Flirting with the Edge continues John Whelan’s pattern of releasing records that push the boundaries of traditional Celtic music. Like Michael Flatley, Lord of the Dance (whom Whelan has worked with), Whelan brings Irish music to mainstream America, but the accordionist doesn’t dress it up in as much glitz as his former partner, preferring to keep his instrumentation simple, direct and as close to traditional Celtic music as possible. It’s in his style, his technique, and collaborations with guest artists like Bernadette Peters, Connie Dover, Samite and Oscar Lopez that he breaks down the boundaries, illustrating what a versatile form Celtic can be, not to mention the potential of the accordion. – Rodney Batdorf
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