Mixing The Punch

Paddy O'Brien, the All-Ireland accordion champion renowned as one of the most powerful and passionate players of Irish traditional music today, celebrates the release of his second solo recording, MIXING THE PUNCH. MIXING THE PUNCH features Paddy O'Brien playing his old 1947 Paolo Soprani button accordion (an instrument that once belonged to legendary musician Sonny Brogan). The new CD offers a wide mixture of jigs, reels, and hornpipes, one slow air, and one selection of polkas, which are Paddy's own compositions. The tunes included are particular versions from Counties Clare and Donegal, or settings from players Paddy has known over the years, and filtered through his own taste and musical expression. Paddy is accompanied on MIXING THE PUNCH by Teresa Baker, a wonderful piano player who hails from Portland, Oregon. Fellow Offalyman, Felim Egan from Cloghan, plays a selection of jigs on solo accordion as a guest artist.