Sing Out Magazine
Long-term Sufi/Spiritual Aspirant
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Alex H. Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars
December 11, 2005
“This seems to be a fairly difficult cd to find. Even on Amazon, when i typed in Robin Bullock’s name, I didn’t get this recording in the results. Fortunately, Amazon provides listening samples for the album. most of the songs are arrangements and medleys of traditional music, and the whole album is fantastic. if you’re looking to get into Celtic string music, this is probably a good place to start. there are both slow ballads and fast, upbeat jigs. The music’s traditional nature and the fact that it’s all based on classical music theory, plus the folk/bluegrass roots make a nice blend. It’s not too simplistic and boring, but it’s not the kind of classical guitar playing that can often be received as ‘dissonant’ or ‘off-sounding.’ it’s all very catchy and pretty. another thing about this kind of music is that although it’s accessible right away and is instantly likeable, it seems to have staying power so that it’s interesting after the second, fifth, tenth listen. it sounds like simple jamming with little melodies, but as a guitar player, having learned some of the material on this album, it’s actually very advanced playing (ex. The Dunmore Lasses, track 3). Bullock proves himself to be a talented musician with a very polished technique. I would definitely recommend this cd.”
Music Lover
5.0 out of 5 stars
January 13, 2017
“Robin Bullock is a true virtuoso. This is an early work and a bit repetitive, but his skill is wonderful.”
Steve H
5.0 out of 5 stars
December 12, 2017
“This CD introduced me to Robin Bullock nearly 25 years ago. I was greatly impressed by his virtuosity and the feeling he put into these wonderful Celtic tunes. Highly recommended!”
Ozma of Oz
5.0 out of 5 stars
June 5, 2008
“One of those CDs I’ve listened to constantly over the years, and never tire of. If you like Celtic instrumental music or fingerstyle guitar, you’ll love this guy’s deft touch and the gorgeous tones he gets out of his hybrid instruments. The fast music is played in appropriately traditional style, and the slow tunes are haunting and achingly beautiful. ‘Farewell to Craigie Dhu’ would have to be one of my favorite tunes of all time.
A terrific album, and one I’d search heaven and earth to find again if I lost it.”
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June 5, 2017 – Review by Dr. Rob Tomaro, Classical Music Editor, Cashbox Magazine.
“Climbing a musical Mount Everest, solo!”
“The Bach Cello Suites have long been regarded as fertile ground into which performers on a variety of other instruments have planted their musical seeds in the form of transcriptions in hopes of attaining the pinnacle of Baroque purity which they represent for themselves; purity of form, design, temperament and transcendent beauty.
All sorts of non-cellists have sought to penetrate the mystery encoded in these gorgeous solo flights, sometimes successfully, sometimes not. First, on instruments seemingly most compatible with the Suites’ sprightly and rhythmically challenging character, such as the violin, the viola, the viola da gamba, and the piano. But the Suites have also been recorded on a host of less likely instruments with laudable, if rather eccentric, results, such the electric bass, the charango, the saxophone and, heaven help us, the euphonium.
Mandolinist/Guitarist Robin Bullock, though, has given us something extraordinary with his Suites for Mandolin, Volume One (Dancing Wolf Records-DWCD 107), the first complete transcripted recording of the Suites for solo mandolin. This would be quite an achievement in itself if that was the only accomplishment encapsulated within this disc but, remarkably, he has also produced something beautiful, a breakthrough re-interpretation of these important works, conceived and executed at a level of sublime virtuosity.
This volume of the first three of the six Bach Cello Suites, played on the mandolin, is a wonder of aesthetic balance, passion, joy, artistic commitment and courage. Just as the Rachmaninoff Third Piano Concerto remains a Mount Everest level test of the sinew of any emerging pianist, so these Suites present a similar challenge for any cellist (or transcriber) hearty enough to strap on cleats and begin the climb. And, as with Everest, there are pitfalls that await the acolyte on his/her journey to the top.
The first challenge in transcribing these suites from the cello to another instrument is also the most obvious one: The inherent lyricism embedded in these pieces, which is sustained by the fluidity of the cello bow, must somehow be evoked by non-bowing instrumentalists who attempt to play them. Happily, in the Bullock recording, not only do I not miss the bow, I find that the precision of the mandolin plectrum in this master’s hands adds a crisp drive and a glossy, attractive sheen to the rhythmic landscape that is not possible on the cello.
Then, there are the daunting technical challenges that Bach has installed in these pieces like landmines. The problem becomes not so much just playing them cleanly at attractive and professionally acceptable tempi, but in rendering them with soul, spontaneity and a kind of improvisational freshness that is intrinsic to their appeal. These are songs of the heart, untempered and unfiltered. And, consider this: the solo instrument is naked, exposed on a landscape of its own creation without a net. So, the task of creating a context in which to perceive them is of inestimable difficulty. Once again, Mr. Bullock delivers, with a warmth and a conversational frankness that is filled, in turn, with humor, fire and pathos.
Finally, these Suites will not ‘speak’, will not come alive, unless they are played with a kind of uncanny brilliance. Any musician who approaches them is either able to release their latent song into the air or not, in which case they might be better left in the leaf, on the page, awaiting the next adventurous soul to come along. Mr. Bullock threads his way through the Suites as if he is making them up in some cozy place in the wee hours of the morning and singing them to you, with love. In his hands, they are startling in their intimacy and I find myself deeply moved whenever I listen to his recording of them.
The aura surrounding the Cello Suites, and their legacy as a kind of Holy Grail, owes its cachet in part to the fact that they were lost for two hundred years, relegated to the trash heap of time, dismissed in the eighteenth century as a series of negligible etudes until they were discovered, quite by accident, in 1889 by a budding thirteen year old Catalan cello student named Pablo Casals in a thrift shop in Barcelona. He devoted his life to their study and finally recorded them in 1936, when he was sixty, in London, at the Abbey Road Studios, where the Beatles would hold court twenty-seven years later. Thanks to his recording, the Suites became an overnight sensation in the classical music world.
The genesis of Mr. Bullock’s personal undertaking of the recording the Suites began almost by accident.
“After I got the Prelude for Cello Suite No. 1 more or less under my fingers on the mandolin, originally I’d thought that’d be it, but it was such an exhilarating journey that curiosity led me onward to try the next movement, the Allemande… and the next, and the next… and the more I learned, the more I wanted to know.
So, over the course of the next few years, as I learned more solo Bach pieces on both mandolin and guitar, I was also immersing myself in all the books about Bach’s life and works and all the Bach recordings I could get my paws on. Gradually, a crazy idea began to form: would it be possible to learn and record all six Cello Suites, in their entirety, on solo mandolin? Had anyone even done that before?”
Apparently not. Other mandolinists have recorded Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas but this is, to this reviewer’s knowledge, the first mandolin recording of the full Bach Cello Suites. As delightful as Suites 1-3 are in Volume One, I can hardly wait for the Mr. Bullock to drop the other Bachian shoe and give us Suites 4-6, in Volume Two.
If you, like me, think the music of Bach springs afresh out of some timeless stream eternally, then don’t deprive yourself of this landmark recording. Five out of Five stars for Mr. Bullock. And hurry up, Robin, give us part two!!”
