Tin Whistles

Although the instrumentation of two tin whistles and a bodhrán sounds like the punch line to a joke, original Chieftains member Paddy Moloney and Sean Potts manage to make some sweet music on these simple musical tools. Generally, tin whistles are played in a band setting, and they can become shrill when players try to make them heard over the other instruments. But on Tin Whistles, a collection of traditional Irish tunes originally released in 1973 on the Claddagh label, Maloney and Potts produce a soft, mellow tone that perfectly suits the slow airs. And when Peadar Mercier joins them with his bodhrán on the jigs and reels, the trio creates an irresistibly danceable sound. --Michael Simmons