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Lasting impressions: Liz Carroll fiddles about.

Article Excerpt
A treasured moment from the 2002 New Bedford (Mass.) Folk Festival: Liz Carroll is sharing the stage with Kevin Burke and Johnny Cunningham, both of whom have just dazzled the audience with their usual blend of energy and virtuosity. With a crinkle in her eyes, Carroll smiles and says, "Well, I guess I'll play something pretty, before Johnny does." She then launches into the heart-wrenching air "A Day and an Age" from Lake Effect (2002). About midway through the piece, Cunningham arches an eyebrow and steals a glance at Burke, whose wan smile and small nod indicate that he too is mightily impressed.

Liz Carroll has impressed a lot of people. "She's one of my favorite fiddle players of all time," remarks Cunningham. "She has complete command over the fiddle, but at the same time plays with abandon." Burke recalls, "I remember years ago hearing Liz play `Mrs. McLeod's Reel,' which is such a well-known tune that it's hard to be impressive with it, but she was. Technically, she always has great tone, and she puts a lot energy into her playing. 1 like how her curiosity leads to innovation, so that it's never the same thing with Liz."

Carroll's command of tone, skillful bowing, and ability to balance tradition and innovation have won her a host of accolades and awards. She won the junior division of the All-Ireland Fiddle Championship in 1974, then captured the senior crown the very next year when she was all of 18. Her four solo albums have garnered universal praise, and Lost in the Loop (2000) won an Indie. Also beloved is the work she did as an original member of Cherish the Ladies, and the two albums she recorded with accordion wizard Billy McComiskey and guitarist Daithi Sproule as the trio Trian. She's even performed with Yehudi Menuhin (1988), won a National Heritage Fellowship (1994), and in 1999, Mayor Richard Daley proclaimed September 19 as "Liz Carroll Day" to honor the native-born Chicagoan.

None of this fazes the unassuming Carroll, who insists on putting everything in perspective. "The Heritage Award was especially nice, because it was so unexpected and because it was presented in such a way as to say `this is for your contribution.' And I really liked winning the Indie for Lost in the Loop. Some of the other ones have been great stepping stones in that they led to some of the first times I actually got to go out of town. Winning the All-Ireland means that people elsewhere think, `There's this woman in Chicago who won the All-Ireland, so let's ask her to come play.' It mainly means you get your name out more."

Carroll refuses to let praise turn her head. "Hey, it's Irish music," she insists, "and there's absolutely nothing to have an ego about. When you hang around with the Irish crowd you quickly find out that you can learn something from every musician you meet. You can be joking around with someone and all of a sudden that person plays a lovely note that stops you in your tracks. I feel very lucky that I am able to do this. My husband, Charles is a woodworker and he said to me one day, `You know, Liz, nobody applauds when I plane a piece of wood.' That puts it...