Ireland's Whistling Ambassador

"Consummately played traditional music; moving and exhilirating." —

Micho Russell is pure fireside entertainment, telling his stories and singing his songs in the fluid vowels of rural Co Clare.

The notes are exemplary and the whole production bears the mark of a labour of love.

“A sheer joy to listen to, you can relive the joy and wonderment which he exuded.”

Ireland’s Whistling Ambassador is the last testament from one of the giants of Irish music in this century. —

The Irish music world lost one of its giants in February 1994 when Micho Russell, the legendary tin whistler and singer from Doolin, Co. Clare, died in a tragic car crash in Galway at the age of 79. Just three months earlier, Micho had been performing and recording in New York. Some of the music from these historic sessions — the last solo recordings Micho ever made — is featured on, IRELAND’S WHISTLING AMBASSADOR (PWCD 80001). Produced by uilleann piper and tin whistler Bill Ochs, the 49-minute recording is a document of the tunes and times Micho shared with friends on three trips to the U.S. between 1990 and 1993.

The album features material recorded in church hall, college lounge, pub, recording studio and sitting room. Many of the tracks include spoken introductions by Micho. What emerges is a warm and finely drawn portrait of one of Ireland’s best-loved traditional musicians.

Though all of the recordings were made when Micho was well into his late seventies, his playing sounds as fresh and sparkling as ever. Of particular interest are a number of rare North Clare jigs from Micho’s vast repertoire — Winnie Hayes’s Jig, The Four Posts of the Bed, Come into the Town My Fair Lady, and Christmas Day in the Morning. There are also charming variants of well known tunes, such as Micho’s highly unusual versions of The Mason’s Apron, The Spike Island Lassies (Cloichíní Beaga na Farraige), and The Ladies’ Pantalettes (Johnny Sally’s Reel). Vocals in Clare Irish, comic songs in English, bits of stories and old lore, as well as a sprinkling of Micho’s classic signature tunes round out the portrait. The recording includes extensive documentation. The CD features a 28-page booklet with a biography of Micho, photos, stories, tune annotations and complete lyrics and translations of the songs. The back cover of the booklet reproduces a portion of a page from Micho’s notebook. The booklet also includes a 16-inch folded insert with biography, tune annotations and translations of Irish lyrics.

Micho captured charming an audience with my songs and tunes
Micho’s music (on whistle and many songs) and personality captured in concert. As the Irish Times says,"A radiant, vital memorial to one of the most joyful musicians in the Irish pantheon". This is the last recording by this gentle giant of Irish music.

"One of the essential traditional albums of the year...[the tracks are] consistently warmed by an intimacy that takes them off the stage and into the cottages, parlours and back-bar snugs where they belong... a masterclass in the true values enshrined in traditional music." — Hot Press

The album features material recorded in church hall, college lounge, pub, recording studio and sitting room. Many of the tracks include spoken introductions by Micho. What emerges is a warm and finely drawn portrait of one of Ireland’s best-loved traditional musicians.

Though all of the recordings were made when Micho was well into his late seventies, his playing sounds as fresh and sparkling as ever. Of particular interest are a number of rare North Clare jigs from Micho’s vast repertoire — Winnie Hayes’s Jig, The Four Posts of the Bed, Come into the Town My Fair Lady, and Christmas Day in the Morning. There are also charming variants of well known tunes, such as Micho’s highly unusual versions of The Mason’s Apron, The Spike Island Lassies (Cloichíní Beaga na Farraige), and The Ladies’ Pantalettes (Johnny Sally’s Reel). Vocals in Clare Irish, comic songs in English, bits of stories and old lore, as well as a sprinkling of Micho’s classic signature tunes round out the portrait. The recording includes extensive documentation. The CD features a 28-page booklet with a biography of Micho, photos, stories, tune annotations and complete lyrics and translations of the songs. The back cover of the booklet reproduces a portion of a page from Micho’s notebook. The booklet also includes a 16-inch folded insert with biography, tune annotations and translations of Irish lyrics.