Reinforcing the now well-established link between the
Festival and the surrounding region, the audience will once again
be offered an aperitif by local wine producers.
Great Irish
music, the genuine article, is returning to Torrechiara with one of
the most exceptional musicians to have come from the prolific green
island. Today John McSherry is considered
one of the greatest exponents of traditional Irish bagpipes (Uilleann
Pipes), as well as happily tackling various types of flute.
Still young,
he has been defined as “a real master of the instrument” by the authoritative
Irish Music Magazine, which emphasised how in John McSherry
the deep link with tradition was revitalised by a particularly passionate
and enthusiastic approach.
A further
characteristic of his style is the extensive room allowed for improvisation
for which he has been compared not just to other masters of this tradition
in his own country but to jazz greats as well.
Born in tormented
Belfast, John McSherry began playing the bagpipes at a very early
age and by the age of fifteen he had already won two Irish championships
while at eighteen he won the Oireachtas prize, the highest
recognition at international level for a bagpiper.
Not long
afterwards, we’re in the 90s, he formed the band Tamalin together
with his brothers with which he toured triumphantly on all continents.
Tamalin’s splendid vocals are provided by his sister Tina who
has joined her brother’s new band for the short Italian tour
which will end with the Torrechiara concert.
Even before
Tamalin split up, John McSherry joined the Irish supergroup
Lunasa and thanks to the success of that band, doors were opened
for important collaborations both in Celtic music, the highly acclaimed
musical Riverdance, as well as more marginal ones, thinking for instance
of the great jazz musician Ornette Coleman who demands an immense
talent for improvisation from his partners.
The special guest for the Torrechiara evening will
be Tina McSherry, singer and player of traditional music, much
appreciated in Ireland for a voice full of sweetness and character
and for her skill on flutes. As a member of a renowned family
of musicians, she began playing music and singing at a very early
age, mastering the flute, tin whistle and uilleann pipes along the
way.
She has toured
the world extensively in the exciting and innovative trad band
Tamalin, bringing their unique fusion of Irish, Rock, Eastern
and celtic music to fresh and enthusiastic audiences. With one of
the most distinctive voices in Irish music today -
“a voice like butter”
(Celtic Music Magazine) - Tina has been involved in countless
musical ventures including teaming up with well known folk singer
Naimh Parsons to form the a cappella groups
Cuigear Ban and The Wildflowers.
After a small
break from touring, Tina is now back and preparing material for her
first solo album.
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 "John McSherry")
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