ELIOT GRASSO: Standing Room Only

Eliot Grasso

Standing Room Only

© 2004 Eliot Grasso (795103709225)

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The debut album by uilleann piper Eliot Grasso features a riveting selection of Irish traditional tunes, Cape Breton tunes, and original tunes performed with a cast of world class of musicians.

notes

"I first met Eliot Grasso in Achill Island, Co. Mayo in the west of Ireland in August 1999 at the island's annual summer school, Scoil Acla. After hearing him play the pipes for just a short while I was immediately aware that I was in the presence of a master musician, despite the fact that he was still in his mid-teens. Although he had only been playing the pipes for a few years at that stage, his technique and tone had developed to astonishing levels of excellence and richness and his repertoire was seemingly endless. This, combined with his intuitive sense of melodic and technical variation, makes him one of the most creative and dynamic musicians in the contemporary world of Irish traditional music."

"One of the most striking facets of Eliot's music is that he displays an intimate knowledge and understanding of every tune he plays. Careful examination of his playing reveals an emphasis on melodic fluidity which he largely achieves by viewing tunes as harmonic structures. This, in turn, enables him to develop original and attractive melodic variations which are among the most distinctive hallmarks of his piping. Another prodigious aspect of his playing is that he has succeeded in taking tunes not normally associated with the pipes and making them accessible to pipers in a manner which both compliments the pieces themselves and the idiosyncrasies of the instrument. He revels in playing tunes in keys such as G and D minor and A major, keys where many pipers fear to tread, despite the fact that many nineteenth-century chanters were designed to facilitate playing in these keys. To his great credit, Eliot has spent many hours absorbing the finer points of the music of a range of virtuoso performers, both pipers and non-pipers, and this experience in itself has given his music a very solid and authentic basis. His appreciation and performance of the standard piping repertoire leaves nothing to be desired and, furthermore, he has composed many fine tunes himself which show great understanding of both the pipes and traditional music itself."

"I feel that this debut album from Eliot does him great justice and I have no doubt that it is only to be the first of many recordings in what is sure to be an illustrious musical odyssey." - Robbie Hannan


Uilleann piper and Seattle resident, Eliot Grasso, is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Irish Ethnomusicology at the University of Limerick. Eliot began playing Irish music on the flute at age seven, tin whistle at age nine, and in 1995, at age 11, he began uilleann piping, studying piping technique with former Na Piobairi Uilleann instructor Kieran O'Hare. Since 1996 Eliot has won multiple 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place titles in the New York Fleadh Cheoil and Ireland's Fleadh Cheoil na h'Eiraenn in both the uilleann pipes and tin whistle division. Eliot has performed at such venues as the Kennedy Center, Constitution Hall, National Geographic, the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, the Library of Congress, the National Building Museum, and the home of the Irish Ambassador, and for such events as the National Humanities Awards, the National Endowment for the Arts Awards, Island, the American Ireland Fund, and the America-Ireland Business Summit. In 1998 Eliot was invited by Na Piobairi Uilleann, the Pipers' Club in Dublin, to record on New Dawn, a compilation of six pipers under age 18. Eliot was not only the youngest but the sole American on this album. In 2001-2002 Eliot was invited to perform as a soloist in Famine Remembrance with members of the Washington Chamber Symphony and in Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel with the Harrisburg Symphony. As a pianist and organist, Eliot has been an active member in Goucher's music program for the past three years concentrating his efforts in performance, music history, and artistic administration. While at Goucher, he has been awarded with the Rosenberg Scholarship in music four times and is currently celebrating the release of his self-produced debut solo album, Standing Room Only, which was released in January 2004.

Included on this album are Jim Eagan, fiddle, Patrick Mangan, fiddle, Zan McLeod, guitar & bouzouki, and Andy Thurston, guitar.

reviews

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  • author: Michael Holian

    Inspiration to pipers and non-pipers alike. I agree with neil Anderson, Elliot can mature to be another Paddy Keenan ! Keep it up Elliot !!!

  • Astonishing!
    author: Chris Allen

    I linked to this from Kirk Lynch's pipemaking site. I've never heard piping that moved me more, nor silkier pipes. Eliot Grasso's precision and energy are magnificent!

  • WOW!!!!
    author: billy nova

    THIS KID CAN PLAY!!!!!!!!

  • great playing
    author: johhny luther

    Dear Eliot - you are my hero.

