Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul
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Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul

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Press


"Press Quotes"

“She suggests the future of the Celtic fiddle.”
- Geoffrey Himes, The Washington Post

“Sizzling, Afro-Latin-Irish fusion music …If New York is a melting pot, this band is turning up the heat.”
- Tom Nelligan, DirtyLinen Magazine

“Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul rocked the house everywhere it played. …A beautifully inventive fiddler …Her playing a tradition-rich yet adventurous, spiced with world, jazz and pop.”
- Scott Alarik, The Boston Globe

“She electrifies the crowd with a dazzling show of virtuoso playing …then she focuses her attention outwards to the audience, who shout and cheer and answer her calls in a deafening chorus.”
- Mary O’Malley, The Irish Times

“Nobody does it better than Eileen Ivers. Not only does the orchestra savor her musicianship and professionalism, but, she never misses to bring a pops audience to its feet with thunderous ovations.”
- Marvin Hamlisch, National Symphony and Pittsburgh Symphony Pops Conductor

“Ivers bridges the gap between her celtic roots and styles ranging from jazz, salsa and flamenco to rock funk and even electronica … a sensation.”
- Billboard Magazine

“At the center of everything, providing both musical energy and a style that constantly pressed against the limits of traditionalism, was the brilliant fiddler, Eileen Ivers. Her Originality and rhythmic swing well provide the bridge Irish music needs to break through to a mainstream audience. …No wonder the audience loved every minute.”
- Don Heckman, The Los Angeles Times

"Eileen Ivers’ band electrified a familiar repertory, merging the Celtic and African diasporas...she made her instrument sound like Jimi Hendrix's guitar."
-Neil Strauss, The New York Times

“Do not miss them – people will be talking about this band for years to come. A six piece unit that marinades traditional Irish music and African, Caribbean and other deeply rhythmic beats.”
- David Perry, Lowell, MA - The Sun

“Ivers plays with such genius that she surpasses genre. It was an invigorating, highly energetic evening.”
- Nancy Stetson, Naples Daily News

“Throughout the evening the audience …joined in clapping and singing. Ivers and her band received three standing ovations.”
- J. M. Lacey, Piscataquis Observer
- Various


"Festival Director Quotes"

“The Eileen Ivers brought in the biggest audience we’ve had in 15 years and proceeded to knock the crowds out with the most electrifying performance we’ve ever seen!”
- Peter Aucella, Director, Lowell Festival


“A superb, fast-paced, high energy performance.”
– Fred Kaiser, Program Chairman, Philadelphia Folk Festival


"Eileen and her band delivered a powerful performance. Our festival goers said it was awesome and one of the most entertaining shows they have seen. A great band, great music and dancing and nice people to work with – what more could you ask for. We hope to see you again."
- Ed Ward, Founder, Milwaukee Irish Fest


“I am still in the clouds from that outstanding performance Eileen and the band gave on Saturday night. I am sure the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival has never seen that level of energy, excitement and enthusiasm in its 40-year history. Eileen’s musicianship is outstanding, her composition fresh and unique and her manner gracious and generous. …”
- Dennis Lynch, Director, Shenendoah Valley Music Festival


“We Gens d'Ys all together would like to thank you for the absolutely extraordinary time we spent with you. It was a great pleasure to meet such a great band but most of all it was a wonderful experience to meet people like you. We will never forget the time we spent together, you touched us to the depth of our hearts.
– Allesandra Tozzi, Director, Busto Folk Festival, Italy


We thoroughly enjoyed Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul this past Saturday at the Baltimore Irish Festival. The band had the crowd on their feet screaming for more, and we actually achieved a first- a conga line at our Irish Festival. Please thank them again for us, their talents definitely have the town talking, and can that lady play the fiddle...
– Linda Collings, Entertainment Chair, Baltimore Irish Festival


It was a real pleasure having Eileen and the band perform at the Syracuse Irish Festival this past Saturday. Many people said they were the best band they had ever seen. It truly was a great weekend - the weather, the audience, the food, the video screens, and of course the bands - everything went very well. It was great to meet everyone in the band.
– Jim Murphy, Director, Syracuse Irish Festival
- Various


"Symphony Press & Director Quotes"

“Nobody does it better than Eileen Ivers. Not only does the orchestra savor her musicianship and professionalism, but, she never misses to bring a pops audience to its feet with thunderous ovations.”
- Marvin Hamlisch, National Symphony and Pittsburgh Symphony Pops Conductor

“Eileen Ivers is a consummate artist, and one of the most innovative of today’s Celtic musicians. Her obvious joy and sincerity in performing make her an audience favorite, and her skill and collegiality should make her a favorite with any orchestra fortunate enough to engage her.”
- Keith Lockhart, Conductor, The Boston Pops Orchestra

"Eileen Ivers gave one of the most exciting Pops concerts for the Portland Symphony Orchestra. The audience, the orchestra players and I were glued to her breathless virtuoso fiddle performance. Eileen’s ensemble, ‘Immigrant Soul’, gave equally high caliber playing. There were long and loud standing ovations throughout the concert. At the end, the audience refused to let the musicians go off the stage. We will definitely bring her back. The message to other symphony orchestras: You must bring Eileen Ivers to your community!"
- Toshiyuki Shimada, Music Director and Conductor, Portland Symphony

“Eileen Ivers is one of the most exciting performers on the World Music scene today. She has performed with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops at Symphony Hall, at Tanglewood, on our RCA Victor CD ‘THE CELTIC ALBUM’ and on our EVENING AT POPS TV series. Audiences and orchestras alike love her. Having her on your Pops series is a guaranteed grand slam! Don't miss out!”
- Dennis Alves, Director of Artistic Programming, Boston Pops

“This letter is in praise of the performance and program presented by fiddler Eileen Ivers and her ensemble with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. She is an immensely talented artist, a great performer and engaging entertainer. The musicians in her ensemble were terrific. The orchestral arrangements were musically interesting and well-crafted. Both concerts here earned and were given standing ovations by the capacity audiences. Her orchestral program debut with us was a great success.

