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"Their twin guitar treatment of traditional music is unique and each supports the other in exploring the harmonic possibilities of these old, and not so old, tunes. Each of the pair both flatpicks and fingerpicks at the highest level but always at the service of the tune rather than a display of technique. Her violin can effortlessly morph into a fiddle as she weaves from Italian madrigal to Scottish reel. Julias songs go to the heart of love and loss, hope and survival and are inflected with musical input from a wide and eclectic experience of musical life. Tonys and Julias arrangements are rooted in deep musicality and heartfelt expression." - tonymcmanus.com
TONY MCMANUS, who has come to be recognized throughout the world as the leading guitarist in Celtic Music and recently named one of the 50 most influential acoustic guitarists of all time by Guitar Player Magazine. From early childhood his twin obsessions of traditional music and acoustic guitar have worked together to produce a startlingly original approach to this ancient art. In Tonys hands the complex ornamentation normally associated with fiddles and pipes are accurately transferred to guitar in a way that preserves the integrity and emotional impact of the music.
Self taught from childhood, initially through listening to the family record collection, McManus abandoned academia in his twenties to pursue music full time. The session scene in Glasgow and Edinburgh provided the springboard for gigs around Scotland and a studio set for BBC Radio, frequently rebroadcast, began to spread the word.
Never one to be typecast, Tonys new album Mysterious Boundaries is his most ambitious to date. An encouraging challenge from mandolin virtuoso Mike Marshall to learn the Bach E Major Prelude on guitar led to an exploration of classical and baroque music seemingly very different to the jigs and reels that he grew up with. By examining the boundaries between genres and sticking to his steel string guitar (rather than the conventional classical guitar) McManus has produced a work of great originality and beauty, hailed by his peers as a masterpiece (Renbourn), beyond beautiful its PERFECT! (Tommy Emmanuel) and which contains a truly remarkable rendition of Bachs colossal Chaconne in D Minor one of the greatest compositions of any age.
His ability to reach audiences unfamiliar with traditional music is remarkable. Whatever work McManus brings within his scope the listener is assured a journey into the depths of the music in the company of a great talent.
JULIA TOSASPERN spent the past years gigging around Europe and the East Coast, played in Cuba and recorded in NYC - but she feels at home in the Scottish highlands where she makes music, tends sheep, milks goats and is inspired by the clarity, even when its foggy.
As she sings of traveling she takes the audience along on the journey - an evening filled with songs and tunes. Julias own folk jazz mixed with Irish, Scottish and American roots in a vivid variety of desire and delight, longing and yearning.
From a starting point of classical training in both voice and violin, her horizon broadens to include traditional Irish music on flute and banjo and original songs of great passion infused with a deep love of jazz on the guitar. She sings of love and loss, survival and hope, turning the personal into a heartfelt truth for all of us.
Since the release of her acclaimed debut PENNY, Julia Toaspern has been all around the world sharing her music. These travels and new experiences have nurtured the songs and tunes on her second album ONE STEP AT A TIME.
Her journey is ongoing and beautifully unpredictable, she consciously returns to the source, both musically and geographically, reinventing an old German vocal canon with her improvising, pianist grandfather; she takes us slowly climbing up the Irish mountain of Cua before her flute dances a reel to get us down again; weaves a tale of a talking dog to amuse and educate kids and all of this driven by insatiable musical curiosity and huge, innate talent. You are all invited along for the ride though not limited tp One Step at a Time.
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LocationRolling Bay Hall (View)
10598 NE Valley Rd Suite B
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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