Latest news and upcoming events - 28 May 2008
Hi everyone,
Just a few things I’ll be doing over the coming months in case there might be something there oft interest to you
Métier CD Launch
On Sunday 29th of June next Métier will launch their new CD ‘Cascade’ at the Pavilion theatre in Dunlaoghaire. Métier featuring Paul Williamson (trumpet), Michael Buckley (saxophone), Justin Carroll (piano) and Sean Carpio (drums) is Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council’s Jazz Ensemble in Resdience – the first of its kind in Ireland. The CD features new compositions by all the members of the group and was mastered at the renowned Tonstudio Bauer in Germany. We’re very excited by this recording and what it represents in the development of the music of this group. We’ll be playing all of these new pieces at the concert, please come along if you’re free. You can get a taste of the recording from some film clips of the group in the studio here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkJI_fsTPAk
Métier Cabinteely House Concert Series 2008
And speaking of Métier, the band will do its second concert series at Cabinteely House in August and September next. This series, which was very successful last year, will feature the group and guests over a four week period, performing in the intimate surroundings of the beautiful Cabinteely House. The series takes place on Thursdays beginning on August 14th and finishing on September 4th. Métier will perform on the first and last concert of the series, on August 21st Paul Williamson will present an exciting programme of new music specially written for the occasion with guests Joe O Callaghan on guitar, Andrew Csibi on Bass and Sean Carpio on drums, and on September 28th the great Swedish pianist Lars Jansson will perform with Ronan and Conor Guilfoyle on drums in a programme of Lars’ beautiful compositions – a perfect way to hear intimate piano trio music. And the series will finish on September 4th with a final performance by the full Métier group, featuring some new pieces especially written for this concert by Ronan.
Recording of ‘Renaissance Man’ and performances with John Abercrombie and Joey Baron
In September the great guitarist John Abercrombie will come to Ireland to record ‘Renaissance Man’ and to play four concerts with Ronan, Michael Buckley and the renowned Joey Baron on drums. ‘Renaissance Man’ is Ronan’s large scale piece for guitar trio and string quartet which was performed by John in 2005 with Ronan and his brother Conor on drums, and the Callino Quartet. It was co-commissioned by the Mermaid Arts Centre and Lyric FM, and will now be recorded in the studio for later release with John, Ronan, Conor and a string quartet.
After the recording John and Ronan will be joined by Michael Buckley and Joey Baron for a 4 date tour of Ireland – the dates are - Limerick on Thursday September 11th, Cork 12th, Belfast 13th, and Dublin on the 14th.
Classical performances
Ronan will have two new pieces premiered during the Autumn. On Friday 31st of October next, at lunchtime in the NCH, the wonderful contemporary pianist Izumi Kimura will premiere Ronan’s new ‘Dance Suite No. I’ for solo piano. And on November 28th the highly acclaimed Ensemble Avalon will premiere Ronan’s new piece for violin, cello and piano, which was commissioned by them and which will be part of their inaugural Ensemble Avalon Winter Chamber Festival in Wexford, which takes place over the weekend of 28-30 November.
Other News
Ronan will be doing some guest teaching at Berklee College of Music as part of Berklees ‘Guitar sessions’ from August 17-21st next............ Also in August Ronan will be appearing at the Electric Picnic in Stradbally (Ireland) with MSG and the ‘Electric Miles’ group over the weekend of August 29-31st next.............Ronan will be performing at the Kopasetic Festival as part of the Scott Stroman/Cennet Jonsson group in Malmo in Sweden next October.........the renowned French saxophonist Stéphane Payen will perform with Ronan’s Microclimate group at the Pendulum in JJ Smyth’s on November 2nd next............ And finally Ronan will be making a return to one of his favourite places in the world – India – to play at a festival with a group that he’s had a long association with – the amazing Karnataka College of Percussion in Bangalore.