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The Carolan Collection from guitar, cittern and mandolin virtuoso Robin Bullock is a sonic tapestry of finely woven harp tunes from the catalog of the 17th Century Irish composer Turlough O’Carolan. No knowledge of O’Carolan or an Irish heritage are requisite for experiencing the pure joy that Bullock creates in these performances culled from seven previous releases. Originally released as a fundraiser in 2015, The Carolan Collection is now available everywhere with profits going to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue in Asheville, North Carolina and Full Moon Farm Wolfdog Rescue and Sanctuary in Black Mountain, North Carolina. The first four tunes prepare the listener for the breadth of the 16 tunes offered here. “Thomas Burke” begins the CD with a playful, quick tempo that accentuates Bullock’s nimble fretwork and pristine phrasing. Track two, “Carolan’s Quarrel with the Landlady,” taken from 1998’s Between Earth & Sky CD, continues the playful fretwork but brings melody to the foreground, which is reinforced by mandolin at the half way point. Next it’s a spirited version of “Hugh O’Donnell,” bursting with a melody that blossoms again and again, organically and seemingly endlessly. At time it has the feel of a duet, but that might just be Bullock’s magic fingers at work. With track four, “Bishop John Hart,” from his 2005 Enchanted Woods CD, we are swept away in a slow, mellow, luscious and tender ballad that washes away care and touches a melancholy chord, satisfying musically as only an Irish ballad can. Every tune here is a highlight, more so than a greatest hits or best of collection because of a sort of musical organicism. Even if you own all of Bullock’s CDs, you will find this collection of recordings fit together the way that old favorite quilt induces the perfect nap on a cold winter’s day. The many accolades that Robin Bullock has accumulated over the years are the direct result of an artistry, craftsmanship and talent that transcends time. How fitting that he would have the vision to pay tribute to what many feel was the greatest of the Irish bards. The Carolan Collection is a sonic treasure.
– www.minor7th.com
5.0 out of 5 stars
Top quality music, by a skilled player.
By Rich T on January 29, 2017
“Robin Bullock is an under-appreciated guitarist and this collection of his favorite O’Carolan tunes is well produced.”
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Great stuff!
By Gareth W Parry on May 21, 2015
“As good as their first joint recording. A nice variety of songs beautifully played.”
“Such a finely crafted record. Well, here’s the second collaboration by these two masters of the acoustic guitar, and it’s amazing, such a beautiful album really, playing their classic fingerpicking styles on an acoustic each one with his own personality, and it is also notable the high-quality recording! crystal clear with a warmth which just envelops you within a beautiful tapestry of woody sounds. Not to be missed if you like acoustic music played with technique and lots of soul!” -Duque
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“In the tight-wire game of solo acoustic, there’s no escaping the core issue: how’s your touch? Your tone? Your time? Just how well CAN you play? Masterfully, if you’re Robin Bullock.” – Guitar Player
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enchanting
By Sapphire Skies on March 3, 2014
“I just finished listening to this CD, which I bought directly from Robin Bullock at a concert the other night, and his playing is so beautiful I had to review it somewhere. His guitar interpretations of Turlough O’Carolan, John Dowland, and J.S. Bach are lilting, lyrical, and simply lovely. Recording quality is also excellent.”
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“This wonderful recording just entered my personal Top Ten Christmas Recordings list, right up there with Joan Baez’s ‘Noel.’ Robin Bullock’s musicianship has always been world-class and here he goes to the very essence of what this music is about. It will play constantly in our house this December and I’ll be giving copies as gifts, as well. Splendid work!” – Tom Paxton
“It’s been five years since Robin Bullock released his solo holiday CD, A Guitar for Christmas, and his latest release, Christmas Eve is Here, expands on that presentation. Most of the previous CD was solo guitar, and on this release only a few tracks are solo guitar; the rest are multi-tracked with various guitars, mandolins and citterns. Bullock is not only a masterfully skilled player, he has a magnificent musicality, unique and instinctive sense of note placement, and both a vigor and restraint that concentrates all attention on the music itself. Those carols that are very familiar, including such staples as ‘It Came Upon a Midnight Clear’ and ‘Silent Night,’ are traditional enough to be counted on as old friends, but are given a musical break here, a bent string there, and other tweakings that make the listener sit up and listen with fresh ears. ‘Fresh’ is also the appropriate word for Bullock’s addition of two classical pieces that fit seamlessly: ‘Break Forth O Beauteous Heavenly Light’ from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and ‘In dir ist Freude,’ a 16th century melody by Giovanni Gastoldi that inspired artists as diverse as J.S. Bach and Englishman Thomas Morley to use it as the basis for some of their own most memorable works. The liner notes provide details on the songs, the instrumentation, and insight into Bullock’s choices and quiet, dry humor. In his notes for ‘O Holy Night,’ Bullock says as though surprised himself, ‘My arrangement appears to show some influence of the Hawaiian slack-key guitar tradition. These things happen.’ Six of the sixteen tracks were previously released on various holiday samplers; the other ten are newly recorded. If true artistry is 10% perspiration and 90% inspiration, Bullock shows that he’s got it just about right.” -Dirty Linen, The Magazine of Folk and World Music, November/December 2009
5.0 out of 5 stars
Five Stars
By Rick Hendricks on June 27, 2016
“Robin is an awesomely talented musician. Check out all his work.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
Five Stars
By Ruth Renauld on January 6, 2015
“Oh, Robin, thank you.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
Five Stars
By Bruce Dearnaley on December 29, 2014
“just love his clean playing”
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nice music nice played
By Miguel Angel Rosenblat on January 3, 2013
“I have several CDs of Bullock. They are very good. In this one he plays music of the 16th and 15th century which was a good decision.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
Next best thing to “in person”
By L. Allaire on December 17, 2012
“Enjoying Robin Bullock in person is great! He’s so very talented. Having a CD of his work is the next best thing. I’d consider getting this CD for friends and/or family for next Christmas so they have a wonderful addition to their holiday music collection.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
Christmas Eve CD
By JFS on September 21, 2012
“This CD is beautiful. It is one of the nicest Christmas discs that I have heard. Every disc of Robin Bullock’s music that I own is outstanding in quality and musicianship.”
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“Brilliance isn’t a word that should be thrown around very often in the arts. There are so many good, yea, so many great artists that brilliance is the realm of few artists in any genre. It’s a place populated by those few who have risen to a place where their stamp is immediately felt. With the proliferation of acoustic guitar music over the past decade, the sheer volume of excellent work is daunting. But steel string wizard Robin Bullock’s latest offering, ‘Rosewood Castle,’ is, well, simply brilliant — a disc filled with fully-realized melodies played with nuance and grace. Many guitarists leave the melody stripped to its essentials, but Bullock can craft arrangements of traditional Celtic songs pregnant with everything the melody can be. This CD brings some of the genre’s best and brightest alongside Bullock in some wonderful duets: the gentle ‘Raglan Road’ with Alex DeGrassi; the well-known Irish waltz ‘The Southwind’ with Al Petteway; an absolutely blistering, toe-tapping, dance-inducing flatpicking medley ‘The Savage Wee Beastie / The Limerick Lasses / The Bird in the Bush’ with John Doyle; a varied ‘Breton-Asturian Set’ with Tony McManus on guitar and Robin playing cittern; and a lush version of ‘Down by the Salley Gardens,’ the poem by William Yeats, played in tandem with Steve Baughman. The solo pieces that round out the remainder of the CD are played with style and skill — always enough and never too much playing, so the listener is served. In reviewing some CDs, I can tire of hearing the same songs played through many repetitions; with ‘Rosewood Castle,’ I found myself happily hitting the play button once the disc’s lovely concluding track, ‘Rebecca’s Hymn,’ had delighted me with its closing notes.”
