Convergence is a percussion-led recording, with some traditional Irish music elements, from Éamonn Cagney, featuring Niwel Tsumbu (guitar), Val Davin (flute), Ciara O’Driscoll (vocals), Martin Tourish (piano accordian), Catriona O’Hora (violin, viola) James Kennedy (bass guitar), Peter Erdei (bass guitar), Bobby Lee (guitar), Kathryn Doehner (voilin), Clinio Cocuzza (clarinet), Bertrand Galen (cello), and Rick Abbelby (bass guitar, keyboard).

Featuring nine tracks, ‘Going home’ is a set of two reels composed by Cagney, underlaid in one version on the CD with a strong hand drum beat and in another version with a drone-based guitar riff by Bobby Lee. ‘The Plateau’, co-written with Cagney’s brother, Liam and Niwel Tsumbu, is influenced by Indian, Tibetan and eastern European musics, and features the clarinet playing of Clinio Cocuzza. The rest of the tracks on the CD are also Cagney compositions, including two drum solo tracks, ‘Wake up’ & ‘Long ago’, influenced by West African and Asian traditional styles respectively, and others, some percussion- and some riff-led, exhibiting Irish, World and soundtrack influences.

Cagney is a native of Gaoth Dobhair, Donegal, living in Cork, and has travelled extensively to learn his drumming from the likes of Ghanaians Nana Tsiboe and Nii Darko Ankrah, and Guinean Epizo Bangoura. As well as working closely with Niwel Tsumbu on the latter’s recordings, and with the UCC ensemble, Trasna (see below), he has played down the years with the likes of Liam O’Maonlaí, Míchéal Ó Súilleabháin, Steve Cooney, Kila, the Irish Chamber Orchestra, Roger Doyle, Ma Xiaoue, Donal Dineen, Niall Vallely and Mel Mercier.

Cagney’s Convergence ensemble for live shows features the following musicians:
Martin Schaerer (percussion) – Switzerland
Peter Erdei (bass) – Hungary
Niwel Tsumbu (guitar, vocals) – Congo
Martin Tourish (piano accordion) – Donegal
Kathryn Dohner (violin) – Germany
Dylan Gully (carinet/horns) – France/Brittany

eamonncagney.com