Billed as Swingin’ in Saddlers it’s a welcome return for the Irish and English duo act of Andrew Irwin and Joe Hill who are to play the Saddlers Winebar on Enniskillen’s Belmore Street after a great gig last year.
Operatic tenor Irwin, from beautiful Monea, County Fermanagh, who can croon and do Percy French balladry, pop songs and more with jazz pianist Joe Hill to his elbow at that gig last year performed to a full house and delivered an evening that blended classical voice with jazz and popular standards. Irwin, a versatile performer based at Stadttheater Bremerhaven in Germany, had previously explored traditional Irish songs, but this event saw him take on a mix of jazz standards and classic ballads alongside Hill, who is known for his work on the 2024 album Moonray.
On Raglan Road on an autumn day I met her first and knew
That her dark hair would weave a snare that I might one day rue;
I saw the danger, yet I walked along the enchanted way,
And I said, let grief be a fallen leaf at the dawning of the day.
On Grafton Street in November we tripped lightly along the ledge
Of the deep ravine where can be seen the worth of passion’s pledge,
The Queen of Hearts still making tarts and I not making hay –
O I loved too much and by such and such is happiness thrown away.
I gave her gifts of the mind I gave her the secret sign that’s known
To the artists who have known the true gods of sound and stone
And word and tint. I did not stint for I gave her poems to say.
With her own name there and her own dark hair like clouds over fields of May
On a quiet street where old ghosts meet I see her walking now
Away from me so hurriedly my reason must allow
That I had wooed not as I should a creature made of clay –
When the angel woos the clay he’d lose his wings at the dawn of day.
The two musicians, who first met as students at Chetham’s School of Music, alma mater of the great jazz pianist Gwilym Simcock, showcased their longstanding musical connection and shared sense of humour through a wide-ranging and unconventional setlist. Highlights included “Straighten Up and Fly Right,” “There May Be Trouble Ahead,” “The Lady Is a Tramp,” “One for My Baby,” and Jerry Jeff Walker’s “Mr Bojangles,” a highlight of the evening. Irwin stirred the crowd with his unexpected yet effective take on Paul Anka’s “My Way” and a moving rendition of “Abide With Me,” the latter having local resonance due to its writer’s links to Enniskillen.
Irwin’s vocal performance was powerful and expressive, and though not a jazz singer by training, his theatrical background and rich voice allowed him to adapt well to the evening’s stylistic shifts. At one point, he brought humour and personality into play with a witty performance of Neil Hannon’s “Mother Dear,” drawing laughter from the audience. The night gradually transitioned into a community singalong with renditions of “The Fields of Athenry,” “Sweet Caroline,” and Van Morrison’s “Have I Told You Lately,” further engaging the crowd.
Overall, the evening confirmed Irwin’s vocal command and Hill’s jazz finesse, making for a heartfelt and entertaining night.
- The gig is on 8 August. Pop in to the Horseshoe pub downstairs from the winebar if local to pick up tickets from behind the bar. Admission includes a spot of vino and bite to eat.
You must be logged in to post a comment.