–Kirk Albrecht, minor7th.com
“Uncanny ability to combine precision, virtuosity and soul…his reputation as one of the best folk instrumentalists in the business is well-deserved.” – Sing Out!
“I need to take a personal slant to write this review most effectively: forgive me. On a dark September morning, after the worst summer in Irish history, I was driving a tree-covered country road. We were all light-deprived and sodden from months of rain. The world was against me on this day as I sped along avoiding the potholes and unseen cars pulling out of over-grown gateways. My heart was racing, and I was heavy with negativity. With one hand, I drove, while with the other I put this album into the CD player. It was a preoccupied mind which hadn’t allowed the thought to occur to me before, and I was now nearing my dreaded destination.
The music began. The dappled light started to find its way through the overhead mass of greenery, and the sun came out for the first time in a long time: deliciously bright and encouragingly cheery. And all my world fell to rights. As I arrived at my stopping point I remained in the car to listen to just another track, and another … I cannot now for the life of me remember why I felt so low on that morning.
This is a gentle, unassuming, and very beautiful record, full of music of the same character. There is an intimacy to it that is so rarely captured. It is sunny mornings as the sun whispers to you personally of all that is radiant and late winter nights by the fire of warmth and comfort. It is as eloquent as the poets Yeats and Kavanagh who find themselves in association and as welcomingly lonely as the castle that figures in the artwork. I will be passing this on to all the other souls in my life who need a little reflection-aid, a private pick-me-up that will again allow their hearts to smile, if even for a short while.” – Sing Out! Magazine, Winter 2007/2008
“A rare combination of technical virtuosity and emotional nuance…Robin Bullock has a deep appreciation of the power of music to touch people’s hearts, and the skills to make that happen when he plays.” – Dirty Linen, The Magazine of Folk and World Music
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly recommend this CD
By k.j.m.v on January 29, 2015
Format: MP3 Music
“Beautiful music, beautifully played. I love every song on this album.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
Five Stars
By Annie on February 28, 2015
Format: Audio CD
“Wonderful!”
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent and relaxing
By Alvin Campbell on February 21, 2014
Format: Audio CD
“My wife and I heard Robin from his Christmas works and love his relaxing style. My wife likes to listen to it at work.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
A true fingerstyle player at his best.
By Daniel K. Ross on December 12, 2009
Format: MP3
“I stumbled across Robin Bullock on iTunes one day and decided to give his album a listen. Wow, I was blown away by the ability this young man has. Truly, he is tops in his musical talent and I highly recommend this album if you like fingerstyle guitar and Celtic music. Raglan Road is a magical song that transports one to a land of music like you’ve never heard before. I am glad I bought this album and it ranks as one of my favorite fingerstyle albums. Two thumbs up on this one.”
A great cd
“Really been enjoying this album. Its outstanding. The mixture of duets mixed in with solo pieces provides a nice variety. Highly recommended.” -Anton Emery
“My third CD by Robin Bullock and once again a pleasure to listen to from beginning to end. Always a pleasure to listen to his solo playing, but a nice change to hear some duets. A lovely CD.” – Wendy Jones
“Incredible… as usual! I own all of Robin’s previous CDs and am still enthralled every time I listen to them. Truly inspiring and uplifting. This CD carries on the high level of musicianship and precision that is Robin’s trademark. Do yourself a favor and purchase this one before they are out of stock.” – Mike Kissel
Another 5-star from Robin
“Whether Robin Bullock is playing solo, playing multiple instruments over-dubbed on one selection, or playing with other world-class performers, he just cannot make a bad album.” -David E
Beautiful Music.
“I was looking for music to play at my wedding as all the guests were arriving, had a lot of trouble finding the right music but then came across Rosewood castle. Its such beautiful music and perfect for my wedding day!” -Alicia C.
“Another musical delight…Once again, Robin Bullock surpasses himself. He’s managed to bring forth the very best of his talent and we can find here pieces of an unparalleled purity. A CD to buy and listen to for a totally relaxed atmosphere.” – Marco Levesque (translated from French)
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“Bullock proves once again that his reputation as one of the best folk instrumentalists in the business is well-deserved. From the first notes of ‘Westlin Winds’ to the last echoes of ‘Shenandoah,’ Bullock demonstrates, on these 12 tracks, his uncanny ability to combine precision, virtuosity and soul. Here he plays 6- and 12-string guitar, piano, mandolin and cittern – and it’s all gorgeous.”- Sing Out! Magazine, Spring 2006
“A rare combination of technical virtuosity and emotional nuance…Robin Bullock has a deep appreciation of the power of music to touch people’s hearts, and the skills to make that happen when he plays.” – Dirty Linen, the Magazine of Folk and World Music
“Robin Bullock’s inspirational quotient is quite a powerhouse…the real spark of blending both Celtic and American folk styles provide a momentous result.” – Folk Roots
Magnificent by FanofChet
“I purchased this album in 2008 at Steve Kaufman’s acoustic camp in Maryville, Tenn. Robin was one of the instructors there and I was lucky enough to have him as a teacher. Anyway, this solo album is one of my favorites and I never tire of playing it. All the songs in the album are very, very good but It is worth the price just for his haunting rendition of ‘Shenandoah’ which, in my opinion, is one of the best guitar instrumentals ever recorded. It is truly a national treasure.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Great Robin Bullock
By Amazon Customer on November 4, 2015
Format: Audio CD
“Robin Bullock is without equal.”
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely music, great guitar playing!
By D.L. Sniderman on January 29, 2015
Format: Audio CD
“Great music by a gifted musician!”
5.0 out of 5 stars
Five Stars
By William Shamblin Jr. on September 23, 2014
“Great music!”
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Pleasant Discovery
By Stephen G. Townsend on May 14, 2013
Format: MP3
“I was not aware of Robin Bullock. But I play octave mandolin and I found him through a Google search. What great surprise. Bullock is technically accomplished, but not to the point that it gets in the way of the music. The progression of ideas has logic. All the tunes have something to recommend them. The playing is flawless. I plan to purchase the rest of Robin Bullock’s recordings.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lilting and lovely
By RUHU on January 3, 2013
Format: Audio CD
“Bullock’s music ranges from fun jigs and dances to deeply moving modal pieces. This is the second CD of his music I’ve purchased and will purchase more.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful!
By Sophie Asher on May 13, 2010
Format: Audio CD
“This is our 3rd Robin Bullock cd, and though I love them all 5-star equally, this one gets the most notice and compliments from friends who are around when it’s playing. It is beautiful, peaceful, great music for children/adults/families/groups…I can’t recommend it highly enough.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely
By Daniel J. Paytas on December 31, 2006
Format: Audio CD
“I picked this up at the Maryland Renaissance Festival on a whim a in the autumn of 2005. I liked what I heard immediately! Robin Bullock is quite a skilled guitarist, but he doesn’t let his skill get in the way of writing lovely songs. Each track offers a good mix of Celtic and Appalachian folk music, a mix that is quite nice. My personal favorites are Alpine Waltz and Shenandoah, but each track is quite good. This is money well spent if you’re looking for a mix of technical skill and emotion and just something to kick back and relax to.”
