Melanie O'Reilly is one of the latest musical pioneers to explode on the Irish scene and is now recognised as one of Ireland's finest singer-songwriters. Her exhilerating blend of Irish traditional music and jazz creates a powerful and haunting soundscape and places her firmly in the pantheon of creative Irish artists.
Born in Dublin, Melanie's musical life began by singing in choirs and then progressing to jazz singing when she moved to Edinburgh, Scotland thirteen years ago. Melanie's career choice was in nursing originally and she sang in various
jazz bands part-time. Her professional singing career began some eight years ago and she has built up phenomenal respect and notoriety within jazz circles in that time.
Her recent acclaimed performance at the prestigious Lincoln Centre, New York has gained her a place in the international market, and already having established a distinguished career on the live circuit in Britain, she continues to receive standing ovations from Cork to Norway, from the London Barbican to New York's Lincoln Centre.
Melanie's stunning debut album "Tir na Mara" received the critical thumbs-up from the artistic community as well as garnering wide radio play and has contributions from a host of renowned musicians such as Larry Coryell, Tommy Hayes and Eileen Ivers. It also features songs which were the result of her collaboration with top Irish poet, Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill. Two of the tracks were chosen to appear on the best-selling compilation "Celtic Woman" which includes tracks from Loreena McKennitt and Maighread Ni Dhomhnaill. "Tír Na Mara"/"The Sea Kingdom", certainly reflects her jazz influences as well as re-introducing some of her past traditional and contemporary Irish
influences.
TV appearances and Radio Performances include:- BBC TV's "The Garden Party", BBC's "F.O.T", RTE's "Kenny Live", "Craic & Ceol", Radio includes BBC's "The Usual Suspects", "Jazz Parade", "Take the Jazz Train" and "Celtic Connections" RTE's "Moloney after Midnight" and "The Gerry Ryan Show".
Past recordings on cassette include "Strangers in the City" with guitarist Francis Cowan; "Watch What Happens" with jazz ensemble and "Melanie O'Reilly - Live '96" Debut CD "Tir na Mara"/"The Sea Kingdom" released in 1995 is an album of all original material - a fusion of centemporary Irish and jazz music. Guests on the album include jazz guitarist Larry Coryell, Irish traditional musicians such as Eileen Ivers, Tommy Hayes and Joe McKenna, the Edinburgh String Quartet, and a rythm section of jazz musicians. Other recordings include two tracks on compilation album "Celtic Woman". "Chugat na Puca" a song co-written with Irish poet Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill and jazz musician David Milligan was chosen for "Realta '97".
Performance venues include Lincoln Center, New York; London-Irish Arts Festival, Edinburgh International Arts Festival; Cork Jazz Festival, Silda Jazz Festival, Norway; Celtic Connections, Glasgow; London Barbican Festival; Temple Bar Festival, Dublin; Dublin Jazz & Guitar Festival.
At present, in addition to performing with her band at various venues around the country, Melanie is writing and developing new material for her second album, which will be launched in Spring 1999: a further step toward realising her unique vision of the spirit of Ireland.
Official Melanie O'Reilly Website
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