Since forming in 1962, the Chieftains have toured the world regularly, absorbing influences and collaborating with top tier musicians, and Santiago is one of their best examples of their ability to blend styles. Focused primarily on the music of the Spanish province of Galicia, which Chieftain bandleader Paddy Moloney describes as “the world's undiscovered Celtic country,” it sounds close to traditional Celtic music but with a touch of Cuban flair thrown in since Galicia and Cuba share a musical lineage. Joining the Chieftains on this Grammy-winning album are more than two dozen gifted guests including Los Lobos, Ry Cooder, Linda Ronstadt, classical guitarist Eliot Fisk, and a Cuban choir. The main collaborator, and the one who most inspired this album, is Carlos Nunez, a virtuoso on gaita (similar to the bagpipes) and recorder, who hails from Galicia and who was a regular part of the Chieftains touring band for several years. Listen to the dazzling interplay between Nunez and Moloney on “Dueling Chanters” and you’ll know exactly why the band referred to him as the “seventh Chieftain.” Santiago is certainly one of the finest of the Chieftains many excellent releases.