News

February 2010

Kevin & Cal present the world premier of "The Irish Session Suite"
Traditional Music from Ireland arranged for String Quartet

Saturday, March 6th, 2010, 7:30pm
The Aladdin Theater
3017 SE Milwaukee, Portland, OR

Irish fiddle virtuoso Kevin Burke and Portland composer and arranger Cal Scott will present the world premier of their new work, "The Irish Session Suite" , in concert at The Aladdin Theater on Saturday, March 6th. The suite is a challenging new musical collaboration melding classical and folk traditions. It will be featured on the duo's forthcoming album, Suite, which will be released nationally on March 16 on Burke's Loftus Music label. Copies of the new CD will be available at the concert.

"The Irish Session Suite" consists of ten traditional tunes arranged in four movements for string quartet. Burke's fiddle will lead through Cal Scott's scored arrangements, accompanied by three of the Northwest's finest musicians - Andrew Ehrlich, violin, Concertmaster of the Portland Chamber Orchestra; Anna Schaum, viola, formerly of the Oregon Symphony; and Justin Kagan, cello, formerly of the New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.

For more than 30 years Kevin Burke's recordings and performances have reflected his lifelong love affair with the music of Ireland, the diversity of his musical tastes and his refusal to be restricted by what are often seen as insurmountable musical boundaries. "The Irish Session Suite" continues this musical journey by putting traditional tunes into a classical setting in a way that complements both styles and asks neither style to compromise.

Kevin and Cal will also be playing additional pieces from their new CD Suite. The album of original and traditional music also features guest appearances from Beoga, one of Ireland's hottest young bands, and Portland double bassist Dave Captein, who has played with such luminaries as Mose Allison, Wynton Marsalis and Larry Coryell. It will be distributed nationally by Portland's Burnside Distribution Company.

Kevin Burke and Cal Scott are two of Portland's most distinguished traditional-based musicians. The duo's debut album, Across the Black River, was named a top notable world music album of 2007 by the NY Times, calling Burke "one of the great living Celtic fiddlers."