The three players who have had the greatest influence on how I play are Martin Hayes, Tony DeMarco and Liz Knowles. Martin, because I appreciate how he honors a good melody but still finds a way to make it his own, and I really like his lyrical style. Tony, who has taken the time to give me lessons on my visits to New York, just has his own way of playing the music. You can really hear the New York Sligo influences but he has a way of putting his own stamp on the tunes that is unique and an absolute pleasure to listen to. Finally, Liz Knowles because she is one of the few accomplished classical musicians who has utilized her background yet still found her own eclectic fiddle style, trust me, that is not easy. I have to mention my high school orchestra teacher Marta Partridge, or as we used to call her Ms. P, she gave me a lot of guidance and encouragement. Following is a list in no particular order of fantastic musicians that have had an influence on me musically or that I just admire, or both.
Tommy Peoples, Jascha Heifetz, Gil Shaham, Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, Takuya Horiuchi, Michael Coleman, John Doherty, Mairead ni Mhaonaigh, Brian Conway, Andy McGann, Cathal Hayden, Ciaran O'Maonaigh, Kevin Burke, John Daly, Matt Mancuso, Sean Keane, Oisin MacDiarmada, Gerry O'Connor, Ed Reavy.
I grew up in Raleigh NC, took lessons from Marilyn Kouba of the North Carolina Symphony and played classical music through college. I attended the University of Kentucky on a music scholarship where I was fortunate to play in the accompanying orchestra for Ray Charles, that was definitely a highlight but I did enjoy playing under the direction of Phillip Miller, and it is at UK that I found my appreciation for Opera after playing in the pit orchestra for productions of Mozart's The Magic Flute and The Marriage of Figaro as well as Donizetti's The Elixir of Love.
While living in Johnson City TN I met Tom Swadley who dragged me to a rehearsal for the group Sigean, next thing you know I am in an Irish band and that is where my love for traditional Irish music started. I now live in Knoxville and play with the group Four Leaf Peat. You can check us out at Myspace.com/fourleafpeatmusic or at FourLeafPeat.com.
Four Leaf Peat has been together for about 3 years, we released our first CD in the middle of 2006 and and just launched our new CD The Next One on St. Patrick's Day 2009! We play various places and at festivals, our site lists all of our past and upcoming performances.
Chad, thanks for all the great tunes last week! You are one hell of a fiddler now, buddy! One of the best weeks in my life. Also, thanks for the wee drop of "fecking" irish whiskey! It was good to see you again.
Likewise! B is always good... next time you're up here we'll have to do that again. Jim has a B set of pipes too. There's not much chance of my dropping my fiddle these days, as I have been playing my new mandolin almost exclusively. :D See ya around.
Hi, hope you're keeping well. I won't be in Swannanoa this year unfortunately, but maybe I'll meet you somewhere else for a few tunes before too long. Grainne
Hey Chad! Yes indeed, I'm headed to Swannanoa and I can't wait. I trust you're going, too? Would love to get to a session with you before then! Maybe Henry and I can take a road trip to Knoxville?
Hey Chad, Sorry to have missed you our last time thru K'Vul. We're due for another chunes road trip. Thanks for finding us. Yer Kentucky friends in the music... Dan & Bev
Hey, Chad! Thanks for the add request - it was great seeing you at Celtic on Sunday. Be sure to stop by the next time you make it up to Chicago (like you wouldn't!). :)
THanks for the fiddle talk yesterday. It sucks that every music store in the world is closed on Mondays. :) So when is K- town going to get their Ceili Band together. I think we still have $100 riding on a competition. I'll give you a little peek at our skilz yo!
