"Eclecti-Celt" on KBRP Bisbee, Arizona

Coming to You from Bisbee, Arizona

Bisbee is a small city situated one-mile-high, in the Mule Mountains in southeastern Arizona USA, just 10 miles from México. This is the "Sky Islands" region of North America, one of only a dozen mountainous regions on Earth where neo-arctic, or neo-Antarctic, climates meet and blend with neo-tropical influences. Known for an especially unique diversity of plants and animals, in the case of Bisbee this wild diversity includes its human inhabitants. For more information about these unique landmasses please refer yourself to this excellent organization: http://www.skyislandalliance.org/

In the early years of the 20th Century, thousands of fortune hunters from all over the globe lured by precious metals encased deep within these mountains, for a time made Bisbee the most populous city in the United States between St. Louis and San Francisco. Present-day Bisbee is a community of 7,000 people. After copper mining operations were shut down in 1975, turn-of-the-century shacks and mansions sat vacant, being sold for a song.

Since then, artists, writers and bikers, playwrights and plasterers, dancers, bird-loving scientists and many other free spirits, slowly integrated with mine workers families, cattle ranchers, and other "colorful" characters of Cochise County, creating a demography that is truly diverse, mostly civil, and seldom dull.

KBRP: Bisbee's Radio for the People

By 1997, some of these folks decided that the time had come to bring public, community-based radio to the changing ears of Bisbee. Educating themselves on the logistics and legalities of launching a radio station, the radio-minded vanguard decided that the most cost effective and least governmentally intrusive way to bring radio to Bisbee was as a low-power community station.

The Bisbee Radio Project Incorporated is entirely all-volunteer owned and operated. Automated radio programming on KBRP began the 21st of November 2004, with LIVE programming hitting the airwaves one month later at 96.1 FM.

Over five years later, KBRP radio Participant Members strive to enrich audiences with interests ranging from children's programming to live radio theatre. Thanks to its technological visionaries the station is Live-Streaming to Estonia, Chicago, and even North Wales as well. In all likelihood KBRP is streaming to the very machine you're reading these words upon. Go to: http://www.kbrpradio.com/

Naturally, border issues and hot local news are also a highlight of KBRP programming. The station is proud to have been gifted with national and global news from Pacifica Radio International. Musical programming brought to the air by local volunteer DJ's partially includes: acoustic folk, blues and jazz, Swing & Big Band, purely experimental always sublime, old-timey country, hard rock and roll, far-reaching world music, and of course, an eclectic Celtic mix of humble renown.

Getting Into Eclecti-Celt

This website brings you access to music--tunes and songs, and sometimes poetry and prose readings, and politics on occasion, from the nations where the Celtic languages and cultures are yet influenced, informed and invigorated. As the responsible party for "Eclecti-Celt" it is only fair that I offer a simple definition of what in my mind artistically constitutes "Celtic".

So much more than synthesized meditation music: new age music to accompany a massage or root canal. Wonderful Celtic tunes as performed by many artists linked here in "Eclecti-Celt", traditional and traditionally-inspired, they are determined masters of the strings and the driving drones of bagged and bellows pipes. Like dear neighbors coaxing crossroad dances from a close-knit community, with a breathing concertina, dancing till dawn to the backbeat of the goat-skinned bodhrán, an ancient musical instrument and harvest tool.

Introduced and freshly incorporated with affection and expertise, you'll find musicians practising precise ornamentation of the Mediterranean-born bouzouki, and the plucky tenor banjo, African-bred via Appalachia, and fingers flying furiously over the fretboards of beer battered guitars.

The sympathetic pulse of triple harp in the hands of these Celts brings tears to our eyes and causes the throat to tighten, sharing through the tune the universality of human sadness and longing. And don't forget the pitch of whistles wooden and tin. And like honey to the ears out of a dolmen's overhang, the lilting of an Irish wooden flute.

The voices heard on "Eclecti-Celt" are always heartfelt, and sometimes unaccompanied. In the Irish: "sean nós" style, the old style. Traditionaly, these songs could be spinning or harvest songs, love songs and lullabies, or battle songs and laments. Many are long, extremely stylized and melodically amazingly complex. Perhaps no other styles of singing has an emotional, piercing effect as does Celtic singing.

And of course, these days the tunes and songs are often Electrified and Amplified...to the most entertaining effect. Actually, a fair percentage of the tunes and songs getting aired on "Eclecti-Celt" represent the new blood, the younger artists who push the boundaries of what has defined the genre up to about the 1980's. These folks grew up rocking. And I mean hard rocking. They may be singing in the language of their Celtic ancestors, but they have the amps turned up and the songs embody the grist of their 21st Century awareness.

PLEASE, don't forget to tune-in LIVE to "Eclecti-Celt" on Bisbee's community radio station KBRP 96.1 FM, or live-stream on the website http://www.kbrpradio.com/ most Monday's from 8 pm to 10 pm, Arizona Mountain Standard Time. If you can't get enough, the Monday show is re-broadcast the following Sunday between 1 pm and 3 pm.

