Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill distill the melodies and rhythms of traditional Irish music into passionate interpretations of tunes resonating as both venerable and startlingly new, making them the undisputed masters of Irish music around the world.
The Martin Hayes Quartet expands on the musical ideas of the duo by exploring sonic possibilities with the inclusion of the deep mellow bass clarinet played by the virtuosic Doug Wieselman, and the rich warm tones of the viola from the brilliant Liz Knowles.
The addition of these instruments provides an aural texture that multiplies the rhythmic possibilities and allows a larger role for improvisation. Both Doug and Liz bring a wealth of musical experience that contributes to the spacious, rich arrangements of the Quartet: simultaneously ancient and contemporary, authentic and probing.