As classical musicians, we just never get to play this repertoire, and we think it’s some of the best music ever written. Aoife Ní Bhriain Working as a session viola player with the London Contemporary Orchestra while touring Jonny Greenwood’s string music and recording Radiohead’s A Moon Shaped Pool, Scottish violist Ian ... [Continue Reading]
double bass
Dezron Douglas & Brandee Younger: Force Majeure
As soon as New York City entered a first lockdown in March 2020, double bass player Dezron Douglas and jazz harpist Brandee Younger launched a series of live streams on Facebook and Instagram Live from their East Harlem flat. Dubbed “Force Majeure: Brunch in the crib with Brandee & Dezron”, the Friday morning concerts ... [Continue Reading]
Anouar Brahem: Blue Maqams
The fear of repetition is probably what underpins Anouar Brahem’s entire recording career. “C’est ma hantise” (It’s my worst nightmare) said the Tunisian-born oud player in a recent interview. Since his début for the Munich-based ECM record label in 1991, the musician has performed in solo or shared the studio with a different ... [Continue Reading]
Ensemble Ériu: Stargazer
In 2014, the Model Arts Centre in Sligo commissioned Irish contemporary traditional septet Ensemble Ériu to write new music during a two week residency. The Model is home to the Niland Collection which includes 42 paintings by Irish artist Jack Butler Yeats (1871 - 1957). Composed as a response to the paintings held there and ... [Continue Reading]
Cuar: Roscanna
In approaching our vocal music, that style of singing traditional songs which is called in Irish the “sean-nós” - the “old style” - it is best to listen as if we were listening to music for the first time, with a child’s new mind; or to think of Indian Music rather than European. - Seán Ó Riada - Our musical heritage ... [Continue Reading]
Petros Klampanis: Chroma
Born on the Greek island of Zakynthos and now based in New-York city, Petros Klampanis is a double-bass player and composer whose music is both influenced by the Mediterranean and Balkan folk traditions of his native country and by the contemporary American jazz scene. Since relocating to New York in 2008, the musician has ... [Continue Reading]
Ensemble Ériu: Imbas
Rooted in the traditional styles of North and West Clare, Ensemble Ériu is a unique combination of young Irish musicians revisiting a familiar repertoire with a highly original and innovative perspective. Following up on the band’s self-titled début in 2013 and released in June 2016 last on Raelach Records (in association with ... [Continue Reading]