5-15-2002

As a general rule, it would seem that some things are almost impossible. For example, few bands would try to record a general distribution CD after only a few months together. Even fewer would try to do their first CD at a live performance. Even fewer would try to do their first live recording using guest performers. So when I heard that Blackwood had produced such a CD, I did not have high expectations. Let me say I was more than pleasantly surprised.

Blackwood is the newest Irish band in Phoenix, but the performers are hardly novices. The core of the band is Sven Henrich and Dennis Putscher while Jerica Leathers and Kevin King sit in with them on a regular basis.

When Sven Henrich returned to Phoenix about a year ago, there were only a few people left who remembered him from his days performing with Tom and Marie Teven of Celtic Pride. Nonetheless, he quickly established himself in the seisiun scene as a phenomenal flute player who knows a vast number of Irish tunes and a quite decent vocalist. Sven's trademark is his flute made of black wood.

Sven hooked up with guitar player Dennis Putscher. Sven knew Dennis from his Celtic Pride days. While a fine guitar player, Dennis was actually better know in local Irish music circles as a record producer. His work includes doing the last several CDs by Bill Craig (who once toured with the Irish Rovers). Blackwood began to perform last fall with Sven doing vocals and playing the guitar on the songs while playing the flute on the tunes accompanied by Dennis

The response they got was pretty good, so they started getting more gigs. They asked Jerica Leathers (of the Hooligans) to sit in playing fiddle and also invited Kevin King (of Afan) to play the bodhran.

Jerica is one the areas finest Irish fiddlers. While she built her reputation with One Eyed Fiona/Hooligans, she now performs regularly with Blackwood and Rose Blood. Jerica's skill at blending in with other players is unmatched so she adds a lot even on tracts where the fiddle is not featured. Of course, she always shines when the fiddle is featured.

Kevin King is not nearly as well known as Sven and Jerica, but he has gained a reputation in the musician community as one of the top local bodhran players.

The decision to record a live CD was considered something of an experiment. Usually these efforts are used to produce a few tracts for a "demo" to give to people who might book them. They did not really know what they had until after the taping. The results were outstanding

While Blackwood is clearly Sven's CD, it could easily be considered a Jerica Leathers CD as well. In any case, the flute and fiddle combination of Sven and Jerica is magic.

I have to admit I am especially enamored by the instrumentals on this CD. Some of the tracks such as the 3rd (Jolly Tinker/Drogheda Bay/Jenny's Chickens) or the the 5th (The Long Run/Farewell to Erin) are as good as any track you will get from world class bands like Altan, Lunasa, or Danu. The 5th track is quite interesting in that it begins with one instrument and then adds more instruments each time. The 7th track (Crosses of Annagh/Eagan's/Sporting Paddy) and 9th (Speed the Plough/Dunmore) are just Sven on the flute and Dennis on guitar but they are exceptional.

Sven does a fine job with the vocals such as City of Chicago, Johnny Cope, Botany Bay and The Parting Glass. So it is by no means a criticism of Sven when I rave about some fantastic tracts by Tom Teven.

I only knew about Tom by reputation and the fact that people talked about "Tom and Marie" - years after they had discontinued wintering in Phoenix. After listening to the CD, I now understand why he left such a big impression. Tom Teven has a fantastic voice. His delivery of the "Jacobites" song is far and away the finest I have ever heard by anyone. His Scottish accent gives the song a feeling of authenticity that is electric. I really loved his rendition of the drinking song "Johnny Jump Up".

All in all, this is a really fine CD and is quite clean for a live recording. There is only a small amount of audience noise, which is amazing considering that these CDs were recorded at Seamus McCaffrey's and Rula Bula. This is a CD by some very fine musicians and the results are quite impressive.

Their CDs are available at Ireland's Own gift shops, 1219 E. Glendale Ave in Phoenix or at 2601 W. Dunlap, Phoenix 602-604-8408.

The Blackwood web site is www.blackwoodband.com.

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