Which usually means--without regards to silly Daylight Savings Time changes--add seven or eight hours in Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Scotland, the Isle of Man and in Brittany. Now you can stream the program at the ridiculous hour of 3 am to 5 am, Tuesday mornings. TAKE HEART though, you can stream the re-broadcast Sunday nights from 9PM to 11PM your time. Of course, in Boston and Buffalo and New York City, check it out either day and either times--it's not THAT late. Anyplace else please feel free to do the math! Except of course, for daughter Dawn in The Gambia--go for 9 - 11 Sundays--and daughter Aurora in Zambia--an hour later on Sundays! THANK YOU!

Empirical opinions are made as to whether languages, such as Gaelic Manx and Cornish, while not strictly extinct, are far from common usage and therefore beyond recovery. Equally pessimistic are some such as British author, Marcus Tanner, who believes that the strength of the survival of Celtic languages and culture is largely misplaced. In the conclusion of his 2004 book, "The Last of the Celts" he writes:

"The much-trumpeted Celtic revival lives off the accumulated cultural savings of the past. It presupposes the language's continuing existence somewhere, either in a gaeltacht, up some mountain, or in some other remote place."

Although hundreds of thousands still commonly speak and live the inheritance of Welsh and Breton, and fewer thousands, Irish, Scottish and Galician, many experts consider it safe to predict the demise of these ancient European lifeways, as does Tanner:

"What happens when Irish, or Welsh or Breton or Scottish Gaelic can no longer retreat deeper...Europe needs living Celtic languages. Their disappearance has obviously impoverished the people who spoke them, as the barren cultural wasteland of South Wales...shows only too clearly."

What absolutely still thrives in the Celtic nations and diaspora is the music, the poetry and the artistry. Memory-old and freshly-penned tunes and songs. Songs which are sung with ancient spirit from fiery young voices, clear as holy wells and Celtic as kilts! Sydney and Vancouver and San Francisco and London and in every major city and most small communities in 'Celtic country' have notices and newspapers and even BLOGS, featuring people dedicated to the survival of language and therefore culture. And of course, politics thrives as well.

Most importantly, if you love the music, support the musicians! If you love the poets, provide for their provision! Please go to their websites, discover who these people are, bringing us so much fun and reflection. Explore the "Festivals and Frolic" page on this website. Find out where they are performing LIVE, buy tickets and go see them--and be prepared to wiggle and stomp your feet and clap your hands. Meet them during the Intermission--they would love to meet yourselves. (Tell them "Hello!" from Eclecti-Celt...and that I wish I could have been there!) And buy their CD’s or Downloads. Help support their melodies and lilting lyrics. Thank you!

Special -- Just for Eclecti-Celt

Gwilym Morus is a native of Wrecsam, North East Wales, and is currently pursing a doctoral degree in the Welsh Department at Bangor University. He has just launched his own independent recording label, Eilio, and has recently completed training as a mountain guide in the breathtaking Snowdonia region of north Wales, where he resides. Needless to say, Morus leads a busy, exciting life. He is a cornerstone of a new generation of Welsh singer-songwriters. And the wait after "Word on the Border" was worth it. He states the album "The Dressing Gown Goddess" was recorded in Bangor University’s Powis Hall. Released in 2008, the album brings together an eclectic feast of native roots and the funkieness of his band, Drymbago. This music carries on in your head long after the last cut has ended. And in 2009, there's more Gwilym has brought out..."Llwyn Eosiaid". Clearly, Gwilym Morus is soulful and a prolific, hard-working musician. From this Welsh songwriter, the bluesy..."Awen Boeth"...from "The Dressing Gown Goddess"

03 January 2011

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First things first...

The views and opinions, graphics, and audio content, were put here by myself and are NOT the doing of the Bisbee Radio Project, Inc., or of KBRP community radio. Further, any use of this multi-media from other than my own sources, are whenever possible referenced and linked back to the artists from whom they emerged. If you are one of the artists featured in the "Eclecti-Celt" website--or heaven forbid, their lawyer--and are offended or pleased by the material used here, do not hesitate to contact myself as described in the section "Who's Responsible".

"Sinéad O'Connor...far into her Irish heritage with 13 traditional songs dusted off and set to new arrangements. Accompanied by stellar Irish artists...such as Donal Lunny...and Christy Moore, O'Connor, who also coproduced, casts a hypnotic spell, making the old songs resonate with pulsing rhythms and sounds. Such contemporary treatment takes nothing away from the austere splendor of the material--in fact, this often seems a mystical recording just recovered from some ancient vault."--Alanna Nash

"Gabriel Yacoub and Marie Yacoub formed Malicorne in 1974, naming it after the French town, Malicorne, famous for its porcelain and faience. Malicorne 1 consisted of the Yacoubs, Laurent Vercambre and Hughes de Courson. The combination of electric guitar, violin, dulcimer, bouzouki and female vocalist immediately brings to mind Steeleye Span, their English equivalent, thus placing them squarely in the electric folk genre. Again like Steeleye Span, they occasionally sang group harmonies a cappella."

