|
|||||||||
TOMMY FLEMINGThe Essential Collection
From his American debut in 1993 at Carnegie Hall with Phil Coulter, Tommy Fleming has built a career as one of the great Irish singers of his time. He performs songs across the full spectrum of Irish music - popular songs: Galway Bay, Danny Boy, Isle of Innisfree and Sweet Sixteen; ballads: The Auld Triangle, The Fields of Athenry, The Leaving of Liverpool and From Clare to Here; traditional songs: Will Ye Go Lassie Go, The Water Is Wide, Mountains of Pomeroy and Black Is the Colour and contemporary compositions: Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears, Sand and Water, Bright Blue Rose and The Contender - all are treated with the same respect for the music and lyrics.
The 35 tracks on this double album were taken primarily from live performances. Tommy's tenor voice soars as he brilliantly breathes new life into these songs. It is the combination of his great understanding of the lyrics and the power of his voice that send chills up your spine. It is Tommy's genius that he can perform songs like Fields of Athenry and Sweet Sixteen, which seemed the property of Paddy Reilly and Finbar Furey, and make them his own. Listening to The Auld Triangle, I was transported back to Carnegie Hall when the entire sold-out audience sprang to its feet for the first of his three standing ovations. Listen to these tracks and you will find your own favorites.
TOMMY FLEMINGVoice of Hope - DVD
The concert, recorded on this DVD at the Basilica in Knock, was the first concert ever recorded in that sacred shrine. And what a special night it was! Tommy's full ten piece band and the Cork Pops Orchestra provided the instrumental background. Tommy's guests included Phil Coulter, Eileen Ivers and Cara Dillon. The DVD contains 23 songs: including a duet with Phil Coulter on Steal Away; Eileen Ivers performing the fiddle background to Tommy's rendition of Danny Boy and You've Got a Friend with Cara Dillon. But the emotional highlight of the evening was Tommy's moving and powerful rendition of Lady of Knock.