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Event
The Gnomes at Lily Pads!
One of our favorite Rhode Island bands---and favorite bands in general!-- returns to Lily Pads.
Cathy Clasper Torch (violin/fiddle, erhu, piano, cello) has been playing, teaching, and performing in RI and New England for over 20 years. She has performed and recorded with many varied groups and musicians, and is on over two dozen recordings.
Cathy's passion for world music began early on, as part of her childhood was spent living in Asia (Burma/Myanmar and Hong Kong). Her violin/fiddle playing is influenced by her love of improvisation and harmony, and informed by jazz, classical and folk genres.
Phil Edmonds, a native of Killaloe, Co. Clare, Ireland, learned to play the tin whistle in a place where he says, "The backyard was the fields." When he was 14 years old, Phil, along with his family, emigrated to America and settled in South Providence, where he still lives. Besides The Gnomes , Phil presently plays whistles and button accordion with The Providence Wholebellies, Celebrating Ireland in Story & Song, and Mike (Fishel) Bresler . He busks as a street performer downtown Providence when the weather is warm enough. The world music scene of Providence has had a big influence on Phil's music . Catch him some Friday nights sitting in with Zerui DePina's Cape Verde band at Club Tropical in Central Falls. Phil gives Irish pennywhistle lessons, and has written four books.
Peter Breen is an experienced and versatile bass player and singer who began his musical journey as a Suzuki-method violinist before switching to the bass as a teenager. Pete spent much of his early career playing reggae music with The Wilson Blue and the Blue Roots Reggae Band and, having returned from a four-year residence on the island of St. Martin, Pete now plays reggae with Professor Roots, zydeco with Robert Graves Leonard and Slippery Sneakers and, of course, world-folk fusion with The Gnomes.
Mike Fischman escaped from Long Island, New York, in 1985 to the cultural diversity that is Rhode Island in order to maintain his riparian status. Since then, he has played in bluegrass, old timey, Irish, rock 'n roll, blues, acoustic folk, Dixieland, swing, jazz, country and western (both kinds) and now, for the second time, world folk fusion bands. In his spare time, he teaches guitar, mandolin, three kinds of banjo, and a little bass, and in a pinch, harmonica, and to stay out of trouble, he has been DJ-ing on WRIU's Bluegrass Breakdown for the past 20 years. Aside from that, he does very little, save for his volunteer work in quantum mechanics. Mike can be seen and heard with numerous other bands, including: The Swing-Lane Orchestra (Newport), Red-Tide Ramblers, French Connection, Hope Valley Volunteers, Jimmy-Town Juke, and Folk Support Group.
Matt Niebels is the group's new percussionist as of February 2014. Combining his foundation in jazz and rock drumming, a passion for world music and a degree in classical percussion, somehow Matt has once again found himself playing with a bunch of folkies. It's no happenstance though. Prior to joining the Gnomes, Matt had played with bassist, Peter Breen, in a reggae band; recorded with string player, Mike Fischman, on an original album of JP Jones; and he grew up admiring the music of bandleader, Phil Edmonds. Making the acquaintance of Cathy Clasper-Torch, Matt was won over quickly by her melodic lines and kind spirit.
With a hybrid drum set made up of hand drums combined with a jazz kit and a variety of shakable and bangable things, Matt adds a musical spice rack of flavors to the group as well as a contagious energy and groove.
This is a high-energy show that will be fun for everyone, young and old. Everybody must get Gnomed!
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LocationMusic at Lily Pads (View)
27 North Road
Peace Dale, RI 02879
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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