Artist: Nine 8-ths Irish
Album: Out On The Ocean
This is the second CD for Nine 8-ths Irish, and it offers traditional music at its best. This five-piece band hails from Sacramento and they bring with them influences such as bluegrass and jazz, but these are spices, not the main course. This album has some wonderful session music, traditional songs and even original songs written by one of the band members.
The blend of tunes is good here and the band does a nice job bringing them to life. The CD can easily hold its own against groups that have far more time together, and each band member gets a “turn” in the limelight here, which is nice. Track 8, “Greenland Whale Fisheries”, shows off pretty harmonies while other songs such as “Roisin Dhu” and “Sally Gardens/Franks’ Reel” leave the instruments front and center.
The band describes their music as “Irish and a wee bit more”, and it is an apt explanation for the sounds you’ll hear on the CD. Traditionalists will have their appetites satisfied, but those who want a little more than your typical fare will be pleased as well. If you’re looking for something good with plenty of tracks to check out, this is something that will satisfy.
Catherine L. Tully specializes in writing about the arts, lifestyle and travel. She is the Owner of 4dancers, a blog for those who love dance, and Editor for Freelance-Zone, an award-winning site for freelance writers. Catherine also reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine.










