Concerts & Events

A personal note for Chicago / Old Town School from Martin Hayes:
"The Quartet project was conceived as an expansion of the musical arrangements and ideas that Dennis Cahill and I developed over many years as a duet. For health reasons my old colleague Dennis won't be able to join us at the Old Town School this April. His guitar parts however will still be to the fore, and will be skillfully delivered by New York guitarist Kyle Sanna.” - Martin Hayes

Martin Hayes - fiddle
Liz Knowles - hardanger
Doug Wieselman - bass clarinet
Kyle Sanna - guitar

"Beguiling new angles on the tradition." The Irish Times

The Martin Hayes Quartet expands on the musical ideas of Irish fiddler Martin Hayes and guitarist Dennis Cahill, and their signature distillation of the melodies and rhythms of traditional Irish music. The Quartet explores further sonic possibilities with the warm resonant tones of the hardanger, a ten-stringed Norwegian violin, played by Liz Knowles (String Sisters, Open The Door For Three), and the deep mellow sound of the bass clarinet played by Doug Wieselman (Laurie Anderson, Lou Reed). The addition of these instruments provides an aural texture that multiplies the rhythmic potential and allows a larger role for improvisation. New York guitarist Kyle Sanna (Yo-Yo Ma, Seamus Egan), who is also an accomplished composer and arranger, joins the group this year with the retirement of Dennis Cahill.

The Quartet released their debut album The Blue Room in 2018, to such acknowledgment as “absolutely essential listening when it comes to the very best of contemporary Irish music” (Arts Desk UK) and “nothing short of revelatory” (Glasgow Life). The group has performed in New York City, San Francisco, London, and Dublin, as well as the Kilkenny Arts Festival in Ireland and the Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow, Scotland.
With its wealth of musical experience and exciting new ideas, the Martin Hayes Quartet is simultaneously ancient and contemporary, innovative and authentic.

http://www.martinhayes.com/martin-hayes-quartet