Seamus
Heneghan, Matt Molloy and Kevin enjoying some lively tunes.
Photo taken April
30th, 2010 at the 15th
annual Féile Chois in Louisburgh, Co Mayo, Ireland.
Open
House Reunion!
(photo by Rebecca Sullivan)
It has been over
a decade since Sandy, Mark, Paul and Kevin last performed together
but Open House is reuniting this week for some exclusive California
concerts. For those who are unfamiliar with the band Open House's
repertoire contains music from many different genres - Irish,
Blues, Old Time, Balkan, Latin American, Klezmer and more. Sandy
Silva's magnificent dancing and foot percussion add an exciting
rhythmic and visual presence to the band; Mark
Graham has some new hilariously quirky songs to go along
with his virtuosity on the harmonica and clarinet; Paul
Kotapish skillfully uses his array of fretted instruments
to form the rhythmic 'engine' of the band and Kevin Burke contributes
his trademark lyrical fiddle playing to round out the group.
The members of "Open House" are delighted to have
an opportunity to perform again and are looking forward to giving
fans and newcomers alike a chance to enjoy the uniquely entertaining
facets of this engaging group of musicians. You can find a list
of the concert dates here,
or go to the Open
House Facebook page.
Back
in November/December of 2009, Kevin was invited to play in the
Annual Christmas Revels Show in Portland, Oregon. The theme
for the season was Celtic/Irish, so Kevin's beautiful playing
was a special addition to the show. Anyone in or around Portland,
Oregon who hasn't been to a Christmas Revels show should check
it out. It is always a nice family outing for the holiday season.
Credit for these beautiful photos goes to Dale Peterson. Photos
courtesy of Portland
Revels.
Kevin and Betsy Branch
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."
"Kevin
Burke once again proves himself to be one of the grand masters."
-
CMJ