"Alan Stivell, born Alan Cochevelou, is a French and Breton musician and singer, recording artist and master of the Celtic harp, who from the early 1970s revived global interest in the Celtic (specifically Breton) harp and Celtic music as part of World music. In 2006, a new CD called "Explore" came out in France and other countries, distributed through Harmonia Mundi. This album demonstrates that Stivell is still a leading artist, exploring fusions of Celtic music with electro-rock, raga, hip-hop, etc with a unique and personal vocal style and a very interesting and original mix of lyrics in Breton, English and French."

"Éamonn Coyne, lives in Edinburgh, and is originally from Dublin, Ireland. He learnt his playing from a variety of sources and is a member of the younger generation of Irish musicians. Along with traditional Irish music, Éamonn has a keen interest in other types of music including American country, old-timey music, and jazz. Éamonn's first solo cd, Through the Round Window, on Compass Records, was released in the US on 13th August 2002. It is a work of banjo music and more featuring Éamonn on tenor banjo, mandolin, tenor guitar, 6-string guitar and tenor national steel guitar. Accompanying him on the cd are a host of luminaries of the Irish music scene and beyond..."

"Tommy Hayes has been at the forefront of traditional Irish music for over 30 years. In a career that has exemplified diversity he has performed and recorded with most of the great names in traditional music and beyond. Tommy has recorded with many artists. To date has recorded output numbers in excess of 400 albums. In the world of film Tommy has played on numerous films amongst them “Titanic” “The Devils Own” “Rob Roy” “In the Name of the Father” and “The Field”. Tommy is also very involved in teaching and has held workshops and master classes in many parts of the globe. Tommy is very involved in environmental work and is the chairman of the Irish Seed Savers Association an organisation dedicated to the preservation of native Irish fruit and vegetables.

Liam was the youngest of the Clancy Brothers of Carrick-on-Suir in Co. Tipperary, Ireland. Liam began singing with his brothers at fund-raising events for the Cherry Lane Theatre and at Woody Guthrie benefits. The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem, began recording on their own "Tradition" label in the late 50's. A record breaking 16 minute long performance on the Ed Sullivan Show launched the group into stardom. The quartet recorded numerous albums for Columbia Records and enjoyed great success during the 60's folk revival. In 1973, Liam left the group to pursue a solo career. He moved to Calgary, Alberta, where he became an established television performer. Liam had his own series, which won a Canadian Emmy Award. A guest spot by Tommy Makem on the show led to a reunion with his old pal. As "Makem & Clancy", the two recorded many albums which included several hits such as "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" and "The Dutchman". Liam Clancy often quoted Bertolt Brecht's saying, "With a man's dying breath he must be prepared to make a fresh start". He will be sadly missed by family, friends and his many fans throughout the world.

Dónal Lunny has been at the cutting edge of the evolution of Irish music for more than thirty-five years and is generally regarded as having been central to the renaissance of traditional Irish music in that time period. Both Dónal Lunny and Andy Irvine have some claim to popularising the bouzouki in the Irish music sphere after its initial introduction by Johnny Moynihan. Including his many performances as a session musician and producer of artists such as, Paul Brady, Elvis Costello, Rod Stewart, Indigo Girls, Sinéad O'Connor, Clannad, Baaba Maal, The Waterboys, Fairground Attraction and Eddi Reader, Lunny has participated in other projects including a solo album titled "Donal Lunny" (Gael-Linn 1987), and the multicultural group project album titled "Coolfin" (1998), with Márta Sebestyén.

"Two of Wales' finest musicians have combined to record this album of Welsh language songs, simply arranged for guitar & voice. Julie Murphy, singer with leading Welsh traditional group Fernhill, is regarded internationally as one of Britain's finest folk singers. Dylan Fowler is an acclaimed guitarist who has worked with many of Britain's finest jazz & folk musicians, including Danny Thompson, Richard Thompson, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Tina May & Jonathan Gee. This album was suggested by performances with young fado star Camane, in Portugal, where traditional Welsh repertoire was being re-presented to a modern audience. The title Ffawd (fate) acknowledges this initial inspiration."

"Ashley MacIsaac is, in a sense, the musical representative of the pre-millenial generation of Eastern Canada. An ardent traditionalist with a penchant, nevertheless, for experimentation, this 29-year-old Nova Scotian native has been taught to play the fiddle the working-class, pub-stomp Cape Breton way: fast, furious and with phenomenal precision. Alternately considered a rebel, taking the old fiddling conventions in newfangled directions they were never meant to go, or a champion, reforging and recreating Celtic music with an updated, mass-appeal quality, MacIsaac has unarguably put his own spin on the sounds he was brought up with."

Coming to You from Bisbee, Arizona

KBRP: Bisbee's Radio for the People

Getting Into Eclecti-Celt

The Celtic Sense of Place: Languages and Landscapes

Featured Artists, Poets & Performers

Special -- Just for Eclecti-Celt

03 January 2011

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