music in Madrid . Today he is a highly proficient performer
on the baroque recorder , the gaita and the whistle . Paddy Moloney has described
Carlos as "an absolute genius" and this album certainly provides proof of same .
The album is produced by Paddy Moloney and Carlos Nunez and has all the quality of
sound and arrangement for which the Chieftains are justly famous . The numbers range
from haunting type recorder music to stirring gypsy/Spanish sounds to Irish , Breton
, Galician jigs and reels . Every number is beautifully arranged and orchestrated
. Guest artistes include the Chieftains , Triona Ni Dhomhnaill and Micheal O'Domhnaill
(of Bothy Band fame), and Ry Cooder as well as a host of Spanish musicians including
flamenco guitarists , traditional singing groups and soloists , accordion players ,
double bassists , violinists , etc.
For those of you who in the past have dismissed the gaita as a simple high pitched
reed instrument - have a listen to this . It will forever change your mind . One
of the best folk recordings I have listened to in years .
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