Just read that name; now there is a singer for you!
Mary Kathleen Burke may be new to our ears, but it takes just one listen to fall for this raven-haired Scots-Irish vocalist.
By electing to open her debut album with the standard Black is the Colour, Burke allows listeners to become accustomed to her strong voice within a comfortable context.
Other popular numbers are included- and beautifully rendered- such as A Woman’s Heart and Ae Fond Kiss. Songs from Donovan and Iris Dement also receive generous treatments.
As satisfying as these performances are, it is on less familiar numbers that Burke comes into her own. Although she didn’t write it, A Song in her Heart is based on Burke’s experiences and life paths, and the message resonates.
Beyond the traditional numbers Burke arranged, the only song to carry her own writing credit is My Scotsman and Thee; this song is the likes of which careers are built upon. Having left Ireland and fallen for a man who will not forsake his home so that she might return to hers, Burke’s song strikes the balance between yearning lament and reflective acceptance. Staggering!
The instrumentation throughout the 14 tracks is mostly sparse and soothing, ideally complementary to Burke’s voice.
If you like the Celtic folk music, one should consider exploring A Song in Her Heart. Visit http://www.myspace.com/maryk1 for a sampling.
Donald Teplyske is a local freelance writer who contributes a twice-monthly column on roots music. If you know a roots music event of which he should be aware, contact him at fervorcoulee@shaw.ca
Welcome to my my page at Nessmp3.com thank you to all the wonderful people I have met through networking online and in person some of whom have become dear friends. If your new on my page please add yourself . My Debut album " A song in her heart" . has now been released by Greentrax and can be ordered online direct from Greentrax Recordings and is in all good record Stores worldwide . For full bio reviews etc please visit my Official website at Mary K Burke Official Website www.marykburke.co.uk . I also have a site at Mary's Myspace and at Mary K Burke on Reverbnation where one of my tracks Another drink is currently no 18 in Their folk charts . I have been networking onlne for approximately 6 years and was Director of Country Music Scotland and Founder and director of The Neilston Live! Barfest . I hope you will enjoy my music and if you like it please tell your friends and tell them to tell their friends I always try to get back to everyone who takes the time to listen and comment so if you dont hear back straight away I will get around to it I like to take time to listen so I may not tell you in two minutes if I like your music Haste ye Back!
Mary
Interview with Mike Ganley on The Crooked Road
lISTEN HERE
On The Crooked Road this time Mike Ganley features another debutante – Mary Kathleen Burke and her album ‘A Song in Her Heart.’ Mary was raised in County Derry in Northern Ireland, but made her name on the Glasgow club scene. Check out her website at http://www.marykburke.co.uk The show also includes music from the new albums from Tom Palmer and Mary McPartlan. Contact Mike with your comments at mike@thecrookedroad.com
Reviews & Quotes
Ian Green describes Mary Kathleen Burke as "a brilliant talent". "I’ve been in the music business for more than 40 years," he said, "and I’ve not heard many like her. She’s a wonderfully gifted performer, and a natural musician with an absolutely gorgeous voice. I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that she is going to become a great star." Dr Ian Green (Director Greentrax Scotland
Longing for home is a common theme in folk music and on this album it is epitomised by ‘My Scotsman & Thee’ with the tale of longing for home, visiting home but loving someone from another land. Sung here almost three decades after it was written by a 19-year-old Burke it sounds “hot off the presses”. This is an outstanding first album, even if she waited about 30 years to burst on the scene, and I look forward to many more. Nicky Rossiter (Irish Music Magazine)
She’s been living in Scotland for a quarter of a century, but you can’t take the Irish out of her voice, or her music. As Tanya with her band Sneaky Moon, as vocalist in Scots country outfit Nevada, and in time spent running a Scottish Country Music agency, her link to that transatlantic stream of Irish/Scots music is as strong as her vocal ability – and she includes Eleanor McEvoy’s US hit ’A Woman’s Heart’ here. Donovan’s ’Catch The Wind’ makes it, as does Burns’ ’Ae Fond Kiss’ and various band settings of contemporary compositions among the trad. ( Norman Chalmers , Scotland on Sunday)
This has to be one of the best debut albums I have heard !- beautiful voice, choice of songs and arrangements. I shall certainly be playing it on my Sunday evening show on Radio Borders. Karin Ingram (Presenter, The Sunday Getherin’)
This album is a mix of traditional and recent songs, including A Woman’s Heart, of which the composer, Eleanor McEvoy, described Mary’s version as "truly beautiful".
