Eileen Ivers has transformed the Irish fiddling tradition from a folk music staple into an internationally-acclaimed art. A former member of
Cherish The Ladies,
The Green Fields Of America,
Chanting House and the
Hall & Oates Band and a session player on albums by
Paula Cole,
Hothouse Flowers and
Patti Smith,
Ivers has continued to expand the traditions on her own. In addition to maintaining a highly successful solo career,
Ivers continues to perform as a cast member of
Bill Whelan's production, Riverdance. While
The Washington Post called
Ivers, "the future of the Celtic fiddle", The L.A. Times said that
Ivers' "originality and rhythmic swing may well provide the bridge Irish music needs to breal through to a mainstream audience." An eight-time All-Ireland fiddle champion,
Ivers hails from the Woodland Heights section of the Bronx. The roots of her music, however, were inherited from her parents, John and Annie, who emigrated from County Mayo, Ireland. Although she and her sister, Maureen, were sent for lessons in Irish dancing, she soon convinced her to send her for fiddle lessons instead. While she later claimed that her fascination for the fiddle was inspired by country music television show, Hee Haw, she remained tied to her Irish roots and studied with County Limerick-born fiddler
Martin Mulvihill.
Ivers' musical skills were evident from an early age. Traveling with her parents to Ireland, at the age of nine, she received an All-Ireland medal for her banjo playing.
Ivers has subsequently received thirty-four additional All-Ireland awards -- eight for solo fiddling, six for slow air playing and the remainder for duets, trios and banjo playing. Although she limited her involvement with music, while studying math at Iona University,
Ivers turned her full-time attention to the fiddle after her graduation. Performances with
Mick Moloney and
Seamus Egan led to an invitation to join the Irish-American supergroup,
Green Fields Of America. After working briefly with
Luka Bloom,
Ivers was recruited to join a year-long tour with the
Hall And Oates Band. The tour introduced her virtuosic playing to stadium-sized audiences around the United States. Returning to New York,
Ivers began playing with Irish emigrees with
John Doyle, and
Seamus Egan and African-American percussionist Kimitri Dinizulu. Together with Dinizulu, she performed as duo during weekly Monday night concerts at Paddy Reilly's Bar in Manhattan.
Ivers later joined
Paddy A Go Go, a band formed by
Chris Byrne of
Black 47. When Maire Bhreathnach announced she was leaving the cast of Riverdance,
Ivers agreed to replace her.
Ivers has continued to work with top-notch musicians. On her album, Crossing The Bridge, she was joined by
Seamus Egan,
Steve Gadd,
Randy Brecker and
Al DiMeola. Signing with Sony Classical in 1999,
Ivers released Back To Titanic, which included original film music not used in the film, new versions of tunes from
James Horner's score and original pieces based on the theme of the album. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide
Green links represent an available CD.
Red links represent a CD that is not currently available.
An Nollaig: An Irish Christmas
Crossing the Bridge