cds

Keith's new solo cd, Bound for Canaan, came out in July of 2005. A great collection of traditional songs from Eastern Canada and New England spanning both the English and French sides of the New World. The arrangements are beautifully layered with double guitars, fiddle and flute in the spirit of the celtic revival without the weight of overproduction. And the directness of Keith Murphy’s singing maintains the true spirit of traditional music. This is a unique contribution to the world of recorded traditional song.

After years of committing herself to the ensemble work of Nightingale and Wild Asparagus, Becky and her fiddle stand center stage on Evergreen with a supporting cast of her favorite musical companions. The instrument groupings are generally small and the arrangments spare, but exquisitely tasteful. Becky's fiddle floats over the shifting swirl of accordion (Jeremiah McLane), flute and bombard (David Cantieni), Irish pipes (Benedict Koehler), clarinet (Bill Tomczak) and Keith Murphy on guitar, mandolin, piano and French Canadian foot percussion. Irish dance tunes, bourrees, mazurkas from France and Scandinavia, crooked tunes from French Canada. And the intensely beautiful, unforgettable title track waltz. A seamless web of great fiddle playing.

cd cover Any Jig or Reel: A great collection of New England and French Canadian dance sets. The CD is a production of New England Dancing Masters, an organization that produces many materials for community dancing. And Any Jig or Reel was designed as a recording that could actually be used for dancing New England style contras. It is very traditional playing featuring Andy Davis on accordion, Becky on fiddle and Keith on guitar, piano and foot percussion. It is great playing and a wonderful source for musicians looking for a source for expanding their repertoire of traditional tunes. A couple of Keith’s tunes are also here - a reel (Rare ) and two waltzes (Over the Ice and Summer Haze).

Keith and Becky make up 2/3 of the band Nightingale with three cds available. Amidst various other projects, Nightingale has been Keith and Becky's primary musical home since 1993. With Jeremiah McLane (piano and accordion) the trio has forged three classic recordings featuring traditional songs and instrumentals from Ireland, France, Scandinavia, Newfoundland and Quebec.
The band's first recording, The Coming Dawn (1994) captured the fresh, raw energy of the band as well as establishing Nightingale's sophistication as players and arrangers of an eclectic mix of traditional music. Less than two years later came Sometimes When the Moon is High. More musically complex and more tightly arranged, this album won the band cudos from a wider audience. Three , released in June 2004 reflects Nightingale's past while also breaking new ground. It draws more extensively on original compositions from band members Jeremiah McLane and Keith Murphy and continues the evolution of a wonderfully creative band.

Keith with Assembly
(formerly Popcorn Behavior)

Three very distinct CDs from this band. Strangest Dream, Keith’s first recording as regular member of the band, included Keith’s singing of several songs and an eclectic range of material - many original compositions but also a tango, a South African piece, a tune from Panama and a song from Macedonia. The January EP is almost suite-like. Five extended instrumentals use hypnotic grooves and swells of minimalist improvisation to create a piece with a unique place in contemporary traditional music. Other Side of the Tracks comprised the apotheosis of the band’s time in the world of contra dance. Heavy grooves and cresendoing layers of sound. Another New England Dancing Masters production, this recording features dance length medleys.

Keith with Ruthie Dornfeld:

Ways of the World cd cover Ways of the World pairs consummate dance fiddler Ruthie Dornfeld with brilliant harmonica player Joel Bernstein, accompanied by Keith's propulsive Celtic rhythm on guitar. Also, a couple of great songs from Keith - Drunkard's Doom and Bon County. "Frankly, this breath of fresh air is exactly what I search for in the world of traditional acoustic music...innovative, provocative, great melodies and superb arrangements among players who know what the hell they want to sound like." -Ray Edlund, KPFA Radio

Becky and Keith with Wild Asparagus:

Wherever You Go cd cover Wherever You Go was Becky's second recording with her long-time band, Wild Asparagus (her first album with them was From the Floor Up). She rocks on some of the up tempo dance tunes. Wherever You Go also included Keith as guest collaborator and several of his tunes are featured. These include his co-writing of the title song with David Cantieni.