I highly recommend Eileen Ivers for symphony orchestra concerts.”
- Rudi Schlegel, Director, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

“...the music that had the capacity audience leaping to its feet and clapping in unison was Ivers's incredible fiddling.
...Ivers plays two violins, a standard acoustic one and another that is electrified. She may be the world's fastest fiddler, and she used this skill effectively, but she also is a versatile musician, at home in a variety of idioms and alert to the links between the popular music of Ireland and America. ...Still, Irish music is Ivers's specialty and she performs it with panache, solo or in ensemble, in the spotlight or in accompaniment."
- Joseph McLellan, The Washington Post

"Ivers took it over and played in another rooted style, before launching into one of her amazing accelerando takeoffs that leaves the earth behind.
She has charisma and technique to burn, but she isn't playing into a mirror - it is all about tradition and renewal. She followed up with a bluegrass number by her friend, Ralph Blizzard, and her instrument streaked faster than a speeding train."
- Richard Dyer, The Boston Globe

"Last night at Heinz Hall, Irish Fiddler Eileen Ivers bedazzled the Pittsburgh Symphony Pops audience at the opening concert of the season, one that put the spotlight front and center on the versatility of the violin.
To cap it all, the relentless excitement of the "Blizzard Train" finale added four dancers and left Hamlisch literally reeling with delight."
- Jane Vranish, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- Various


Discography

1994: Eileen Ivers - Traditional Irish Music
Compass Records

1996: Wild Blue
Compass Records

1999: Crossing the Bridge
Sony Classical

2003: Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul
Koch Records

2007: An Nollaig - An Irish Christmas
Compass Records

Photos

Bio

Eileen Ivers will change the way you think about the violin.

Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul, Nine Time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion, London Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony at The Kennedy Center, Boston Pops, original musical star of Riverdance, The Chieftains, Hall and Oates, Afrocelts, Patti Smith, Paula Cole, Al Di Meola, Steve Gadd, founding member of Cherish the Ladies, Grammy awarded musician, performed for Presidents and Royalty worldwide…this is a short list of accomplishments, headliners, tours, and affiliations. Fiddler Eileen Ivers has established herself as the pre-eminent exponent of the Irish fiddle in the world today.

It is a rare and select grade of spectacular artists whose work is so boldly imaginative and clearly virtuosic that it alters the medium. It has been said that the task of respectfully exploring the traditions and progression of the Celtic fiddle is quite literally on Eileen Ivers' shoulders. The Washington Post states, "She suggests the future of the Celtic fiddle."

She's been called a "sensation" by Billboard magazine and "the Jimi Hendrix of the violin" by The New York Times. "She electrifies the crowd with a dazzling show of virtuoso playing" says The Irish Times. Ivers' recording credits include over 80 contemporary and traditional albums and numerous movie scores. Eileen is hailed as one of the great innovators and pioneers in the Celtic and World music genres.

The daughter of Irish immigrants, Eileen Ivers grew up in the culturally diverse neighborhood of the Bronx, New York. Rooted in Irish traditional music since the age of eight, Eileen proceeded to win nine All-Ireland fiddle championships, a tenth on tenor banjo and over 30 championship medals, making her one of the most awarded persons ever to compete in these prestigious competitions.

Being an Irish-American, the intrigue of learning more about the multicultural sounds of her childhood took hold. After graduating magna cum laude in Mathematics from Iona College and while continuing her post-graduate work in Mathematics, Eileen fully immersed herself in the different genres of music which she experienced growing up in New York. Perhaps it was the mathematical mind coupled with her passion for seeking parallels in certain traditional music styles which contributed to what has become the signature sound featured in much of Eileen's recordings since the late 1980's.

In 1999 Eileen established a touring production to present the music that now encompasses Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul. The ensemble headlines prestigious performing arts centers, guest stars with numerous symphonies, performs at major festivals worldwide, and has appeared on national and international television. The L.A. Times proclaims, "Ivers' presentation was music with the kind of life and spirit that come together when talented artists from different backgrounds find the linkages that connect all forms of music...no wonder the audience loved every minute."

Eileen created Beyond the Bog Road, a multimedia concert of music, story, dance and film. The concert celebrates the journey of the Irish immigrant and showcases how Irish music and dance have integrated with various roots music of North America to create one of the richest cross-fertilizations of folk music styles in the world. It is a celebration of the immigrant’s journey – it is the story of the Irish immigrant’s impact on America and America’s impact on the Irish immigrant.

Eileen is also privileged to share the stage with two of the world's most celebrated violinists, classical virtuoso Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and jazz great Regina Carter, in the critically acclaimed 'Fiddlers Three'. This show continues to fascinate symphony audiences throughout the U.S. "'Fiddlers Three will go down as one of the great Boston Pops Events." - Boston Globe.

ZETA Music, the world's leading electric stringed instrument maker, has recently introduced the Eileen Ivers Signature Series Violin.

More of Eileen Ivers’ overwhelming audience and critical response can be read at www.eileenivers.com.