| UMOJA GAELICA Uniting the world-one song at a time! |
Eric Byrd, USA Pianist/vocalist Eric Byrd has been playing professionally for over 20 years. Along with the principles of swing and be-bop, rousing gospel-tinged chords and trilling blues lines are fundamental elements of his performance style. Byrd has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Mike Stern, Keter Betts, Paul Carr, Buck Hill, Ethel Ennis, Marlena Shaw, Charlie Byrd and Ernie Andrews, just to name a few. Along with his own recordings as a leader, he also guests on over a dozen CD’s by others. He is currently a half-time Music Lecturer at McDaniel College, formerly Western Maryland College, where he completed his undergraduate degree. He received his Master’s in Music in 2001 from Morgan State. He is the primary composer of the group. Brian Connolly, Belfast, Ireland Hailing from Belfast, Ireland and founder member of internationally renowned Irish folk group, Craobh Rua, one of the most in demand Irish bands in Britain and Europe, Brian Connolly is an excellent and innovative player of Irish banjo and mandolin. He has spent many years playing concerts across Europe and the USA as well as teaching Irish banjo. Paul Creighton, Scotland A teacher by profession; he is also a multi-instrumentalist playing guitar, mandolin, banjo, bouzouki, mandola and cittern. A Scotsman, he has played in folk clubs and festivals throughout the UK for over 30 years both as a solo performer and as a band member. He has also played in concerts and festivals in the USA and Canada. As a teacher, Paul teaches Multicultural Studies and Peace Education Jim Divers, Scotland Plays double bass and bass guitar. He formed the JSD Band in 1969 with Sean O'Rourke and Des Coffield in 1969. Jim was the "J" in JSD. The band became Scotland's most successful folk-rock act ever, selling thousands of albums worldwide, touring Britain, Europe and the USA doing concerts, TV and radio with the likes of David Bowie and the Spiders from Mars, and sharing bills with acts such as Status Quo, Sly and the Family Stone, Lindisfarne, Lou Reed, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, and The Average White Band. The late, great John Peel, who wrote the sleeve notes for their 2nd album, was among their many admirers The music of the JSD Band fused traditional Irish, Scottish, American and English folk songs with modern rock rhythms and instruments — an important innovation in the development of the celtic music scene and very influential at the time. After the JSD Band split up Jim returned to his previous profession as a graphic designer while continuing to play semi-professionally bass guitar and double bass with a variety of groups covering a wide range of styles from folk to pop to jazz and beyond! Jim is currently working on a new album with the JSD Band. Lea Gilmore, USA Wattie Lees, Scotland Watkin’s formative years were spent in Stranraer where he played the highland pipes with the local Stranraer & District pipe band and regular highland dance sessions. Leaving home for further education and full time employment afforded little leisure time to devote towards the music but living and working in Glasgow as a police officer had the benefit of easy access to traditional music sessions in the early 80’s. Having maintained a keen interest in traditional music and influenced by many recordings of Irish pipe tunes in the 70’s, he secured a practice set from Pat McNulty in 1984. After a substantial period of exasperating self-taught sessions, the music and the pipes began to gel and on securing a full set from Eugene Lambe in Fanore, Co. Clare, coupled with meeting many pipers at regular events, his resolve and passion for the music was enriched. He played regularly at informal sessions in the 80’s and 90’s around Glasgow and performed with the band Broadstone, then reformed as Quadrille. He played numerous folk festivals and clubs throughout Scotland. His band Broadstone won a Radio Scotland travelling folk competition and also secured air time on Radio 2 along with Walt Michael and friends. Wattie spent 8 years on the Isle of Islay as a community police officer and taught pipes and whistle to local children at the children’s annual feis. Wattie has latterly appeared and taught at Common ground on the Hill in Westminster, Maryland, USA, and continues to play occasional events with Tom Smith and Jim Byrne who also guest on his 2002 CD ‘The trip O’er the Mountain’. Wattie is currently a Detective Sergeant based in Campbeltown, Argyll, with Strathclyde police. He continues to play pipes and whistles very much for the music and the pleasure. Stephen McCann, Scotland A teacher of Art and Design for many years, mostly working with troubled young people. From a family of musicians, he has played guitar, bass and mandolin in folk/rock and ceilidh bands throughout the UK and Ireland, Europe, Canada and North America. Sean O'Rourke, Scotland Sean plays flute, saxophone,whistles, guitar and bouzouki. He formed the JSD Band in 1969 with Jim Divers and Des Coffield while still at high school in 1969. He was the "S" in JSD. The band then became Scotland's most successful folk-rock act ever, selling thousands of albums worldwide, touring Britain, Europe and the USA doing concerts, TV and radio with the likes of David Bowie and the Spiders from Mars, and sharing bills with acts such as Status Quo, Sly and the Family Stone, Lindisfarne, Lou Reed, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, and The Average White Band. The late, great John Peel, who wrote the sleeve notes for their 2nd album, was among their many admirers The music of the JSD Band fused traditional Irish, Scottish, American and English folk songs with modern rock rhythms and instruments — an important innovation in the development of the celtic music scene and very influential at the time. After the JSD Band split up Sean formed Alba with