The Martin Hayes Quartet expands on many of the musical ideas pursued by Martin in his longstanding partnership with Dennis Cahill. The melody still remains central but now with an added range of sonic possibilities provided by the bass clarinet and viola d'amore. The addition of these instruments creates an added aural texture and amplifies the rhythmic possibilities while also allowing a larger role for improvisation.  Both Doug and Liz bring a wealth of musical experience that contributes to the spacious, rich arrangements of the Quartet.

MARTIN HAYES

Martin Hayes’ (Violin) soulful interpretations of traditional Irish music are recognized the world over for their exquisite musicality and irresistible rhythm. He has toured and recorded with guitarist Dennis Cahill for over twenty years, and has collaborated with extraordinary musicians in the classical, folk and contemporary music worlds including Bill Frisell, Ricky Skaggs, Jordi Savall, Brooklyn Rider and the Irish Chamber Orchestra as well as many of the greatest Irish musicians over the past thirty years. He is the artistic director of Masters of Tradition, an annual festival in Bantry, Co. Cork and a co-curator for the Marble Sessions at the Kilkenny Arts Festival. Martin has been recognized as Musician of the Year (the Gradam Ceoil) from TG4, Irish language television; The Spirit of Ireland Award by the Irish Arts Center and Person of the Year by the American Irish Historical Society, both based in New York City. He founded the seminal Irish American band, The Gloaming, with whom he tours internationally and with whom he shared the prestigious Meteor  Prize in 2015 for their debut album.

DENNIS CAHILL

Dennis Cahill (Guitar) is one of the most respected and innovative guitar players in the world of traditional Irish music. Not just content with accompanying tunes, he has developed a distinct approach to playing traditional Irish music, incorporating the ornaments and subtleties used by the various instruments utilized within the Irish music genre. He has performed and recorded with many acclaimed Irish traditional music practitioners including Kevin Burke, Liz Carroll, Seamus Egan, P.J. Hayes, Eileen Ivers, Arty McGlynn, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Liam O’Flynn, and Jimmy Keane. Dennis’ long and legendary musical partnership with Martin Hayes both as a duet and as co-founding member of The Gloaming has brought him to concert halls and festivals around the world, playing for presidents and prime ministers as well as small villages throughout Ireland. Both on the larger stage and the village hall, Dennis is recognized as one of Irish music’s most sympathetic accompanists, anchoring the rhythm with a unique, minimalist and mesmerising style.

DOUG WIESELMAN

Doug Wieselman  (Bass Clarinet) – has worked as composer, arranger and musician with a variety of artists in different fields – in theater - with director Robert Woodruff and the Flying Karamazov Brothers, in dance with Jerome Robbins and Paul Taylor, and as musician with Victoria Williams, Robin Holcomb, Wayne Horvitz, Lou Reed, Tricky, Anthony Coleman, Laurie Anderson, Syd Straw, Steven Bernstein, Joan as PoliceWoman & John Lurie, among many others. He is currently composing music for the animated Nickelodeon show "The Backyardigans" in association with Evan Lurie.

LIZ KNOWLES

Liz Knowles (Viola/Violin) – first distinguished herself as a violinist in New York City, performing in such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and Broadway, with such artists such as Marcus Roberts, the Bang-on-a-Can Orchestra, Bobby McFerrin, Paula Cole, Steve Reich, Eliot Goldenthal, Rachel Barton, Don Henley, and Tim O’Brien. It was also in New York that she discovered her true passion for Irish music. Today, she is well respected on both sides of the Atlantic as a player, composer and teacher. Her compositions and arrangements of tunes and songs have been recorded by John Whelan, Liz Carroll, Beolach, J.P. Cormier, Michael Black, John Doyle, Dennis Cahill, and Flook.

“You're about to watch one of the best fiddlers on the planet and a subtle guitar master work their magic. For a moment, stop, put aside your notion of jigs and reels, and just listen.” - NPR

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DINE A THE RESTAURANT AT 1900 BEFORE OR AFTER THE PERFORMANCE, PLEASE MAKE A RESERVATION.