Manus McGuire | East West Fiddles [Ceirnín] CD

Manus McGuire, Mareka Naito,Garry O’ Briain & Junji Shirota – East West Fiddles

East Clare based fiddler extraordinnaire, Manus McGuire, teams up with Mareka Naito from a land further east to produce fiddle music to the power of 2 and ably accompanied by Garry O’ Briain and Junji from the Land of the Rising Sun.

In May 2022, MANUS MCGUIRE joined forces with Japanese fiddle player MAREKA NAITO and with Japanese virtuoso guitarist and 5 string banjoist, JUNJI SHIROTA and his erstwhile Buttons and Bows gem, GARRY O’BRIAIN, to bring their music to showcase the passion and joy that is still possible to experience in this complex world.

MANUS MCGUIRE, renowned fiddle player, was born in Tullamore, grew up in Sligo and is now resident in East Clare. His musical gift became widely recognised at a young age when he won the prestigious Fiddler of Dooney, Irish national fiddle competition, at age 14. Since then he has gone on to record fifteen albums, with Buttons and Bows, Moving Cloud, Brock McGuire Band and Full Tilt, as well as three solo fiddle recordings.

Maryann McTeague Keifer, critic with the Irish American News wrote of McGuire’s 2018 release THE COPPERPLATE SESSIONS “ there is an absolute joy in his playing that is unmistakable and intoxicating”.

McGuire is honoured to have been voted “Male Irish Traditional Musician of the Year in the U.S.” in 2006 by the Irish American News in Chicago.

MAREKA NAITO started playing classical violin at age 3 and won numerous competitions such as the Japan Classical Music competition and Velsus International Junior Competition (Italy). She first discovered Irish traditional music in 2007 and began her journey of learning to play Irish fiddle. She is also proficient in harp and concertina. She tours regularly and has recorded with Japanese virtuoso guitarist, Junji Shirota.

JUNJI SHIROTA started playing guitar and 5 string banjo at age 15 and he has been performing professionally since 1973 having first specialised in Bluegrass music in Japan, fusing elements of Japanese and bluegrass music along the way. He moved to the Unites States in 1986 and discovered Irish traditional music there. He has toured and recorded with a host of international Irish traditional musicians since then.

GARRY O’BRIAIN is one of the most sought after and distinguished accompanist in Irish traditional music. His distinctive style on mandocello and guitar is so recognisable and reflects his remarkable skill and ease in a wide musical genres. He has been a member of landmark Irish music ensembles including Skylark, Buttons and Bows and Boys of the Lough. His list of recording projects as a session player is extensive; he has written music for stage, film and television.