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LA CRITICA
Hanno scritto del loro Cd "Cheap Present":
 Francia
Italia
Irlanda,
Inghilterra, Germania, Olanda
Australia,
Belgio, Stati Uniti
AUSTRALIA
Web Site FOLK TRAX
"The Ligurian outfit have had a bit-of an internal shake up
since they last ventured into the studio and now present themselves
in a classic four-piece line-up, not forgetting the by now time-worn
tradition of an occasional grandstanding appearance from one of
the big hitters of Irish music, who on this occasion respond to
the names Niamh Parsons, Graham Dunne and Cyril O'Donoghue.
3 (three) testifies to the birkin tree's excellence as both composers
and interpreters, making them not simply the best Italian Irish
music group, but one quite capable of holding their own with the
'originals'. On many occasions in fact birkin tree have won the
praise of the real Irish McCoys they've met as they wowed the crowds
of numerous festivals.
While for Lyam O'Flynn birkin tree ''play with a vitality that shows
they not only love this music, they also have fun with it'', for
Martin Hayes ''their interpretations show the music can survive
at the highest levels also outside Ireland [.] and confirms that
anyone in the world can take part and enjoy the music whether as
a musician or just by listening. Thanks for the great work you're
doing for this music''. On 3 (three) delicate ballads alternate
perfectly with rousing jigs, age-old traditional pieces with more
modern ones and even on occasion the birkin tree's own compositions.
It's worth listening to this CD both for the band's ability as musicians
and for the painstaking, faultless arrangements which show how deep
the music has sunk into their veins.
This album shows birkin tree expanding their instrumental palette
with the addition of piano and saxophones which interwoven with
the violin and uillean pipes make for a more open and enjoyable
atmosphere which goes beyond simply reviving old themes. Taking
the time necessary to create a good record (a rare quality these
days), with 3 (three) birkin tree once again emerge as first class
interpreters of a still fertile and vital tradition as well as musicians
with a talent for tasteful innovation. "
RADIO NATIONAL
It's no surprise that the Planet would feature an Irish music album.
It is a little surprising that this album was made by an all-Italian
quartet. They call themselves 'BIRKIN TREE' after a Gaelic song
about a birch tree and their new album, 'THREE', takes a fresh,
vibrant look at Irish instrumental music, adding saxophones and
string quartets for a sound that's reminiscent of the infectiously
likeable Canadian group 'La Bottine Souriante'. As great Irish fiddler
Martin Hayes says, "They prove that Irish music can survive
at the highest levels outside an Irish cultural context. Listen
to Birkin Tree and you are listening to the real thing."
Multi-instrumentalists Daniele Caronna and Fabio Rinaudo co-founded
the group over 20 years ago. On this album, Irish singers NIAMH
PARSONS and CYRIL O'DONOGHUE make guest appearances.
BELGIO
FOLKTRIBUNE BELGIO
Het zijn Italianen, maar op hun derde album is Birkin Tree niet
meer te onderscheiden van de betere Ierse folkbands. Liam O'Flynn
en Martin Hayes uitten zich al lovend over deze groep, en, naar
nu blijkt, terecht: sax en strijkkwartet worden vaardig ingezet
om een eigen geluid te ontwikkelen. Met bijdragen van Niamh Parsons
en Cyril O'Donoghue.
STATI UNITI
DIRTY LINEN
Maggio 2004
Birkin Tree has been called "the best Italian-Irish musical
group", which might be like billing yourself as the best blues
band in Denmark; you might be good, but how do you stack up to the
real thing?
In this case, judging from its latest recording, 3(three), the group
holds up quite well.
It's been four years since its last recording and the group now
consists of Daniele Caronna (fiddle, guitar), Devis Longo (piano,
saxophone, keyboards), Fabio Rinaudo (uillean pipes, whistles),
and Simone Sisani (flutes).
When it comes to straight-ahead traditional sets, they come off
really well. The fiddle, pipe, and flute playing is first-rate and
the choice of material is from both original and traditional sources.
But whatmakes Birkin Tree different from just an Italian-Irish cover
band is its unique and original arrangements, like using the saxophone
in a decidedly non-Irish way.
"A sad night" is an original piece that opens with saxophone
and electric guitar playing a slow, melodic interlude, joined a
few minutes later by uillean pipes. Then it drifts into a soft saxophone
solo of the traditional "Morning Dew", later to be joined
by electric guitar and piano before the flute picks up the melody
line, later joined by fiddle and pipes.
Quite breathtaking and original. Also very different is the use
of a string quartet on "tribute to Derek Bell", which
plays a counterpoint to the main melody line on uillean pipes.
As no one in the group sings, two guest vocalists fill in to good
effect. Cyril O'Donoghue performs a version of Joe Dolan's "The
Foxy Devil" and the noted Irish singer Niamh Parsons sings
a contemporary version of the traditional "Carrickfergus"
with a very modern arrangement featuring the strig quartet.
Birkin Tree shows on 3(three) that it's not only the best Irish
band in Italy, it rates quite highly as a great Irish band, period.
Jim Lee (Simi Valley, CA)
SING OUT! Vol. 48 #4
Inverno 2005.
This is just the third recording since 1982 from a group
that's not only Italy's finest interpreters of Irish music, but
one of the best anywhere. Guest vocals from Cyril O'Donoghue (The
Foxy Devil) and Niamh Parsons (Carrickfergus) give some authentic
Irishness to Birkin Tree but the quartet do well enough on their
own. The "Bird in the Bush" set is as crisp a group of
jigs ans reels as anything from Erin's shores, but most of what
Birkin Treedoes comes with twist that trascend traditional styles
"Green Mountain" for example uses saxophone from Devis
Longo to imbue the tune with a sexy jazz swing. They give an equally
smoky treatment to "A Sad Night", with the sax laying
down a mix into which are stirred Fabio Rinaudo's uillean pipes
and Daniele Caronna's cascading guitar arpeggios. Even more remarkably
they then append the old chestnut "Morning Dew" but done
over as a sleepymood piece, before finishing off with Simone Sisani's
energetic flute on "Gorman's". Intelligent and unexpected
turns show up elsewhere as well "Tribute to Derek Bell"
opens with an Erik Satie-like touch and guest performances from
Quartetto di Savona (two violins, cello, viola) provide chamber
orchestra undertones. Nor would one anticipate pastoral sub-tone
fiddle and gentle piano notes to open a tune titled "The Lombard
War Piper". The entire project is so remarkable that one almost
forgets to contemplate the irony that one of the best uillean pipers
around is named Fabio - weird!
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