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“If you must buy only one holiday album of instrumental guitar music, let Robin Bullock’s A Guitar for Christmas be the one. It is magnificent. First, know that the award-winning Bullock is a genuine guitar god among mortals, a man who must have at least 25 digits on each hand to accomplish his feats of magic. Second, this holiday album is superbly constructed in every respect–song selection, production values, just everything.
One note of caution: his sophisticated presentation here speaks in a gentle voice; if you seek one of those boisterous, hard-plucked treatments of holiday fare, then A Guitar for Christmas is just not the guitar for you.
“Bullock’s technical proficiency enough is astounding, and he pumps emotive warmth into every moment. His 16 tracks are broken into four separate segments (Introduction: Daybreak is the first track; Part One: Christmas Morning covers tracks 2-5; Part Two: Christmas Day covers tracks 6-11; and Part Three: Christmas Night covers tracks 12-16). The differences among the sections are subtle; in general, the morning pieces tend to be slower, filled with anticipation; the day section is more celebratory and has a faster tempo; then Christmas night is back to a slower, more reverential, tone and pace. The overall focus is on ancient carols and includes many of my personal favorites (‘Carol of the Bells,’ ‘Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming’). I especially enjoyed the ‘O Come O Come Emmanuel/Light of Love/Sussex Carol’ medley, which is deeply textured and happens to be the album’s longest track. Robin Bullock’s A Guitar for Christmas effortlessly creates a warm afterglow, assuring the listener that it is very good to be alive in this world. Come bask in the glow.” -Carol Swanson, From www.christmasreviews.com
Wow! by CARA LIKE DUH?
“this is all solo guitar and it is amazing. my guitar teacher recommended it to me and i love it. Christmas must have!”
by flatpickle
“A beautiful collection of fingerstyle Christmas guitar songs–classy, tuneful, cool.”
4.0 out of 5 stars
She was very pleased with A Guitar for Christmas
By Jeff Kraig on January 22, 2015
Format: Audio CD
“A buy for my wife for Christmas. She was very pleased with A Guitar for Christmas…JK”
5.0 out of 5 stars
Five Stars
By Bruce Dearnaley on December 29, 2014
Format: Audio CD
“just love his clean playing”
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great guitar
By Ali on January 10, 2013
Format: Audio CD
“I love this CD. We have seen Robin Bullock twice in concert and could not believe his guitar mastery. He’s a true genius with the guitar. He can play everything from popular music to classics. He is a hugely talented musician.”
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Guitar for Christmas
By Double Blessings on November 29, 2008
Format: Audio
“I enjoyed the superb musicianship of Robin Bullock! I stumbled upon this by accident but will certainly be purchasing future CDs. I rated this a 4 only because I was hoping for a better balance of upbeat songs with ballad type songs. However, I do enjoy it immensely and have been able to better educate my young children the sound a classical guitar makes. All they thought a guitar was good for is rock n’ roll! So, being that my son wants a guitar for Christmas, this CD was a necessity in our home. Beautiful sound, excellent musicianship…well worth the money.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
It doesn’t get better
By David Cagle on June 10, 2008
Format: Audio CD
“This is simply a beautiful album– magnificent playing of great arrangements. I suppose Robin Bullock is not exactly a secret in Celtic/folk/new age circles, but he is truly one of the best guitar players in the world. This album will fit the bill for those times when you want to put on some mellow holiday music, or background music for a holiday dinner, but the more carefully you listen, the more astounded you will be.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful – much better than I expected
By J AB NYC on January 17, 2008
Format: Audio CD
“Christmas music by guitar — sounded a bit quaint, but i thought I’d give it a try. Over the holidays, I found myself listening over and over. Totally a treat.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful guitar playing
By Jane Stansell on December 23, 2007
Format: MP3 Music
“This guitar playing is just lovely, and the recording is top notch. Very glad I got this.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
beautiful & solid
By art 87VINE VOICEon November 23, 2007
Format: Audio CD
“Simply an excellent Christmas CD. the guitar playing is wonderful & solid as are his arrangements. I say this is a must have for anyone seeking solo guitar Christmas music. Several years ago, I had the good fortune to see Robin perform a holiday concert with his friends Al Petteway and Amy White (the three of them put out an excellent holiday album together, b.t.w.), where Robin played his exquisite arrangement of “The Carol of the Bells”, which he said was brand new. For a while I wished that he would release a holiday album including that number, and then my wish came true. And the album met my high expectations. I don’t see how anyone could produce something better in this genre.”
Delightful…
“I am looking forward to giving this great cd to my son, who plays guitar, for Christmas. I had it delivered without the jewel case, so I haven’t had to wait to open it, and I can listen to it when my son is not home! It conveys the gentle, happy spirit of Christmas. This was my first purchase on the net, and it was very well handled. For Canadian buyers, it was $20.80 CD all inclusive. I recommend it and congratulate Robin for a fine recording.”-Sandy
Wow!
“If all Christmas music was this good, we wouldn’t hate listening to it in the mall in October! Robin’s talent on the acoustic guitar is genuinely inspiring. His arrangement of the ‘Carol of the Bells’ is breathtaking. But don’t expect to sing along to the old chestnuts — the arrangements are updated and often much faster than the traditional scores. This CD is meant solely for the love of the music. I enjoyed this CD so much last Christmas that I gave it as a gift to everyone this Christmas. Truly exceptional talent!”- Michelle Zupan
Nice mix of Christmas music
“This CD refreshes old tunes with new and different arrangements that are very pleasant to listen to. The more unfamiliar tunes are exquisitely done and I could listen to this CD all year round. Robin’s guitar playing is incredible.” -Barb
Magical blend
“Robin manages to blend two magics to come up with an even more magical synergy than either one on its own- he blends the Celtic tradition with the yuletide season with mastery & magic. The result is better listened to than described in words.” – Mike Dineen
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“All Music Guide Review Rating: Four stars If you think Sikiotakis is kind of an unusual last name for an Irish flute player, you’re right. And if you think Michel is an unusual first name both for an Irish flute player and for someone whose last name is Sikiotakis, you’re right again. But if you think that being a Frenchman of Greek ethnic extraction has any adverse effect on Michel Sikiotakis’ mastery of Irish flute and whistle technique, you only have to hear this album to see that you’re dead wrong. The American guitar and bouzouki virtuoso Robin Bullock is given equal billing on The Irish Girl, but Sikiotakis is the center of gravity here, his warm, woody and lilting tone and joyfully virtuosic delivery inviting both admiration and awe. The repertoire is weighted just a bit too much towards the familiar — Sikiotakis plays ‘The Musical Priest’ and ‘Rocky Road to Dublin’ and ‘Carolan’s Welcome’ beautifully, but doesn’t necessarily bring anything new to these frequently-recorded tunes. On the other hand, the overdubbed flute choir on a gorgeous Scottish lament called ‘Flight of the Eagles’ is both unusual and tasteful, and the Ed Reavy composition ‘Lane to the Glen’ is a melodically twisting surprise. Highly recommended.” — Rick Anderson
“Four stars! Highly recommended” – All Music Guide
“This is a gorgeous collection of (mostly) Irish instrumentals from well-known string wizard Robin Bullock and former All-Ireland Champion flutist Michael Sikiotakis. Bullock’s playing, on guitar and bouzouki, is subtle enough to let the whole range of flute dynamics through. Sikiotakis is, simply, a genius!” – Sing Out: Winter 2004
