Jennifer Clarke Skromeda performs with the Manitoba band Wild Mountain Thyme. She goes solo, however, on The Great Silkie: Tales of the Celts, a wonderful collection of story-songs from the Scottish and Irish traditions.

Singing a cappella or with minimal accompaniment, Jennifer exhibits her clear voice to best effect on 15 tracks that spin marvelous tales from the Celtic traditions. Jennifer benefits from great vocal projection, whether the song be silly or somber.

The album is off to a great start on "The Lark in the Morning," a song presented beautifully with just vocals and drum. She adds fiddle and drum for "The Wraggle Taggle Gypsies," then goes without accompaniment for "The Dowie Dens o' Yarrow." And there are more surprises along the way, including a bit of fiddle on "Rantin' Roarin' Willie" and shuttle pipes and a martial tramp on "The Haughs of Cromdale." Other songs include "Little Drummer," "The Great Silkie," "If I Were a Blackbird" and "Sons of the Seals."

A lot of singers would shy away from so many unadorned vocals, but Jennifer doesn't mind the exposure -- in fact, she excels at it. Instruments are used purely as accents for her exceptional voice; fortunately, her guest artists -- Oliver Schroer on fiddle, Sandy Thacker of shuttle pipes, Blair McEvoy on bodhran and Scott Senior on percussion -- know when to hold back and let her soar.