"there’s an element of nostalgia that you tend to find only among longtime exiles... something different and charming" (Sarah McQuaid, Evening Herald reviewer)
"Using her strong, passionate voice to good effect" (Spectrum FM Radio, Australia)
"The album arrived yesterday and I am afraid I can’t stop listening. Many thanks for this beautiful record" (Bernard Jean, Musiques Sans Frontieres, France)
"Album Of The Week" (Celtic Connections Radio, Glasgow) just one week after its release!
" Album of the week on BBC Radio Scotland (Ian Anderson Show)
‘A SONG IN HER HEART’ by MARY KATHLEEN BURKE (Greentrax)
RELEASE DATE FEBRUARY 1st 2008
(A brief preview written by CHRIS HOLMES. Author and Journalist )
“A Song In Her Heart”, debut release by Mary Kathleen Burke (Greentrax, 200
“I was a bit tearful when I heard the playback of the song I wrote when I was 19 and homesick” said Mary Kathleen Burke, during the recording of her album, a mixture of self-penned material and “other songs”; the latter including an outstanding interpretation of Donavan’s ‘Catch The Wind’.
Sometimes a songwriter can be too smart for their own good, but this singer and musician knows when to keep it simple. The technical ability on guitar is as clear as the voice. But rhythm, harmony and lyrics don’t need to show off, and here is the proof.
There is a positive wave of romance throughout the album. ‘James’ has a hint of Paris about it. ‘Give Me Time’ is undeniably and hypnotically ‘Celtic’, whilst the track ‘My Scotsman and Thee’ deals with the perennial ‘Exile’ theme of many an Irish ballad, but with raw honesty and a twist in the tale.
The romantic spirit coursing through this album never threatens to rise up and swamp the songs. There is a much subtler groove at work, with some remarkable outside contributions.
Chuck Fleming – widely known from the days of the JSD Band – has always been a highly respected fiddle player. Now based in Durham, he hopped back over the border for a while, in order to add his own bit of unique magic to the brew. With the support of musicians of this calibre, there are interesting times ahead for Mary Kathleen Burke.
Following the release of the album there will be a tour of concert halls, supporting the legendary Irish singer and songwriter Johnny McEvoy, due to commence in Oct 2008.
As Bob Dylan once sang, “Things Have Changed”, a satire on cynicism and a weary modern update on his hopeful “The Times They Are A-Changin’”. But Mary Kathleen Burke is singing to a different tune. She stands as an example of how paying your dues - a weary cliché in these days of instant ‘celebrity’ status - brings its own rewards, but only if you have the talent to accompany the effort. And perhaps the love of and need for music has more than a little to do with it all.
Mary Kathleen Burke hails from Park, County Derry, but has lived in Glasgow since she ventured forth at the age of 16 to pursue an always uncertain career as a singer and songwriter. But she is well-aware of the importance of her early musical background in Northern Ireland. By the age of 15 she had learned keyboards and guitar, and played with a country band: “We were awful,” says Mary, “but somehow we got gigs.” When Christopher Logue – now part of the duo Logue and McCool - joined the band, things improved dramatically.
Mary acknowledges this background, without being chained to it. As a solo performer (under the stage name Tanya), her repertoire consisted largely of traditional Irish and Scots folk music.
In 1994 she joined the already established country band ‘Nevada’, before leaving after four years to form her own band ‘Tanya and Sneaky Moon’. She later returned to solo performances, with sets consisting largely of traditional and contemporary folk and country music, sometimes in the support slot for such names as Sean Cannon of ‘The Dubliners’ and Nashville’s own Bob Cheevers.
Eventually, a Licencing deal came up.
Haste ye Back! 