“Much-travelled American Irish guitar and bouzouki hero meets French wooden flute and whistle player, music collector and All-Ireland champion in a Parisian-Irish pub, and the result is…well, jolly good. Great tunes, great musicianship and a live spontaneous feel…who needs a big band?” – Folk Roots
“The Irish Girl in question is, of course, red-headed, like Rossetti’s ‘La Ghirlandata’ which adorns the CD cover. It is also the title of a reel recorded by James Morrison (and by Michael Coleman as well, but he called it ‘The Wild Irishman’- strange things happen). Featured on this disc is also the slow air ‘An Cailín Rua’ meaning the red-haired girl. So far, so good. – American Robin Bullock (guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, keyboards) met Michel Sikiotakis (flute, whistle) in Paris, a Frenchman of Greek extraction but an All-Ireland champion too. So there is no need to hide for Robin & Michel. Michel executes dance tunes as well as slow airs with the same finesse. Robin’s rhythm guitar backing and his fingerstyle guitar (on Carolan’s harp tune ‘Kitty Magennis’) is sensitive; his mandolin picking is gypsy-hot (‘La Valse des Niglos’). Both are composers as well. The album finishes off with a haunting slow air written by Michel; and ‘The Depth Charge’ is a vivid jig by Robin: The title is a souvenir of his wilder days; a depth charge is a drink consisting of a shot glass of whiskey dropped (glass and all) into a pint of beer. Slainte!” – Walkin’ TM • FolkWorld (02/2004)
“Bullock is American and plays guitar and bouzouki, Sikiotakis is French and plays tin-whistle and flute. The music is largely Irish. The accompaniment is subtle and enriching and the tunes are very well played. It’s a very pleasant listening experience.” -Claddadh Records Newsletter, Finbar Boyle – Oct. 2003
“Michel Sikiotakis is a French flute and whistle player with two All-Ireland titles to his credit. He is joined by American mandolin, bouzouki, and guitar player Robin Bullock, whose name may be familiar to some for his performing and recording within the group Helicon, with flute player Chris Norman, the John Whelan band, and as a solo ‘Celtic music’ artist. Since Robin’s recent move to France, the two musicians have been performing together regularly, and the result of their collaboration can be heard here. Michel is equally at ease with the fast-paced dance tunes, the statelier harp compositions of O’Carolan, and the slow airs from the Gaelic singing tradition. Robin’s accompaniments are mostly straightforward and restrained, while his fingerstyle guitar arrangements of tunes like ‘Kitty Magennis’ have a pleasing quiet beauty. On the other hand, on one of the highlights of the album, the non-Irish ‘Valse des Niglos,’ Robin’s mandolin picking has all the fire of a hot gypsy-jazz guitar solo.” -Philippe Varlet, Celtic Grooves, Oct. 2003
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“It’s a rare joy to witness the start of something new in Celtic music. That’s just what Steve Baughman and Robin Bullock have accomplished here arranging Celtic tunes, well-known and exotic, perky and pensive, for two interlocking guitars. In the hands of these masterful players, the results are rich and engaging. The O’Carolan harp airs blossom with new depth and harmonic possibility, and the excursions into Breton and Welsh repertoire make one wonder why we haven’t heard more of this stuff. Celtic Guitar Summit makes your fingers itch to play along, especially on tunes like ‘Hewlett,’ which Baughman and Bullock turn into a wild ride to Grateful Dead territory and back again. Judging from the guffaw on the CD jacket, it was clearly as much fun for the boys to record this as it is to listen to.” Danny Carnahan – Acoustic Guitar, May 2003 and July 2003
National Library of Australia, Sound Recording Review 3-22-2004
“Guitarists seldom get their due in Celtic music and one almost never hears guitar duets. Steve Baughman and Robin Bullock help correct this imbalance with a shimmering collection of haunting melodies.” – Sing Out Magazine 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars
Five Stars
By Bill on January 17, 2015
Format: Audio CD
“Two great fingerstyle guitarists blending their art.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
GUITAR BLISS!
By Thamesis on April 2, 2010
Format: Audio CD
“I am surprised it has taken a Brit to post the first review on one of America’s national musical treasures. This CD is as beautiful as music gets – ANY type of music. The arrangements are heavenly and the musicianship – perfection. Now come on, dear friends across the Atlantic, just give that soulless guitar-slapping New Age stuff a rest and be transported to a far higher plane. You will find, like me, that the only thing which will disappoint you is that Baughman and Bullock have not (yet) recorded a second CD together.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
Celtic Guitar Perfection!
By Thamesis on November 10, 2009
Format: Audio CD
“The acoustic guitar playing on ‘Celtic Guitar Summit’ is as close to perfection as I have ever heard. The arrangements are exquisite and the playing is flawless. From the first seconds of the opening track you know this is something special. There are so many CDs of acoustic guitar but so much of it is mediocre and soulless particularly with the almost endless Michael Hedges guitar-slapping imitators, whereas this is in a very select company of Tony McManus and Martin Simpson for example – right up there on the summit.”
4.0 out of 5 stars
A mellow Celtic guitar duet delight
By Arthur Sprecher on June 20, 2007
Format: Audio CD
“As a lifelong classical and fingerstyle guitar fan (oh…if I could only play….), I set a high standard for guitar composition, arrangement and performance to be pleased with a CD. Robin Bullock and Steve Baughman deliver on all fronts. The overall mood of the CD is mellow and soothing. Bullock and Baughman mix excellent fingerstyle technique and Celtic style pull offs / hammers with occasional light strumming to create a gentle journey to a breezy Irish hilltop. Latin elements flavor a number of tunes, e.g. Rumbutan Lady, gently maintaining the relaxing mood and continuity of the overall performance. This is a perfect CD to enjoy watching a sunset with your significant other.”
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“Celtic flatpicking hero…in a spectacular display of virtuosity and musicianship.” – Folk Roots
“Uncanny ability to combine precision, virtuosity and soul…his reputation as one of the best folk instrumentalists in the business is well-deserved.” – Sing Out!
“A rare combination of technical virtuosity and emotional nuance…Robin Bullock has a deep appreciation of the power of music to touch people’s hearts, and the skills to make that happen when he plays.”- Dirty Linen, the Magazine of Folk and World Music
“The fourth solo album by the multi-instrumentalist, guitarist-bouzoukist-mandolinist…who glows through this 12-track Celtic opus that includes several of his own compositions, the roots of which spring from Ireland, Scotland and North America. From O’Carolan revisited on six strings, he passes through jigs or reels on mandolin or even bouzouki in a quick torrent. He’s sometimes accompanied by a soaring violin or a free-flying piano, and the jubilation often reaches some truly inspired heights. The man is a master of his kingdom of DADGAD, where the notes become cascades or even flowing crystal beads. It’s a musical joy worthy of the likes of Pierre Bensusan or Ian Melrose. Some string aficionados complain that they don’t find any real pearls for players of 6, 8 or 12 strings in these pages, so here you are: Robin has emotion at his fingertips and his ideas take flight.” – Alain Hermanstadt – Trad Mag No. 82, March/April 2002 (interpreted into English from French).
Buried Treasure…discovered at last by iTunes! Five Stars
by BeVirtuous
“Robin Bullock is one of the ‘best kept secrets’ when it comes to beautiful folk music! I first discovered him while browsing online a year or two ago, and have since enjoyed playing his music countless times. I was overjoyed to see that iTunes has finally picked up his album(s)–hoozah! His songs are skillfully arranged, and continue to charm and entertain me time and time again.”
