John McSherry (musician)
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John McSherry is an Irish musician who plays the Uilleann pipes and tin whistle. He is known for being a founding member of Lunasa and has performed on recordings by a number of well-known artists in Irish traditional music.
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[edit] Biography
Born in west Belfast and 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[citation needed] under his belt and at the age of eighteen he was the youngest ever winner of the prestigious and much coveted 'Oireachtas' piping competition.
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[edit] Work
John McSherry is hailed as one of the finest exponents of the art of Uilleann piping in the world today. His sense for improvisation has even been compared to that of the great Jazz legend John Coltrane.[1]
[edit] Lúnasa
In 1995, John began collaborating with fiddle player Sean Smyth, flautist Michael McGoldrick and guitarist Steve Cooney, touring exstensively throughout Ireland and England. The seeds for Lúnasa were being sown. A year or so later, and with a few changes in personnel, Lúnasa Live, their dynamic debut album, was released. It was described as "simply stunningly impressive" by Irish Music Magazine.
[edit] Tamalin
Combining with his musical siblings, John formed the band Tamalin, bringing their unique fusion of Irish, rock, Eastern and Celtic music to enthusiastic audiences around the world. Their debut album, Rhythm & Rhyme was released in 1996 to wide critical acclaim including a four-star rating in Q Magazine.
[edit] Coolfin
As well as being a founding member of Lunasa, John was a lead instrumentalist with Dónal Lunny's supergroup Coolfin, which included Nollaig Casey and Sharon Shannon. Yet again, John was at the forefront of a band which would re-shape the boundaries of Irish music. The album 'Coolfin' was released in 1998 and a heavy touring schedule ensued. The band played host to a wide range of artists, among them Sinéad O'Connor, Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill, and Eddi Reader.
[edit] As session musician
John has had the opportunity to perform with a multitude of other artists including Dan Ar Braz, Riverdance, Ornette Coleman and Secret Garden. He has made countless TV appearances and has featured on numerous film and TV soundtracks. His latest venture, teaming up with life long musical comrade Michael McGoldrick to release At First Light, received the award for best traditional album of the year 2001 from the Irish American News.
John has toured the world as both a solo performer and a member of several well-respected bands. He is a composer, producer, arranger and established studio session musician, recording with Clannad, Nanci Griffith, Shaun Davey, Dónal Lunny and The Corrs, among many other artists.
[edit] At First Light
At First Light is also the working title of his current band.
[edit] Discography
- John McSherry and Donal O'Connor: Tripswitch (Vertical)
- McGoldrick & McSherry: At First Light (Vertical)
- Tamalin: Rhythm and Rhyme (Grapevine)
- Lúnasa: ‘Live’ (Compass)
- Donal Lunny’s Coolfin (Hummingbird)
- At First Light: Tripswitch (Vertical)
- Shaun Davey: Waking Ned Devine [soundtrack] (Decca)
- Lúnasa: Otherworld (Green Linnet)
- Donal Lunny: This is my father [soundtrack] (Hummingbird)
- Donal Lunny: Journey ‘a retro’ (Hummingbird)
- Dan Ar Braz: L’Heritage Des Celtes (Sony, France)
- Donal Lunny and Friends: Dualaman ((Hummingbird)
- Clannad: Landmarks
- Gary Kemp: Little Bruises (Sony)
- Niamh Parsons: Loosely Connected (Greentrax)
- Niamh Parsons: Blackbirds and Thrushes (Green Linnet)
- Sharon Shannon: Each Little Thing (Grapevine)
- Aoife Ni Fhearraigh: Aoife (Gael-Linn)
- Maighread & Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill: (Hummingbird)
- Brian Kennedy: On Song (Curb)
- Carmina: Weather in the heart
- Sult: Spirit of the Music (Hummingbird)
- Maura O’Connell: Wandering Home (Rykodiscs)
- Nanci Griffith: Dust Bowl Symphony
- Tommy Flemming: Restless Spirit (Dara)
- Eleanor Shanley: Eleanor Shanley (Grapevine)
- Melanie Harrold & Olly Blancheflower: Instinctive Behaviour
- Soul Flower Union: Marginal Moon (Ki-Oon)
- Gilles Servat: Touche pas La Blanche hermine (Sony, France)
- The Corrs: Home (Atlantic)
- Skanda: Sangre d'ochobre (L'Aguañaz)
[edit] Notes
- ^ ‘...the most fearless adventurer is piper John McSherry, who can build a whirling spiralling solo in almost John Coletraneish style...’ Coolfin - album review, Alistair Clark (Sept 1998)