Tony Cuffe (Ossian) and Mike Ward (Tannahill Weavers) later bringing in Alan McLeod (Tannahill Weavers) on Pipes. In fact it was Sean who introduced the highland bagpipes into the acoustic folk group setting. Like the JSD Band, Alba were very influential and innovative and described by singer and broadcasterArchie Fisher as a seminal band in the Scottish folk/celtic genre. During the 80's Sean played briefly with harpist/composer Savourna Stevenson and recorded with fusion outfit Era producing the album "Release". Sean also studied Jazz and Saxophone with Edinburgh saxophonist Gordon Cruickshanks during this period. After a couple of conversations and meetings with JimSutherland and Jack Evans of Easy Club, Sean formed the Keltz fusing Jazz and celtic music. After a few personnel changes the Keltz line up settled down to a trio with Sean (flute, saxophone, guitar, bouzouki and vocals), Vijay Kangutkar (Indian Tablas and percussion) and Paul Henderson (guitar and guitar-synth) recording 3 albums that were described as innovative, fascinating and unique. Today Sean continues to work in the celtic/jazz theme composing, playing, arranging and producing innovative, high quality music and is currently recording a new album with the JSD Band. Tom Smith, Scotland Tom Smith, originally from Wishaw, Scotland spent many years touring Britain and Europe playing Scottish and Irish music with a number of folk ensembles before settling in Prestwick, Scotland. He sings and plays mandolin and mandola. Lynn Tocker, Scotland Lynn started playing accordion at 9 years of age with lessons from well known accordion teacher Bill Sharp. By the age of 14, she was playing at renowned festivals such as Shetland, Shady Lady, Whitby and was the first ever BBC Young Folk Musician of the Year. Her playing has taken her to Nova Scotia where she has met and played with the Barra McNeils, Brenda Stubbart, Budd McMaster, Gerry Holland, Hilda Chaison. She then began touring with Kathryn Tickell at the age of 15, before formally joining the band at the age of 17 years old. She toured extensively throughout Ireland, Scotland, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Holland, Denmark, Canada, America and Belgium. At the age of 17 she represented Great Britain at the European Broadcasting Union convention in Yugoslavia, along with Kathryn Tickell and former Folk on Two presenter Jim Lloyd. This was broadcast live throughout Europe. Lynn also appeared on the Aly Bain Show, Tom O'Connor's show, Children to Knock Knock, What's that Noise?, and various other TV and radio programmes, including Folk on Two, Radio Scotland and Belgium Radio. She played with guitar maestro Ian Carr and Jeff Lincoln as part of the Kathryn Tickell band for 5 years. Her illustrious career has seen her play alongside such renowned musicians as Mick Jagger, Donovan, De Danaan, Altan, Elvis Costello, Ralph McTell, Danny Thomson, Sinead O'Connor, the Whiskey Priests, the Men They Couldn't Hang, the Red Hot Pokers, Tony Cochrane, John Doonan, Alisdair Anderson, Bob Fox, Chuck Fleming, Tommy Gilfillan and many others. Lynn has appeared at many of the biggest festivals in the UK including Cambridge, Broadstairs, Sidmouth, Whitby, Glastonbury and Fylde to name but a few. Much of Lynn's inspiration is drawn from her Northumbrian roots and heritage. She was fortunate when she was younger to have musical role models giving her guidance such as the eternal Willie Taylor, Will Atkinson, Joe Hutton and local accordion hero Tommy Edmondson. Her compositions range from reels and jigs to her famously haunting slow airs inspired by her native landscape and history. Her unique style of playing has earned her a reputation as an unrivaled exponent of the accordion, and she is regarded as one of the finest players on the scene. She has also built up a reputation as a teacher, teaching all over the world, and she is currently working on a project involving schools through out Northumberland, making music (and the accordion) accessible to children and adults alike. She has taught at places such as Common Ground Scotland, Folk Festivals and workshops. Lynn brings her passion, enthusiasm and unique style of playing to Lyra Celtica. Lynn is from Rothbury in Northumberland. John Weatherby, Scotland (Sound and Recording) Sound Sense PA Hire & Recording Services A variety of jobs so far, from teacher, support artiste in film and TV and sound engineer. While teaching, I also taught guitar at Glasgow and Bellarmine Arts Centres and was actively playing music - guitar and banjo. When I stopped teaching to concentrate on sound engineering, I had no time to keep playing ;-( I have been a full time sound engineer for more than 20 years, toured extensively in Europe, Russia, USA, Canada and Australia with various bands. The most recent USA East coast tour from Maine through to Carolina, was with four sisters from Edinburgh - Giveway - in late March through April 2009. Recently have been persuaded to start playing again........ Pam Zappardino, USA (The Ira and Mary Zepp Center) Dr. Pamela Zappardino wears many hats. She sings (she joined her first choir at the age of 9) and plays the mountain dulcimer. An experienced nonviolence trainer, she is Co-Director of the Ira and Mary Zepp Center for Nonviolence and Peace Education, a program of Common Ground on the Hill. Pam works with all sorts of groups as President of PlanWorks Consulting, a small, multi-service firm that helps organizations achieve their goals and be more effective. A Psychologist, she teaches in that department at McDaniel College and at the University of Rhode Island.. She is a painter, a photographer and a mixed media artist and is the Art Critic for the Carroll County Times. Pam loves chocolate and loves to laugh. When the folks at McDaniel weren’t sure how to describe her, they called her a Social Activist. It’s her favorite title. |
Come by Here and O'Rourke's Reel
