REVIEWS for Wander The Wood
"Finally, there's the "give 'em hardly any songs at all" approach favored by Yankee Celtic Consort. Their CD "Wander The Wood" is made up almost entirely of tunes, some old and some new, played on fiddle, whistle, bouzouki, bass, drums and other goodies. Their arrangements show debts to classical music, rock and bluegrass, with a string quartet here, an electric guitar solo there, and a rollicking 5-string banjo now and then. Mostly, though, it's bright, clear Celtic music arranged and played with conviction. The two songs that do appear, "Star of the County Down" and "When You and I Were Young, Maggie" are about the only stereotypical selections on this surprisingly satisfying disc."
Steve Winick - Dirty Linen

"Top 10 Release for 1998"
John O'Regan - Folk Roots Magazine

"I don't know any music that has wandered the world so happily and begot a family larger than Irish music. From Ohio, the Yankee Celtic Consort's hot premiere album shows the amount of interbreeding with its descendants that Irish music has done and still is doing. These musicians play the pure Irish drop, but they also play Irish bluegrass (or maybe bluegrass Irish). There's a wonderful version of When You and I Were Young, Maggie that's a cross between older bluegrass and Lorraine Duisit's best singing with Trapezoid; I want to hear more from singer Kim Rattan. Blackberry Blossom is punched up with an electric guitar and a strong rhythm section. Over the Moor to Maggie and Staten Island Hornpipe are preceded by a selection from Handel's Water Music (remember, De Danaan also played some Handel, and just about as well). Other traditional cuts are played in the pure style; the faster tunes have wonderful energy; these guys can really play. There are also some very nice original tunes, including a graceful jig called Ben's Favorite that reminds me of the older and more formal Scottish jigs. I look forward to hearing more from this dynamic young band."
David Marcus - Atlanta Celtic Quarterly

"I like it...really a nice release...a job well done!"
Doug Dickson, Toss The Feathers, WCBE - Columbus, OH

"Formed in Ohio in 1993 by Doug Rudy (mandolin, fiddle, guitar) and Phil Franck (fiddle, banjo, tin whistle, vocals), the Yankee Celtic Consort combine their love of Irish music with Classical and Bluegrass creating a unique style all their own. The Irish medleys are passionate and fiery with some fine interplay between tenor banjo and fiddle on "John Marr's Fancy/Glass of Beer" and guitar and mandolin on "Ben's Favorite" set. The combination of Celtic and classical on the "Handel's Water Music suite No. 2 in D/Over the Moor to Maggie/Staten Island Hornpipe" set is inspiring especially with Sarah McPeak's oboe added to the sound. Some fine tin whistle is contributed by Pat Mogan but it is Rudy and Franck who are the musical stars of this production. The three songs on the recording are typical Celtic stalwarts "Star of the County Down", "Jock O' Hazeldean" and "When You and I Were Young Maggie", but are given fresh interpretations due to the group's Bluegrass and Classical leanings. It's been said that 'your mind is like a parachute... it only works when it's open' and if you love music and you have an open mind the parachute that is the Yankee Celtic Consort works like a charm. YCC provide a musical reward around every corner for the open-minded listener."
Cliff McGann - Celtic Heritage magazine

"it is very good...I've put it in my "must play" pile..."
Philly Markowitz, Roots & Wings, CBC Radio One - Canada

"Phil Franck and Doug Rudy, longtime bandmates and collaborators, form the core of the Yankee Celtic Consort. Between them they play fiddle, bazouki, acoustic guitar, pennywhistle, percussion, five-string banjo, acoustic bass (Phil), tenor banjo, mandolin, electric guitar, more fiddle, and more acoustic guitar (Doug). They play Irish and Celtic tunes, fiddle tunes, American Civil War melodies, themes boldly lifted from classical composers, and even a few originals with a gigantic amount of energy and joy. Perhaps because I'm not a member of the Celtic fiddle culture it sometimes feels as if Irish-flavored music is a bit overexposed these days and the last thing we need is yet another CD. Notwithstanding the apparent glut, the Yankee Celtic Consort has the feel of authenticity and the unmistakable sound of folks who know what they're doing. An energetic experience from beginning to end."
Todd De Groff - Victory Review

