Eamonn Coyne - The Banjoman plays
Those of you who read JigTime on a regular basis will remember my fond meanderings down memory lane and especially my many years in London . Then the more observant may remember my mention of The Fiddlers Elbow a bar in Kentish Town in the heart of the great city. In my early years in London I was lucky to sit in many sessions with some amazing musicians. This was less to do with my ability and more to do with my cousin being a good player and so they tolerated my twangy ways. Among those who played there regularly were Cathal Hayden now with 4 Men and a Dog, Mairead Nesbitt who went on to great success with Lord of the Dance and now her solo career and then there was Eamonn Coyne.

Eamonn is one of those people typical in Irish music who you wouldn't be surprised to see anywhere. He could pop up beside you in a bar in Minsk, banjo in hand as easily as a pub in Donegal.

Originally from Dublin he has traveled the world and along the way, played with some of the best artists out there including Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas and the Alison Brown Quartet among others. His roots are of course in Irish traditional music but his musical interests are all over the map with jazz, old time, bluegrass all in there among the sounds that influence him. Eamonn doesn't sit on one style too long and from his innovative work with Russell's House to sitting in on tours with Stockton's Wing he packs a lot into his musical diary.

Eamonn released his first solo album on Compass Records last year and is still selling well worldwide. Through the Round Window features Eamonn on tenor banjo, mandolin, tenor guitar, 6-string guitar and tenor national steel guitar. Accompanying him on the CD are a host of luminaries of the Irish music scene and beyond including: Alison Brown, from California via Nashville, Dermot Byrne (accordion and melodeon) and Ciarán Curran (bouzouki) both of Altan, Kevin Doherty (guitar and vocals) of Four Men and a Dog, Michael McGoldrick (flute) of Capercaille, Tom Morrow (fiddle) of Dervish, and Ethna Coyne (nano) his grandmother (accordion and vocals).

Other guests on this amazingly diverse CD are: Kendrick Freeman, from California on snare, Jimmy Higgins of Galway also on snare drum, Russell Hunter of Edinburgh on piano, Pat Marsh from Clare on bouzouki and guitar, Paul O'Driscoll of Clare on bass and Sandy Wright from Edinburgh on guitars and dobro. Recorded in Scotland , Ireland and Nashville it has received rave reviews worldwide with far-ranging and extensive airplay. Personally I feel it lacks a Donegal bass player but otherwise it is a wonderful album.

Eamonn is currently working with Salsa Celtica who we featured on JigTime recently and they are gearing up for Scotland 's biggest party of the year; Hogmanay.

You can read more about Eamonn's shows at

http://www.eamonncoyne.com

or check out some of the other great acts on Compass Records

http://www.compassrecords.com