DOWNLOAD some of John's music below.
You can get hard copys of John's other albums "At First Light" and "Tripswitch" at www.atfirstlight.net/recordings.html
Influences
Planxty, Bothy Band, Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page, Nick Drake, Donal Lunny, Moving Hearts, Free, Paddy Keenan, Finbar Furey, Johnny Doran, Liam O Flynn, The Beatles, Paul Brady, Sandy Denny, Jimmy Hendrix, Breton music -Gwerz, Kornog etc, Queen, The Who, John Martyn, The Doors, Marta Sebastian, Andy Irvine, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, Jeff Buckley, The Kinks, Willie Clancy, Seamus Ennis, Muddy Waters, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Radiohead, Bach and Mozart, Joni Mitchell, Fleetwood Mac (with Peter Green), the Yardbirds, John Lee Hooker, Cream, Pat Metheny, Willie Dixon, David Bowie,
Sounds Like
Record Label
Visit Johns new bands website www.atfirstlight.net
John Mc Sherry is hailed as one of the finest exponents of the art of uilleann piping in the world today - "a true master" - Irish Music Magazine. Described as being "at the forefront of modern innovation", he has taken piping and whistle playing to new heights with his unique style. His sense for improvisation has even been compared to that of the great Jazz legend John Coletrane. Coming from a family steeped in traditional music, John focused his energies on the pipes from an early age. By the time he reached fifteen he had two All Ireland Championship titles under his belt and at the age of eighteen he was the youngest ever winner of the prestigious 'Oireachtas' piping competition.
John has toured the world as both a solo performer and a member of several outstanding bands. He was a founding member of top trad band 'Lunasa', whose storming debut album 'Lunasa Live' and follow up album 'Otherworld' rocked the Irish music world. He also joined forces with the rest of his siblings in the trad/rock group 'Tamalin', producing one of the finest debut albums ever in 'Rhythm and Rhyme'. On top of this, John was also lead instrumentalist with Donal Lunny's ground-breaking supergroup 'Coolfin', which included Sharon Shannon and Nollaig Casey.
In 2001, John collaborated with wooden flute master Michael McGoldrick to release their critically acclaimed album 'At First Light' which was voted Best Traditional Album of the year by the Irish American news.
His latest venture saw him teaming up with fiddle prodigy Donal O'Connor to produce 'Tripswitch' which has been described as 'Acoustic perfection' - The Living Tradition.
John is a composer, producer, arranger and established studio session musician of world class renown, recording and performing with everybody from Clannad, Sinead O'Connor and Nancy Griffiths, to Shaun Davey, Dan Ar Braz and The Corrs.
He is currently touring and recording with his new band 'At First Light' and is also in the process of recording his first solo album, so keep an eye on this space.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
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