"Wander the Wood" is a breath of fresh air, and will surely delight lovers of acoustic music. Yankee Celtic Consort is an Ohio-based ensemble founded by Phil Franck and Doug Rudy. They skillfully bring in (along with a talented ensemble of musicians) a rich variety of instruments: fiddles, tin whistle, mandolin, bodhran, banjo, bazouki, guitar, bass and oboe. The liner notes proclaim the original and traditional Celtic pieces to be flavored with influences from classical and bluegrass, and indeed they are. The natural arrangements and enthusiasm of the players create a rich musical experience that allows complex music to be sound simple and natural, yet invigorating. The sweetness of many of the cuts, (#6, "Jock O'Hazeldean" in particular) will captivate one's ear and heart.
Randall Leonard - Holistic Journal

"YANKEE CELTIC CONSORT is a class act, as evidenced by their recent release, Wander the Wood on the Grandma Katherine's Music label. Combining classical with Celtic and bluegrass instrumental sounds of fiddles, tin whistles, mandolin, bodhran, banjo, bouzouki, guitar, bass and oboe, this talented trio and their occasional guests put out some of the most excitingly lovely music on today's scene."
Molly Anderson - New Age Voice

"Cat chasin' its tail, ladies' skirts a' swirlin', dust risin' up off the ol' wood floor. Not traditional, but archaic...the Yankee Celtic Consort pulls back the curtain of time, and suddenly you're there, too...hoppin' and leapin' to a homespun music that pulses with the innocence of a bygone era. There's scarcely anything modern about this album than the fact that it's a high fidelity recording. The instruments, the songs, the performances are a faded sepia daguerreotype -- and you're one of the faces staring out of it. Fiddles, whistles, banjos, mandolins -- even the voices sound like your great-great-great grandparents, when they were young and full of apple cider vinegar. Like the Chieftains, only (if that's possible) richer, realer -- this is an extraordinary work of musicianship -- and time travel."
Aquarian

"...two recent releases breathe fresh life into the Celtic music, from two different directions...The Yankee Celtic Consort is a humbly great carrier of the tunes and their "Wander the Wood" offers up a rewarding mix of traditional and original tunes, built around a core of fiddle, guitar, mandolin and Irish whistle."
Jim Cummings - Eclectic Ear/Crosswinds Weekly

"Even if you're not a dancer, this delightfully exuberant music will have you kicking up your heels in no time! Making music as refreshing as a walk in a newly green wood, this acoustic ensemble mixes instrumentals like "John Marr's Fancy/Glass of Beer" with old folk vocals such as "Start of the County Down". But they also create innovative arrangements that mix classical suites with modern ballads ("Handel's Water Music/Over the Moor to Maggie/Staten Island Hornpipe") with such dexterity and grace that it seems as if these disparate pieces were always played together. When the tempo gets a bit hot, the consort smartly cools down the pace a bit with a few delicate airs evoking a sense of hopeful yearning in their measured paces. But soon the spirit of celebration takes over again to put a skip in your step ("Foggy Dew/Tolkein's Draught"). An admirable blend of Celtic, folk and early music (classical, medieval), this album is a wonderful kick start to the imagination."
The Monthly Aspectarian

"THANK YOU for the good music. ("Wander The Wood") is going into my Gaelic Rainbow this Saturday."
Jo Hayes, Gaelic Rainbow - KOHM - Lubbock, TX

"I like it very much..."
Louise Higman, New Morning Music, WUTK - Knoxville, TN

"The WANDER THE WOODS disc is really good."
Van Roberts, Music of the Spheres, WMUW - Columbus, MS

"Very good..."
Diane Byrnes, Echoes of Erin, WEDO - Pittsburgh, PA

"Awesome!"
Mark Johnston, The Gathering, WKDT - West Point, NY