Pride of the West

Pride of the West is the new album from John Wynne and John McEvoy

John Wynne is regarded as one of the best traditional Irish flute players of his generation. From Roscommon, he was naturally drawn to playing in the celebrated North Connaught style. He was started at eight years of age, on whistle by Paddy Ryan, and from the age of thirteen, he moved to the flute, receiving a huge amount of help and encouragement from legendary Roscommon flute player, Patsy Hanly. His playing is strongly influenced by the great players of the region, including Peter Horan, Matt Molloy, Seamus Tansey, Pakie Duignan, Josie McDermott, Catherine McEvoy and Tommy Guihen, among others. John has won All-Ireland titles at various grades on flute and whistle.

He performs and teaches at many festivals, workshops and Summer schools, including the prestigious Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, Milltown Malbay, Co.Clare, and The Joe Mooney Summer school, Drumshanbo, Co.leitrim, annually.

John released a critically acclaimed solo CD in 2000, titled ”With Every Breath”. Well known musical writer and critic, Earle Hitchner, placed the album in his top 20 album releases for the year 2001. John was a founding member of the group,“Providence”. He released the albums”Providence” and “A Fig For A kiss”, and toured extensively, with the group. He helped set up the popular weekend festival, Feile Frank Mc Gann , which takes place in Strokestown, Co. Roscommon. The festival is now firmly established on the musical calendar, with John to the forefront in organising, with his title of musical director.

In 2004, John was involved in organising the recording of a CD featuring local flute players, called “The Flute players of Roscommon”. John played on, and produced the recording. The Roscommon flute players society has been set up, and plans are in place for more recordings of Roscommon flute players to be made, and to include an archive section, featuring deceased players from the county.

Having a huge interest in regional flute/fiddle music, John is very enthusiastic about his latest project, “Pride Of the West” album, featuring John in duet with fiddler John McEvoy, with guests, Arty McGlynn(guitars), and Paddy McEvoy(piano)

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John McEvoy has established himself as an outstanding exponent of the north Connaught style of fiddle playing. Although brought up in Birmingham both his parents came from north Roscommon and hailed from families steeped in traditional music and the GAA. John’s early musical influences included fiddle players such as Kevin and Jack Cullen and Paddy Ryan all of whom hailed from Roscommon. Through his association with Paddy Ryan John had access to recordings of the Sligo fiddle masters and the McDonagh brothers who left a lasting impression on him. As a result, he developed a deep love of the music associated with the North West of Ireland. During this time John also got to know whistle player Tom McHale and All Ireland champion Brendan McGlinchey who lived in Birmingham for a short time.

In 1973/74 John lived and worked around Carrick-on-Shannon. He was ‘looked after’ by Roscommon flute-player Patsy Hanly who introduced him to the local music scene. John was privileged to play with ‘Flynn’s Men’ and got to know Josie McDermott. After further study in the UK John settled in Dublin in the late 1970’s and quickly became involved in the thriving Dublin music scene. He was invited to teach at the ‘Willie Clancy Summer School’ in the early 1980’s. Later he became a member of a number of groups including, Kelp’ (Mick Gavin, Mick Hand, John Kelly Jnr. And Daithi Sproule) and ‘Bakerswell’ (John Kelly Jnr., Kevin Glackin, John McEvoy (fiddles) Mick Hand on flute, and whistle-player Seán Potts, and his son Seán Óg on uilleann pipes with Nóirín Ó Donoghue). During this time John played regularly with Joe Ryan and John Kelly Snr. and in conjunction with John Kelly Jnr. ran a very successful traditional club on a Thursday night in the ‘Four Seasons’ pub in Dublin. The club played host to a number of notable traditional musicians and was regularly frequented by Tommy Potts and Tom Glackin among others.

John has toured Europe and North America and has been a guest musician with the band ‘Providence’. He can be heard on a number of albums including his solo release in 1998 with his wife Jacinta, a fine accompanist and concertina player and also on the much acclaimed CD ‘The Kilmore Fancy’ with his sister renowned flute-player Catherine McEvoy.

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