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“Often when musicians of high stature pool their talents, the who’s who aspect overshadows what is played or, more importantly, how they played. But in the case of these new guard giants, mandolinists Butch Baldassari and John Reischman, with their guitarist of a Celtic dimension, Robin Bullock (also cittern and mandolin), the result is perhaps the best, most unpretentious acoustic music to come around in some time. Though there’s plenty of spectacular playing from each of the three, there’re no defining solos that blow the others away. Rather, the trio captures the soul of each melody and sets it free through artful, delicate expression. As the title suggests, not only do Baldassari, Bullock and Reischman embark upon an acoustic, global excursion, they do so with enticing dance music from their visits. Interestingly, the further they stray from the familiar ‘grass, old-timey arena (‘Little Rabbit,’ ‘Dead March,’ ‘Arkansas Traveller’), the brighter they shine. Latin tunes (‘Jesusito En Chihuahua,’ ‘El Grillo’) frolic fecklessly, while the Venezuelan waltz ‘Como Llora Una Estrella’ glides with romanticism. Colonial pieces (‘Kelsterne Gardens’ and ‘Childgrove’) render a certain spiritual piety. ‘President Garfield’s Hornpipe’ and ‘President Grant’s Hornpipe’ have a relaxed, lighthearted approach, as do Texas fiddle tunes ‘Chief Sitting Bull’ and ‘Blue Eagle.’ Reischman’s ‘Birdland Bounce,’ a swinging Django Reinhardt styling, is an instant classic. Travellers has the trappings of becoming a road-tested classic over time.”- Dirty Linen, April/May 2000
“As we all know, Bill Monroe took up the mandolin because it was the instrument no one else in his family wanted to play, and for years, the instrument languished behind the more glamorous fiddle and banjo among those who played bluegrass. But in recent years, the mandolin has experienced an explosion of interest, drawing superb musicians like Chris Thile, David Harvey, the late Dave Peters and many more. The mandolin’s appeal has spread far beyond bluegrass into blues, rock, jazz, Celtic and classical fields, and popular interest in the diminutive instrument is greater today than at any time since the heyday of the mandolin orchestras which swept America in a wave of popularity just after the turn of the last century.
The three musicians on Travellers all have contributed significantly to the widespread acceptance of mandolin, and their musical union here has created a truly exceptional record. Ranging across such diverse musicscapes as bluegrass, Latin, Irish and Gypsy swing, the tunes included here capture the very best the mandolin and its related instruments have to offer.
As always Butch Baldassari plays with a keen sense of taste and refinement, honing his technique to deliver knockout solos or sensitive backup or harmony lines. Just listen to his dead-on Monroe chops on Big Mon’s timeless “Dead March” or his twin mandolin work with John Reischman on Frank Wakefield’s “Waltz in the Bluegrass” for a lesson in technique, taste and timing.
Reischman reigns as the king of pure mandolin tone, coaxing the most musical energy from his fabled Loar F-5 mandolin and a new mandola from Idaho luthier Lawrence Smart. Here, he recreates ‘Birdland Breakdown,’ the classic tune he originated with the Tony Rice Unit in the 1980s as a bouncier, swingier tune, “Birdland Bounce.” Few other mandolinists have demonstrated such a diverse interest, capturing musical inspirations from sources on both the north and south sides of the border.
Robin Bullock, who won the mandolin championships at Winfield and has a commanding interest in Celtic musical styles, contributes brilliant mandolin, cittern and guitar to the project. His work on the old-time Kentucky fiddle tune ‘Little Jacky Wilson’ and his flatpicking guitar solo on ‘Chief Sitting Bull’ are great examples of his broad talents.
Individually, there’re plenty of brilliant solos and inventive interpretations on this outstanding record. But most of all, ‘Travellers’ is a CD where each musician works hard to support the melody and the other musicians. This is mandolin-based ensemble playing at its best, filled with grace and charm and warmth and insight. I can’t think of an instrumental CD I’ve enjoyed more recently.” – Bluegrass Unlimited, May 2000
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mandolin masters!!!!!
By James N. Woodall on July 5, 2011
Format: Audio CD
“What a beautiful cd…. I have already about played this cd to death…. very inspirational to aspiring mandolists such as i am….. makes me want to dig deeper!!!!”
5.0 out of 5 stars
highly listenable
By Orisinio Ribaldi on February 7, 2005
Format: Audio CD
“Despite picking tunes from all over the Western world, this album has a unified feel and tone. The production and recording quality are excellent, and the playing is tight, precise, and nicely arranged. John Reischmann, whom David Grisman has called ‘the unsung hero of the mandolin,’ is well appreciated around our house, and has found a wonderful simpatico with the other two players on this CD. If you like this, check out Reischmann’s recordings with guitarist John Miller — ‘Singing Moon’ and ‘Bumpy Road’.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
Delicious mando treat
By Amazon Customer on June 27, 2002
Format: Audio CD
“Clean, sparkling mando playing and harmonies; Celtic and Hispanic tunes. I can’t stop playing it, and I can’t stop picking out these tunes on the mandolin. If you like mandolin, you will love this recording. If you don’t like mandolin, get this recording; it will cure you. Nothing too flashy, just sweet, clean and refreshing.”
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“A time-served folkie of the highest caliber… His technical excellence is in evidence throughout and yet never hastens the natural flow of the music.” – CLASSICAL GUITAR MAGAZINE
“It takes nerve to play solo acoustic guitar. Gripping only a few pounds of ingeniously assembled wood and metal, you have to dazzle an audience’s senses with your bare hands. On a flat-top, staying in tune means pushing and pulling strings within each voicing, and adding sustain means fretting your notes a few milliseconds longer. Physical stuff. In the tight-wire game of solo acoustic, there’s no escaping the core issue: How’s your touch? Your tone? Your time? Just how well CAN you play? Masterfully, if you’re Robin Bullock.
His new Between Earth and Sky is a breathtaking collection of traditional Celtic, Appalachian, and Scottish Highland bagpipe tunes, Irish reels, Breton folk melodies, and finely crafted originals. In addition to acoustic 6- and 12-string guitar, Bullock plays cittern, mandolin, electric bass and fiddle. It’s easy to overlook his brilliant technique, since it’s always in service of the music. On eight of the CD’s fourteen tunes, Bullock tracks all the instruments. On other selections, he’s backed by equally gifted players on whistle, flute, djembe (a West African drum), button accordion, soprano sax, alto flute, and bass clarinet. Dobro master Mike Auldridge makes a guest appearance on one cut, laying down ghostly lines that tug and tinkle against Bullock’s chimney arpeggios.
Whether flying solo or soaring with others, Bullock has an extraordinary command of timbre and dynamics. From shimmering harmonics to densely woven strands of counterpoint, his every note rings clear. Part of this is due to the transparent, airy recording, but it’s Bullock’s knack for arranging that lets each instrument shine so brightly. You can hear that he has dedicated years to absorbing the lesson of traditional folk music: A poignant melody, not fancy fretwork, stands the test of time.
