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Our Review

Noel is a multidimensional world music offering. The award-winning Canadian musicians (Terry McDade and The McDades) make it a family affair, presenting Celtic-rooted music that sprouts exotic shoots into Africa, India, and other musically-rich locales. The resulting stew is rich and complex, even though folk stylings propel the relatively straightforward foundation.

Terry McDade is a renowned harpist; his talented children (The McDades) provide excellent, innovative, joyous musical contributions of their own through the whistle (Jeremiah McDade), fiddle (Shannon Johnson), and bass (Solon McDade). Vocals are largely shared among the kids; these folk vocals are earthy, innocent, and lovely. Other musicians are on board, upping the complexity and atmosphere with cool insertions of Middle Eastern and other flavors.

Noel has the ethereal beauty of delicately-executed new age music, the substantive toothiness of great folk music, and the global richness of excellent world music. Although everything works well here, I particularly savored the outstanding instrumentals. The Little Drummer Boy and We Three Kings are standouts. The former is easily the longest track at nearly eight minutes; the mystical Middle Eastern approach has Cassius Khan intoning the intro in the Qawwali style and playing the Tanpura and Tabla. From there, the song grows in hypnotic, addictive swells, and I happily went along for the ride. We Three Kings is equally exotic, but with a more haunting and other-worldly vibe.

Some of the best holiday music originates in Canada, and that fact is reaffirmed year after year after year. Terry McDade and The McDades are remarkable musicians, and their Noel is a stellar product of world music magic. This holiday season, head north of the border, and enjoy!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2009)

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From the liner notes:

Musicians:
Shannon Johnson: Violin and Vocals
Jeremiah McDade: Low D Whistle, Bansuri, Soprano Sax, Whistles and Vocals
Solon McDade: Upright Bass and Vocals
Terry McDade: Lyon & Healey Concert Harp
Cassius Khan: Table, Tanpura and Vocals
Francois Taillefer: Frame Drum. Spring Drum, Cajon, Triangle, Cymbals, Tambourin & Dumbek

All songs arranged by Terry McDade and The McDades except "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" arranged by Alison Notkin, Terry McDade and The McDades.

The McDades are:
Shannon Johnson
Solon McDade
Jeremiah McDade

Produced by: Shannon Johnson
Co-produced by: Jeremiah McDade & Solon McDade

From the artist's Website:

Influences: The Chieftans, Alan Stivell, Dave Holland, Stephan Grapelli, Solas, Robert Johnson, Dervish, Lunasa, Charlie Parker, Chris Potter, Duke Ellington, Bob Wills, Bach, Brahms, Mingus, Jaco, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, Kate Rusby, Flook, Dexter Gordon, The Band, Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Avishai Cohen, Zakir Hussain, Peter Gabriel, Don Grolnick, Ale Moller, B.B King, Muddy Waters, Doobie Bros, Howlin' Wolf, Alison Krauss, Oscar Peterson, Altan, Mark Turner, Martin Sexton... and so many more!

About Terry McDade (from www.myspace.com/terrymcdade): Terry McDade, contemporary electro-Harpist, is featured along with Thom Golub (Upright Bass) & Dan Skakun (Drums) in "Harpe Jazz", a new & exciting musical group on the World-Jazz-music scene. These tallented musicians have joined forces to create one of Canada's most unique & creative musical groups!

Over the past five years Terry has been focusing on his own personal voice in the world music scene. He released his debut CD "Harpe Danse" in '98 to critical acclaim & has recently followed it up with "Midwinter" in '01 & "Noel" in "05".

Terry McDade and The McDades

Noel

Artist link

Track List