PORTLAND-based fiddler Kevin Burke has just released a new CD called Across the Black River accompanied by an American guitarist Cal Scott, who also lives in Oregon which is also the first recording on Burke's new label Loftus Music.

Burke is the well-traveled fiddling master with Sligo roots who was raised in London and is well known for his work with the Bothy Band, Patrick Street and Celtic Fiddle Festival who received America's top folk music award when he was chosen one of 2002's National Heritage Fellows.

Scott is a film composer with a large body of PBS documentary scores, one of which was about Northern Ireland when Burke was hired as a consultant. Since meeting they have spent a lot of time together in musical fellowship and decided to do a CD together that also features Johnny B. Connolly, Michael McGoldrick and Phil Baker.

They are already on a CD promotional tour (www.kevinburke.com) that will be around the northeast beginning Friday, May 11 at the Commodore Barry Irish Center in Philadelphia, May 13

in D.C. at St. Mark's Pres-byterian Church (workshops from 3-5 p.m. with reservations to phone 301-754-3611), May 15 in Voorhees, New Jersey at a house concert, and May 16 and 17 in Assonet, Massachusetts (www. musicbythebay.org).

On Saturday, May 19, the Hurdy Gurdy Folk Club (www.hurdygurdyfolk.org) presents them in Paramus, New Jersey and on Sunday, May 20 they will be at Tressler's Barn in Easton, Connecticut (www.shamrockirishmusic.org).