Garcia : Woven Ways

For a few years it's been common knowledge that Katka García is an exceptional singer of songs with Celtic roots, and certainly a lifetime spent traveling between Prague and Ireland has deepened the hues of her island inspiration. The enthusiasm surroun­ding her previous albums with Dún an Doras, has made her a phenomenon, and not only in the Czech Repub­lic, but throughout Europe. In her latest pro­ject, she takes another giant stride forward in her endless mu­sical journey. Lubos Malina has been known as a remarkable in­strumentalist, composer and arranger for quite a while. He has traveled around the world with the band Druhá tráva as a successful banjoist whose playing is considered top-notch, even in the USA, the cradle of bluegrass. His long list of recording and concert projects attests to his skills. Now he has teamed up with a female voice whose crystal-clear sim­plicity and extraordinary stylistic temperament have opened the way to make a longtime dream come true. Two years of preparation later, García and Malina's project has given birth to the debut album Woven Ways, bringing García, Malina and co-producer Martin Ledvina, together with other brilliant musicians: guita­rist Petr Kosumberský (Dún an Doras), bassist Adam Stivín, drummer David Landstof, and other il­lustrious guests. Together they have recorded a CD that takes them on a trip from a familiar starting point to a fresh, unconventional destination. On the way, Larry Seyer (mastering), a multiple Grammy award win­ner contributed to the extraordinary sound. Folk songs of the last century sung in English and Irish stand beside the works of contemporary songwri­ters (John Spillane, Andy Stewart, Dave Spillane, Dónal Lunny). One Last Cold Kiss, a cover ver­sion of the 1971 song by the band Mountain, is especially captivating. The artists’ intimate familiarity with tradi­tion is complemented by their uniquely individual approach to performance, arrangement and emo­tion, traversing the space between the Irish, Scottish and English hills and the American bluegrass plains. It is vigorous, contemporary music, filled with respect and love for its roots, but also free to explore its present. The music stands on solid artistic and human foundations, and the album is the promising begin­ning of an intriguing combination of musicians, following paths that have now been woven together. How pleasant to walk with them awhile.....