Welcome Here Again

The duo’s new album, "Welcome Here Again", is a fresh departure; eighteen tracks and not one of them over seven minutes, but with that same burning intensity and depth of emotion. It used to be common for Irish musicians to record one tune at a time, to make each one a self-contained masterpiece. The new album revives this tradition. The playing of Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill renders the essence of the tunes, revealed in their purest form, accessible and appealing to all. "The Dear Irish Boy" is one such track. "P Joe's Reel" is another. The mesmeric rhythms, the tantalizing slow release of melody, the extra tone from viola or tuned-down fiddle, all of that and more is on this album. After eight years, Hayes and Cahill are indeed "Welcome Here Again".

Tunes: The Clare Reel; The High Jig; Lane to Glen/Fahy’s; The Dear Irish Boy; The Night Poor Larry Was Stretched; P. Joe’s Reel; An Rogaire Dubh; Jenny’s Welcome to Charlie; The Girl That Broke My Heart; The Wind Swept Hill of Tulla; The Galtee Hunt; John Naughton’s Green Mountain/Welcome Here Again; Mulqueen’s; The Booley House Jig; O’Reilly’s Greyhound/Palmer’s Gate; Coleman’s March; The New Post Office/ The Pigeon on the Gate/ The New Custom House; Frank Keane

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Live in Seattle

In guitarist Dennis Cahill, Martin has found the perfect foil, a collaborator equally drawn to subtle invention and exploration of his instrument. Live in Seattle is their second recording, documenting their intimate interplay one special evening at the Tractor Tavern. Combining a jazz sensitivity with the potential of a melody with a classicist's sense of timbre, Martin and Dennis explore the melodies of County Clare in a way unique to Celtic music. From the playful interpretations of classic tunes to an epic twenty-seven minute medley that is the hallmark of their live shows, