Friday, April 13 at 8pm
The Mattabesett Canoe Club, 80 Harbor Dr., Middletown
Suggested donation: $15 general, $8 students, $5 children 12 & under
Reservations preferred, please call Jody Cormack 860-983-7963
or email jcormack@wesleyan.edu

(come early for a fabulous dinner, on the riverfront!)

New York born Matt Mancuso is an extraordinary musician. His playing is spirited and exuberant, yet underpinned by deep technical mastery.

As a young child, Matt was introduced to Irish Music by his father Pete, a respected guitarist and record producer. Matt studied with the renowned musician and teacher Maureen Glynn and went on to compete in the prestigious All Ireland competitions. He placed second three years running. An extraordinary feat for an Italian – Irish American in what can be a very closed musical society. But there was no denying his talent or his fire.

As Matt grew his musical horizons broadened. He went on to add the love of Jazz to his firm grounding in traditional Irish music. He picked up the trumpet and immersed himself in the Jazz styles of the greats – Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, and Clifford Brown, among others. It was not long before he brought the same mastery to the trumpet as he had to the fiddle. And he continues to add instruments to his list, most recently the octave mandolin and guitar.

Matt Mancuso is a musician of great musical scope. His Irish and jazz influences make him a unique player in the world music scene. It accounts for why he was the star fiddle player in Lord of the Dance – performing to sell-out crowds throughout the world; a founding member of the rousing ensemble The Mickey Finns, and has taken star turns in tours with Irish super-group Grada. He has also brought all of this energy and talent to the Cathie Ryan Band, distinguishing himself not only as a musician but as the funniest musician Cathie has ever worked with. His next career could well be as a stand-up comedian!

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Patsy O’Brien is an award winning songwriter with three critically acclaimed CDs to his credit. He is also fast becoming one of Irish music’s most respected guitar accompanists.

Born in Co Cork, Patsy began performing his genre-hopping, blues and jazz influenced originals in clubs throughout Ireland. He then took his music to the United States where his songs began to win awards and acclaim, including a feature on NPR’s All Songs Considered. But the pull of working with others was great and he began sitting in on sessions at St Louis’ famous session pub, McGurk’s. It was only a matter of time before word spread throughout the Irish music scene about Patsy’s guitar mastery. He has since worked with some of the most respected players in Irish Music including renowned fiddle player Eileen Ivers and piping legend Paddy Keenan.

Patsy’s guitar playing moves from driving rhythm to delicate and melodic finger picking. Of the range of emotion he draws from the guitar, The New Haven Advocate writes, “His music is stomping and ocean breezy – sure footed and fragile …” He has performed with The Cathie Ryan Band for the past two years and his interpretive skill and great wealth of talent shine out in Cathie’s concerts.

“Like a good wine, guitarist and singer/songwriter Patsy O’Brien has let his musicianship flourish…. throaty vocals, languid guitar.”—Irish Times

“Ireland’s best kept musical secret-CHECK HIM OUT!” – Irish Examiner

Matt and Patsy are touring to promote their new CD Road Work

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mattmancusoandpatsyobrie