*** Kevin Burke

IN CONCERT

(Green Linnet)

With the Corrs and B*witched coming on like Spice leprechauns, and Riverdance filling auditoriums with lasers, the schism between trad and pop Celtic music has never been wider. Playing in the Bothy Band and Patrick Street, virtuoso Irish fiddler Burke has touted the homier verities for decades, relying on ancient airs and buoyant jigs to engage listeners without flash.

This gorgeous solo recital, his first such endeavor, was recorded in an Oregon coffeehouse, and its small scale provides a great view of Burke's ability to be both spirited and sentimental the old-fashioned way. "The Butterfly" is a slip jig that explains the program's aesthetic -- the fiddler futzes with tempo, milking nuance to create the unpredictable flittering of his subject. That kind of subtlety resounds on this disc. The gorgeous long tones of his ancient Jewish wedding tune allow for the mood to be both melancholy and joyous. And when pal Martin Hayes sits in on three tracks, momentum dominates melody. It's not easy to sculpt a fully compelling solo session, but Burke manages quite nicely.

-- Jim Macnie