  • nice
    author: Maggie

    I helped with the art. The CD is artfully executed (per usual) I lost my copy.

  • Raising the bar on the Uilleann pipes
    author: Kelly Reid

    Recordings can't usually capture the fire and passion of a life performance, but this is an exception. I've heard Eliot live a number of times, and I can say for sure that this recording reproduces his amazing flair and virtuosity with 100% accuracy. I own many cds of traditional irish music, and I hold Eliot's as one of the best I have. I couldn't reccomend any CD more, whether you're a lover of Irish music, the Pipes, or of music in general. It is truly one of the crown jewels of my library, and will surely become one of the great recordings of the Irish pipes of this generation.

  • Great CD
    author: Peter A. Loughlin

    I thoroughly enjoyed the artist and the CD. I was lead to CDBaby through a group called Knot Fibbin'. Never having heard of CdBaby I was amazed at the number of Celtic artists, previously unknown to me. who have CDs available. I'll be coming back to the website an a regular basis. Keep up the good music!!!

  • An exceptional debut from a talented piper
    author: Kate

    As a newcomer to the world of Irish music, I must say that this CD alone has single-handedly made me a fan of the pipes for life. Whether in my car on the way to work or in the CD player around the house, the lively jigs and reels are a compliment to every activity as played deftly by this young virtuoso. Eliot's sound is vibrant and captivating, demonstrating time and again his intense personal relationship and hours of dedication to the study of Irish music. I recommend this album to all who appreciate fine music, Irish traditional fans and future enthusiasts alike.

  • You have a new fan and so does Kirk Lynch Pipes. What a team!!!
    author: Peter Ormerod

    When I first checked out the tunes on the web site I thought you were very generous to let us hear so much of the album. I ordered it and popped it in my C.D. player in the van. 3 hours later and 3 full plays and I never tired of the energy and technique I heard that carried me for 2 hundred miles. A very enthusiastic thumbs up to you and your great sounding pipes. Virtuosity all the way.

  • Terrific Sound!
    author: Mary

    I am no specialist when it comes to Irish music, but I know that this is really great stuff. Get ready to tap your toes on this one!

  • Amazing music whether you're a pipes fan or not
    author: Nemain

    I heard Eliot Grasso play during a young musicians competion on Prairie Home Companion. I was blown away. I was pleasantly surprised when I found he had a CD on CD Baby. I ordered it immediately. Now I love listening to it. My 3 1/2 year thinks that it is perfect dancing music too.

  • author: Tamara Turner, CD Baby

    For those with an incurable ache for the sounds, sights and smells of the Emerald Isle, you will find craic a'plenty with this jolly, driving uilleann pipe album. Like a partner pulling you from your seat, swinging through jigs and barrelling through reels, you'll swear you can almost taste the frothy head of the Guinness when the sweet, plaintive call of Eliot's pipes find their home in your blood. Few instruments have the primitive pull and tug on the heart and mind as the pipes, with an ancient call that seems to evoke and awaken history- it's no wonder that some form of pipes can be found from Eastern Europe to East Asia to the green, misty hills of Eireann.

  • I think I've just heard the next Paddy Keenan!
    author: Neil Anderson

    This is wonderful work from a brilliant 'piper. Eliot combines the tone and control of Jerry O'Sullivan with the fire and musicality of Paddy Keenan. I particularly like his use of the Rogge "flat" set- B is such a cool key for 'pipes, and the fact that Eliot can be so articulate (track 10) on a chanter with such a challenging finger-span (much longer than a standard concert-pitch chanter) is further testimony to his talent. His choice of tunes is also very cool- I think my favorite set on the disc is track 9, which starts with a great Jerry Holland reel called "Barry's Trip to Paris." His back-up musicians are world-class, as well. Andy Thurston's work here is of particular note. Eliot should be very proud of this disc; elegant, well produced, scholarly, and entertaining, in short, it just ROCKS. Can't wait for the next one!

  • Great cheerful music for bagpipers and non-bagpipers alike.
    author: Glauber

    This CD grabs you from beginning to end with great lively, uplifiting music. Elliot's playing is spot on, even when playing at high speeds. Irish music enthusiasts will smile at the sight of some old favourites such as "My Darling Asleep" and the "Blarney Pilgrim", just to mention two. The CD is good listening even if you're not an Irish music fanatic or a bagpiper (which is a rare thing among bagpipe albums). A fabulous first effort by Elliot Grasso; we can only hope there will be many more.

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