Bullock plays with superb intonation – no mean feat when overdubbing a cluster of fretted, stringed instruments – and his fat, pointed electric bass tone makes you wonder why more bassists don’t flat-pick. Best of all, his overdubs sound organic and dynamic, like a well-seasoned ensemble. A remarkable work from a deep player.” – Guitar Player, September 1998
Robin Bullock’s ample skill on a variety of stringed instruments — guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and cittern — is demonstrated on Between Earth and Sky, which features guest appearances from accordionist John Whelan, Joanie Madden on flute and pennywhistle, Mike Auldridge on dobro, and percussionist Laryea Addy, a veteran of Peter Gabriel’s WOMAD tours.
Beautiful – This music is whimsical and peaceful! – Tinksb9
LoveI didn’t even know I liked this type of music until I heard this song. I love this. – Lindazkewl
5.0 out of 5 stars
Five Stars
By Billon January 17, 2015
Format: Audio CD
One of Robin’s best CDs.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A beautiful CD.
By GM Sorceress Rose on March 5, 2014
Format: Audio CD
I wish that Robin Bullock would make more albums. This is wonderful music. He is an inspired artist. I love it.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Between Earth and Sky
By shelley jean on October 8, 2013
Format: Audio CD
Between Earth and Sky is a beautiful example of Celtic music. It was obviously made of beautiful Irish music now.
4.0 out of 5 stars
By Lynne on February 12, 2013
Format: MP3 Music
I love this guy’s music…. a very talented writer and musician. If you like Blue Grass, you will love this. Easy listening.
5.0 out of 5 stars
My first Bullock but not my last!
By RUHU on January 3, 2013
This delightful mix of Celtic and Appalachian music makes you want to sing, dance, and just sit and muse. I play this over repeatedly and it gives me peace.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable listening
By S. Grotzke on November 8, 2011
Format: MP3 Music
Bullock is a talented musician who gives the listener a great taste of Celtic music. It is truly amazing what he is able to do.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gorgeous work from a true master
By Spencer Hixon on March 19, 2010
Format: Audio CD
I had not heard of Robin Bullock until about a month ago, listening to […]. Every time a song from this album was played, I was instinctively stop working and switch over to Pandora to give that song a “thumbs up.” The music moved me unlike any of the other music of its kind that was playing. I gave in and purchased this album, and I am not disappointed. Every track is masterfully performed and recorded. His guest artists are all world-class musicians as well, and there is a singular synergy that can only come from years of playing with friends. I shall be looking into purchasing more of Mr. Bullock’s albums. Speaking as a budding classical guitarist myself, I hope I will get to meet Robin Bullock someday, perhaps when I return home to the DC area. I also hope to learn how to play the titular track.
5.0 out of 5 stars
exquisite
By Klaus Volpert on October 9, 2008
Here I sit in my office in the middle of the night, grading tests, while Robin Bullock is my company. The music is intoxicating. The more i listen to it, the more beautiful it becomes. It is gentle and lilting at times, vivacious at others. There is not a track i don’t like. Just exquisite.
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“Bullock’s music accents the connections between Celtic and American traditional and acoustic music. That he is able to do so by playing almost any stringed instrument to perfection is his specialty. Thanks to multi-tracking, guitar, mandolin, cittern, bass guitar, fiddle, whistle and piano are all in his recording repertoire. Bullock’s second solo album, Midnight Howl, fully actualizes its subtitle: ‘A celebration of the wild American spirit and its Celtic roots in traditional, Irish and old-time music.’ ” – The NPR Curious Listener’s Guide to Celtic Music by Fiona Ritchie, host of The Thistle and Shamrock
“The last time I reviewed a Robin Bullock CD, I somehow incurred the wrath of at least one ‘real ale’ enthusiast, so I’d better get straight down to the music before someone else has me over a barrel (a wooden one made from real trees, of course).
Robin Bullock is a multi-faceted folk instrumentalist who majors on guitar, mandolin and cittern. To say he’s good at what he does is an understatement; the performances on this superbly-recorded CD are without doubt the work of a musician whose technical skill and stylistic expertise are second to none. A small team of excellent supporting players makes the occasional appearance, but most of the intricately-woven instrumental lines are seamless overdubs of the man himself – a scenario which will not go down well with those who still believe folk music should be recorded in a log cabin using a battery-powered portable (‘there ain’t no mains supply in these parts, boy…’)
For the rest of us, Midnight Howl is a gem. The opening ‘John MacKenzie’s Fancy’ sets the scene for an intoxicating menu comprising everything from the most gorgeous ‘Carrickfergus’ ever captured on record to the utterly compelling ‘Rascal’s Castle’ – a Bullock original par excellence.
Another triumph for Robin Bullock and a worthy addition to the catalog of Maggie’s Music Inc. which also boasts the outstanding fiddle recordings of Bonnie Rideout.” – Classical Guitar, September 1997
“Some musical traditions survived the New World more or less intact. Though melodies from the British Isles would inspire the tunes in a half-dozen American genres, people continued to play these melodies as just what they were – folk music, they called it. With Midnight Howl, string whiz Robin Bullock has set out to take these traditional folk tunes and combine them with American variants, his own originals, and unusual instrumentation (including congas and bass guitar) in ‘a celebration of the wild American spirit’. I don’t know if some of his New-Age goals are achieved, but it is, indeed, a celebration.
Bullock, a member of the esteemed string trio Helicon, is one of those guys who appears to be able to play just about anything with strings disgustingly well. In addition, as Midnight Howl amply proves, he also has an inventive musical vision. He can leap from the dizzying rhythmic convolutions and dancing cittern of the opening ‘John MacKenzie’s Fancy’ to the sonorous fiddle air ‘Ar Eirinn Ni ‘Neosfainn Ce Hi’ to the rollicking ‘Jaybird Suite’ without missing a step – and he’s played almost everything himself, overdubbing as many as half a dozen different instruments.
Through the rest of the disc, he continues to dazzle in thought and deed, concocting a glowing acoustic-music feast out of traditional Celtic melodies, old-time fiddle tunes, and such not-too-shabby originals as the rippling acoustic guitar piece ‘Spider’ and the lovely descending melody of a ‘New Age Celtic mambo’ entitled ‘Rascal’s Castle.’ And best (or worst) of all, he makes it sound easy.” -Baltimore City Paper, 1996
“Taking turns on over a half-dozen varieties of stringed instruments, Robin Bullock fuses haunting textures borrowed from Native American and American West traditions with traditional Celtic, roots and old-time music. Sue Richards, Chris Norman, Steve Bloom and Myron Bretholz lend a helping hand.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
A good alternative is the program Transcribe 8
By Billon January 17, 2015
Format: Audio CD
“An asset for any aspiring fingerstyle guitarist, if a copy can be found. A good alternative is the program Transcribe 8, to slow the songs on the CD down, and any videos or DVDs of Robin performing to help find finger positions.”
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great music!
By D.L. Sniderman on January 29, 2015
Format: Audio CD
“Very lively, creative songs and terrific musicianship.”
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another excellent Bullock
By Alvin Campbell on February 21, 2014
Format: Audio CD
“Bought this and another one of his CDs because my wife loves (and I do also) the excellent ability he shows on the guitar.”
