TARAB
Improvised Music Company Presents
TARAB
Debut CD Launch
“Some of the most enchanting music I’ve heard this year.”- The Irish Times
Francesco Turrisi – accordion, harmonium, percussion.
Nick Roth – saxophones, flutes, Emer Mayock – flutes, whistles, pipes, fiddle
Robbie Harris – bodhran, percussion, Kate Ellis – cello
Tarab is a light, nimble craft that sails the waters between Ireland and the Mediterranean, and its helmsman is Italy’s Francesco Turrissi, who has made a real impression since moving to Ireland, bringing a fresh perspective informed by his background in baroque harpsichord, jazz piano and the Moorish dance forms of Southern Italy. In Tarab he performs on accordion and various Arabic and Sicilian frame drums, and convincingly bridges modal music from right across Europe in a band that also includes saxophonist Nick Roth and cellist Kate Ellis. Their jazz and classical backgrounds find a counterbalance in traditional flautist Emer Mayock who, along with percussionist Robbie Harris, brings an innate understanding of melody and form in Irish music.
Turrisi orchestrates with subtlety, deftly balancing these powerful elements to harmonious effect, pulling Irish music into invigorating new conversations. Iranian tombak master Pedram Khavar- Zamini, Palestinian oud player Haytham Safia, Bulgarian kaval virtuoso Theodossii Spassov and the masterful Greek singer Savina Yannatou are among the artists with whom they’ve recently collaborated, and later this they’ll be performing with the acclaimed Irish theatre company Rough Magic.