Galway Advertiser 2003/2003_09_04/GA_04092003_E1_048.pdf 

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From jigs to jazz with Frankie Gavin
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HANKIE GAVIN, the virtuoso riddle player whose musical mastery of many different styles makes him one of the most celebrated traditional musicians of our time has once again proved his unique diversity with a new collection of music just released. the peace process in 1997. "Mostly I had recordings of Frankie Gavin 2003- Connor. "We went to school Galwegians will remember fiddle players but I became 2004 Collection is a bumper together and I spent as Gary from his days as rector fanatical about accordion much time in his house as I four CD package of music of St N i c h o l a s ' however players. Sure enough I came recorded over the last 10 did in my own. After school Frankie knew Gary long every day I'd be up at his across Joe Derrane, PJ years featuring four major before he became a house in the front room Conlon from Ballinasloe, collaborative projects with minister. "In the old days of playing away. His mother John J Kimmel and then the t h e r e n o w n e d musicians the Ballyshannon folk Flanagan Brothers. I didn't Kathleen is a saint, a great Mairtin O Connor, Joe festival in the late 7 0 s , " person and she was like a meet Joe Derrane until after Derrane, Stephane Grappelli his re-emergence in 1994." Frankie adds, "when he'd second mother to me. She and Gary Hastings. Musical come down from Belfast encouraged us a lot. We Joe Derrane made what is arranger and accompanist with the late Frankie described as the greatest Carl Hession features on all love playing together but we Kennedy and others. We comeback in the history of rarely get an opportunity to four recordings and indeed had many great sessions in Irish traditional music when do so now." Speed of Sound Carl was instrumental in after a "break' of almost 40 Mclntyre's pub there, sweat e n c o u r a g i n g Frankie to was recorded some five years ago but sounds as years he took up the two rolling off us, the music release this m a m m o t h would go on for hours. Gary row bottom accordion and fresh as if it was only anthology. "Carl is an has a fantastic collection of traditional music again. excellent musical arranger yesterday. "I'm a firm tunes and there is enormous Frankie and Carl Hession and is great to work with," believer in first takes" says power in his playing. When performed first with Joe at Frankie "Every time if I can says Frankie, "he the peace process started, I Eigse na Laoi in 1995 in encouraged me to get these manage it I get in the mood asked Gary if there was any Cork when Joe was invited great recordings out there and go for a first take when music in the Northern to join them on stage to and it look great and sounds recording. T h e third or Ireland tradition that would fourth takes are invariable close the farewell concert of great." This unique be similar to our own, and the festival. The musical collection is like a journey jaded in sound. When you spark ignited that night has in fact he had gathered a listen back to Speed of through the last 10 years of whole collection of music Frankie's musical life from Sound it has a nice fresh continued with both Carl similar to the tunes we play and Frankie r e c o r d i n g feel to i t " his voyage into jazz with in the South, jigs, polkas albums with Joe since then. Stephane Grappelli in the The second CD in and reels many of which are "Joe's accuracy and timing early 1990s t o a concert Frankie's new collection played as marches in the are so deadly" says Frankie, with the legendary Joe features one of the great " it's beyond belief. His North. So we assembled this Derrane recorded only three legends of the accordion Joe selection of tunes and Carl months ago. Harking back Derrane, and was recorded fingering is so d e a d l y accurate, you never hear a Hession put classical to his childhood and last May in Glor in Ennis arrangements behind the mistake, it just goes to show formative musical years is a when Joe travelled from the deep thinker he is pieces." Again Music for collaboration with Mairtin Boston for two concerts Peace was recorded six musically." O Connor. with Frankie and Carl years ago and this is the first Belfast flute player Gary Hession. " I brought "Mairtin and I go back a time it has been released on Hastings collaborated with long way," says Frankie recordings of Joe Derrane CD. talking about Speed of back from America in Frankie and Carl on Music The final CD is titled The for Peace precipitated by 1977," says Frankie. Sound his C D with O

Grappelli Era and many will remember the excitement that surrounded the great jazz legend Stephane Grappelli's first visits to Galway in 1993. "That was the first collaboration" says Frankie, "and when he came back again two years later band we did an intimate concert in the Connemara Coast hotel. We became great friends and we did a lot of shows of the Jigs and Jazz variety. He had a great influence on me in that he taught me a lot about musical respect and respect

for your instrument. He enhanced my musical life and brought colour to it. He died on the eve of his 90th birthday, which was very sad. I went to the funeral and was given very special treatment there. It was a very moving experience." The CD opens with Grappelli's unique take on 'The Kerry Dances' a tune hackneyed and out of favour in the tradition now but performed so stylishly by the great j a z z master. "Stephane could make any piece a lovely jazz piece," says Frankie.

From jigs to jazz Frankie Gavin once again proves himself a master of many different facets of music on this collection of collaborations. His ambition is to take this music to the people in the form of concert performances and he is also considering a television series or special. "The real understanding of the music comes from an Irish audience and the most enjoyable audience to play to is in Ireland," he concludes. Ita Kelly

T H E A C C L A I M E D D o n e g a l some of his most famous collectors abstract artist Kevin Sharkey will are Sinead O'Connor, Sir B o b Geldof, and Charles Saatchi. hold a one day open exhibition of Sharkey was born in Dublin in his work at The Blake Suite in The 1961 but attended Fr Griffin Road Radisson Hotel on September 27, Technical C o l l e g e as a teenager from 3 to 9pm. w h i l e a resident of St Joseph's Sharkey's colourful and vibrant work has led to him being described Residential Home in Salthill. He as one of Ireland's most important also worked as a trainee chef at the contemporary painters. His now defunct Bamba Hotel in Salthill. Of his time here he says "I e x h i b i t i o n F i s h , at T h e Kenny Gallery last year w a s a s e l l - o u t loved Galway. It was the biggest city I had ever been in, and it seemed so success, and his daring and original paintings are now sought after and exciting and still does today, only it are in collections in Ireland, UK, is so much bigger now. Some of my Germany, S p a i n , Gran C a n a d a , best customers and collectors have M e x i c o , U S A and Japan. Among come from Galway to buy my work

One day exhibition of acclaimed Irish abstract artist
in many other parts of the country." His one-day open invitation exhibitions have become a new way to sell paintings directly from the artist to the public. Customer can come along and see the paintings in the stunning surroundings of the Radisson's Blake Penthouse Suite, while enjoying a glass of wine or a pint. For more information visit the artist's award winning virtual gallery website at www.thatgallery.com, where you can find paintings, photos of the artist himself, and various selections of reviews from the press.

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