4.0 out of 5 stars
Quiet comfort
By John Wilson on January 8, 2014
Format: Audio CD
“This CD is just so smooth. Whether you sit and listen or put it on in the background it is amazing! One of the best CD purchases of 2013, everyone loves it. Robins mastery of stringed instruments is clear. He also shows an amazing talent for melody. I just enjoyed this recording.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bullock is a first-class musician of breathtaking ability
By J. Ross on June 29, 2004
Format: Audio CD
“I was familiar with Robin’s work with the eclectic acoustic trio, Helicon, and I even had the great honor of his musical accompaniment at a local art fair gig once. Knowing about his mastery of many instruments, I’ve been wanting to get this album of his for quite some time. Robin plays nine different instruments on ‘Midnight Howl’. Steve Bloom’s percussion is right on, and we also hear some expert bodhran, wooden flute and Celtic harp from Myron Bretholz, Chris Norman and Sue Richards, respectively. No slouches there! The CD starts with a lively ‘John McKenzie’s Fancy’ that imparts a rhythmic intensity that is very powerful. Throughout the journey, he follows his quick paced romps with leisurely musical strolls. Arrangements are well thought out, and it’s a true pleasure to hear the genesis of 8-minute numbers like ‘Jaybird Suite’ and ‘Ash Grove Suite’. Robin Bullock is a first-class musician of breathtaking ability.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
WOW!!!
By Mel Runkles on April 27, 2003
Format: Audio CD
“I have become a huge Robin Bullock fan, and this CD ‘Midnight Howl’ is just the latest of his works that I have acquired. These tunes are a beautiful blending of a little Celtic, a little ‘Hillbilly’, a little Bluegrass, and a lot of pride. This is such a beautiful work, I would have to place it close to one of my favorites. I believe, if you like string music with a down home flavor, you should give this work a listen.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent!
By S. O’Connor on February 1, 2000
Format: Audio CD
“I discovered Robin Bullock when he toured a couple years ago, with Celtic accordion madman John Whelan. Bullock is an outstanding musician. I had to have the CD that included a song called ‘For Ireland I’d Not Tell Her Name.’ That turned out to be ‘Midnight Howl.’ A beautiful song, as is every piece on this CD. If you enjoy Celtic and traditional instrumental music suitable for relaxing and dreaming on a snowy or rainy day, don’t miss this recording!”
Superb
“The gorgeous mandolin start on the first tune (JOHN MACKENZIE’S FANCY) sets the tone for this great CD. The all-instrumental CD includes fast-paced jigs with great mandolin, cittern & various traditional percussion, alongside beautiful airs on guitar, piano & fiddle. The tunes are traditional, but given a modern slant (and volume/pace), ala Silly Wizard and other great Irish bands. For example, the liner notes describe the lovely second tune as ‘My Americanized take on an Irish air.’ The musicianship is first-rate throughout — simply could not be better. A real jewel of an album for anyone who likes modern versions of traditional Celtic music.” -David Mutchler
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5.0 out of 5 stars
My favorite Christmas CD
By Pamela Hall on January 16, 2013
Format: Audio CD
“This music reminds me of being at the Scottish Games. I first heard one of the songs on our classical music station. The musicians are so skilled and play together so seamlessly. I love their variations. It is lively and relaxing at the same time.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable New Age Music for the Soul
By Gail Willis on June 30, 2000
Format: Audio CD
“I thoroughly enjoyed this cd! I have seen them perform many times at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. I have even heard them perform live on the Marc Steiner Steiner radio Show. This is the first time that I have bought one of their cd’s, despite being a longtime fan of their music. This cd is filled with enjoyable new age music for the soul. The circle is now complete.”
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful group and a great CD!
By ghoastie on January 30, 2001
Format: Audio CD
“This CD is WONDERFUL! The content is inexplicable, but I will try. The band is made of 3 (or was it 4) guys who play a combination of different types of violin/fiddle, wood flute/ other types of flute, and a hammered dulcimer. They travel all around the world and “discover” old folk music, which they play. I saw them in concert about 5 years ago, (when I was 14 or 15) and the memory has stayed with me since. Their music is magical, and I am so glad that I have found it again as my old tape is quite worn out.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding instrumental album
By R. Stockton on August 3, 2007
Format: Audio CD
“I had the pleasure of seeing Helicon live at a dulcimer festival back in the 90’s and picked up ‘The Titan’ at that time. The album has held up over the last 15 years as one of my favorite instrumental albums, with beautifully performed flute and dulcimer folk music from around the world.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best!
By Kilgore Trout on July 15, 2006
Format: Audio CD
“As I’m mostly drawn to Celtic music with singing (Karen Matheson, etc.), I was surprised to find how fully satisfying this recording is – there is dancing and singing, and even flying in it! The finest instrumental Celtic I’ve heard so far.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
Incredible as always
By Jason on November 15, 2000
Format: Audio CD
“While I am sad that 1/3 of Helicon (Chris Norman, a flutist) is not on this CD, I am ecstatic that Bullock and Kolodner, the other 2/3, are expanding their roots. I was first introduced to Laura Risk at Helicon’s annual Winter Solstice Concert in Baltimore a few years ago, and there was something unique about her. Her playing wasn’t fancy, it was just pure and from the heart. I am glad to see that Risk, Bullock, and Kolodner decided to release this magnificent album of mostly Irish music. Having not listened to this album for a while (I had begun to listen fiddlers like Natalie MacMaster, Ray Ellis etc.), I was amazed to hear the same Irish fiddle tunes arranged for a trio. It gives the music a whole different spin that is truly unique to Greenfire. For example, ‘The Cape Breton Fiddlers Welcome to Shetland,’ ‘Dinky’s,’ and ‘Jackson’s’ are very popular fiddle tunes normally heard in Celidh-like settings, but here take on a whole different meaning without losing their raw energy. Although this is a Celtic string ensemble, it is nothing like a chamber orchestra where things tend to drag some. This is 3 professional musicians who specialize in international music, and keep the tunes as pure as possible. ‘Sean Ryan’s,’ and ‘Chief O’Neill’s Favorite’ are also popular tunes that the seasoned Celtic listener will recognize. All in all, this is a magnificent recording, and I encourage you to not only buy this CD, but Bullock’s and Kolodner’s solo efforts as well. You will not be disappointed.”
4.0 out of 5 stars
Three great musicians…one great disc
By NotATameLi on November 10, 2000
“This is a first rate recording by an excellent collection of musicians. The tunes vary greatly: from the rollicking sound of the set of reels and rants on the first track to the hauntingly spare and introspective ‘The Rolling Wave.’ Robin Bullock, Ken Kolodner and Laura Risk are each excellent musicians in their own right. Together on this recording they are magically enchanting. Mrs. Risk is one of the greatest fiddle players I’ve ever had the privilege of hearing. Her disc with Jacqueline Schwab (Celtic Dialogue) is a favorite of mine. This disc is just as impressive and fun to listen to. The track titled ‘First Light in the Mountains/The Open Road’ is by itself more than worth the price of this disc. By the way…I also want to recommend Ken Kolodner’s wonderful album ‘Walking Stones’–it is great too. This disc gets a high recommendation from me. I hope that you’ll get a copy if you have the chance. There’s plenty of great music here.”
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly Recommended
By A Bard (Not Shakespeare) on September 15, 2000
Format: Audio CD
“While at first wary of an all-string recording, I was quickly put at ease. The skill of the players and the mix of the instruments (guitar, cittern, piano, dulcimer, fiddle, and viola) makes listening to this recording rewarding. Many of Greenfire’s tunes, particularly ‘The Cape Breton Fiddlers’ Welcome to Shetland’ and ‘Over the Moor to Maggie’ are on my ‘Fiddle Tunes to Learn’ list. Get this!”
