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Event Description
Following on from the success of the Irish International A Cappella Festival, Ardú return to An Táin Arts Centre, Dundalk for an evening of jazz accompanied by one of Ireland’s top jazz trios: Brian Connor (piano), Guy Rickarby (percussion) and Jack Kelly (double bass).
Led by musical director Brian Connor (RTÉ Concert Orchestra), the programme will include a mixture of jazz standards and popular songs completely re-imagined for the solo voices of Ardú. Music includes Mack The Knife (Kurt Weill), My Baby Just Cares For Me (Nina Simone), Perdido (Juan Tizol), Libertango (Piazzolla), Mr Bojangles (Jeff Walker) and Calling You (Bob Telson).
All ages welcome - Limited space so booking recommended!
Ardú Vocal Ensemble is a versatile and ambitious group made up of six professional singers from various backgrounds – traditional, opera, choral and contemporary. They have performed throughout the UK at the likes of Edinburgh Fringe Festival, London A Cappella Festival and Cork Choral Festival and have recently won first prizes at the Cork International Choral Festival 2017 and in the small ensemble category at City of Derry Choral Festival in 2015.
Ardú regularly curate and promote their own events. Their recent ConTempo NOVA set attracted national and international attention as their promotional material went viral. Ardú recently hosted the first Irish International A Cappella Festival in July 2017 feat. the second Ireland's A Cappella Competition pioneering the genre of a cappella in Ireland and providing a new national platform for a cappella.
Ardú are current musicians in residence at An Táin Arts Centre, Dundalk with the aim to extend their performance and educational outreach throughout 2017. Ardú will present three of their concert programmes in Dundalk in May, September and December – America NOVA (originally performed at the Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin), VocaJAZZ (a brand new vocal concept by Artistic Director Ciarán Kelly) and the group’s annual ‘Friends’ Christmas concert which will involve singers from all over Dundalk.
Brian Connor (MD and piano) performs frequently on piano/celeste with the RTE Concert Orchestra. He studied piano and composition at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin. For four years he was the Musical Director of 'Riverdance' for it's UK and USA touring productions. Other credits include Celtic Woman, the Abbey Theatre's 'The Shaughran' and 'Abbey 100', and he was Associate Musical Director of 'The Pirate Queen' musical in Chicago and Broadway. He has worked with many singer/songwriters including Freddie White, Brian Kennedy, Van Morrison, Mary Coughlan, Dolores Keane, Christie Hennessy, and Eleanor McEvoy.
Guy Rickarby (percussion) studied violin at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, sneaking out at night to do jazz gigs on the drums. Since moving to Dublin, he’s played live and recorded with Van Morrison, Roger Daltrey, Eleanor McEvoy, The Devlins and Juliet Turner. In 2004 he was in the house band for the BBC Music Live final concert featuring Katie Melua, Zucchero and Neil Hannon. Since then he has appeared on television regularly, performing on shows such as The Irish Tenors and Friends, You’re a Star, Fame The Musical and The Voice of Ireland. Guy was asked to join Riverdance for their 2005 European tour and he’s toured with them ever since, becoming their Musical Director in 2007. He’s also performed live with The Chieftains, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Brian Kennedy, Duke Special, Gavin Friday and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. More recently, Guy has been involved in live radio broadcasts with Sharon Corr, Imelda May and Sharon Shannon.
Jack Kelly (double bass) is from County Antrim and has been making his mark on the local jazz scene. Involved in the Brilliant Corners Festival residency in Belfast with David Lyttle in 2016, Kelly plays with the Joseph Leighton Trio among a number of other local musicians including Steve Davis and Scott Flanagan.
Location of event
Venue Information - An Táin Arts Centre
An Táin Arts Centre is a multi-purpose arts space in Dundalk, Co. Louth, based in the former Táin Theatre, Town Hall, Crowe Street. Established as an independent organisation in 2014, this space is being reimagined as a point of access to arts and culture for the people of North Louth, providing a diverse programme of local arts, national tours, workshops, visual arts and in-house productions.