Fiddler Brian Conway

carrie · Post by **carrie** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 8:15 pm

I just got a flyer announcing that New York fiddler Brian Conway will be doing an "Evening of Irish Music" at the same place I heard John Daly and Tommy Peoples last spring. I guess I shouldn't miss this?

Carol

bradhurley · Post by **bradhurley** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 5:16 am

Definitely not one to miss!

Brian's fiddling is masterful, influenced by the Sligo fiddlers of the New York City area, especially Andy McGann. He's excellent.

Pat Cannady · Post by **Pat Cannady** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 8:38 am

I really wish we could get a few more top pipers coming over from Ireland on a regular basis...But I understand if they're wary of our climate.

It's terrible for pipe reeds

carrie · Post by **carrie** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 10:20 am

Thanks, Brad. I'll go!

Pat, you're right. I never seem to hear of pipers coming to Chicago, though I'm not exactly in the pipers'...oh...pipeline, I guess you could say. Btw, the flyer says that "Chicago's own Conneeley Sisters" are also on the bill. Know anything about them?

Carol

Pat Cannady · Post by **Pat Cannady** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 12:28 pm

Bernie and Pauline Conneely. They were born in the UK (London, I think) to a musical family - Mick Conneely, the fiddler, is a relation, perhaps an older brother.

Anyway, they're both superb tenor banjo players. Bernie has an especially nice way with a jig.

They're also wickedly funny if you get a chance to talk to them.

carrie · Post by **carrie** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 2:04 pm

Pat Cannady wrote:Bernie and Pauline Conneely. They were born in the UK (London, I think) to a musical family - Mick Conneely, the fiddler, is a relation, perhaps an older brother.

Anyway, they're both superb tenor banjo players. Bernie has an especially nice way with a jig.

They're also wickedly funny if you get a chance to talk to them.

Oh! Bernie, eh? I saw her perform with Liz Carroll one night. Wonderful!

Thanks, Pat.

Carol

bradhurley · Post by **bradhurley** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 2:12 pm

A musical family indeed...also related to the brilliant whistle player Kathleen Conneely, who lives in the Boston area. She's fantastic.

brad maloney · Post by **brad maloney** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 2:24 am

Brian's a great player & maybe even a better teacher. Tell him I finally got all my jig bowing in order when you see him & give him a big thank you for me

carrie · Post by **carrie** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 6:48 am

Gee, now I feel I should not only go see these folks but also invite them all over for dinner!

Sounds like a wonderful evening of music and spirit--thanks everyone.

Carol

carrie · Post by **carrie** » Sun Dec 21, 2003 10:45 am

Well, a little late reporting back, but:

The night was just great. The Conneely sisters were not there, after all, but there were many musical treats besides Brian Conway himself, who was wonderful--and full of touching stories about the music and the people who gave it to him. The show opened with Jimmy Keane (piano accordion) and Pat Broaders (dordan and voice), both members of Bohola--very bright and bouncy! Then there were three young performers, all influenced by their East Coast teachers--Cleek Schrey (fiddle); Matt Mulqueen (piano); and Sean McComiskey (box, son of Bill). They were terrific. Kieran O'Hare then played uilleann pipes and whistle (on whistle he played the hornpipes from his Double-Barrelled CD with John Skelton), accompanied by Dennis Cahill; and the second half of the show was Brian Conway, accompanied by Brendan Dolan, son of Felix (starting to sound Bibilical here, eh?). Actually, of course, the span of generations was a lovely part of the evening. The night had been organized by fiddler John Daly, whose CD debut event was there last spring, with the great Tommy Peoples. Hats off to John for putting together a great evening, and to all the performers. A memorable and thoroughly enjoyable night of great music that kept at its center the personalities and connections that keep the tradition alive.

Carol

Post by **Nanohedron** » Sun Dec 21, 2003 1:19 pm

cskinner wrote:...the span of generations...

Careful, there, Carol! It's bordering on the "spam" of generations, there.

Sounds like it was brilliant. Too bad I missed it.