Ballina Arts Centre & IMC
Neil Ó Lochlainn - work in development from NAVIGATOR Residency in Ballina
Join NAVIGATOR musician-in-residence Neil Ó Lochlainn for an exclusive sharing of work in development on Saturday 22nd April, as his 10-day residency at Ballina Arts Centre draws to a close. Neil will be joined by long time collaborator, fiddle and viola player Ultan O’Brien, to perform new and existing work, as well as talk about their process as composers and collaborators.
A contemporary experimental bassist, with strong traditional music roots, Neil Ó Lochlainn is “a musical seeker” (The Irish Times) from Co. Clare. His work is dedicated to exploring the contemporary and the universal in the local. Neil began learning Irish traditional music on the flute and tin whistle at a young age, and studied double bass with David Whitla at the Cork School of Music. He is the co-founder and artistic director of Ensemble Ériu, whose third album Stargazer was listed in Songlines’ Top 10 essential Irish albums. His chamber ensemble Cuar, which explores composition and improvisation within the framework of Irish traditional music, released their second album ‘Umhaill’ in 2022 to glowing reviews, The Irish Times praising it’s “beguiling blend of Irish traditional music, jazz and contemporary improv” citing Ó’Lochlainn as “a post-genre trailblazer”
The NAVIGATOR Jazz Residency programme was established by Improvised Music Company in 2021, and since then nine musicians have enjoyed bespoke residencies through venue partners Ballina Arts Centre, The Source Arts Centre, Thurles, An Grianán in Letterkenny and The Courthouse, Co. Wicklow. NAVIGATOR offers jazz and improvising musicians professionally remunerated time and space to develop and perform work, while building creative and professional relationships in new locations.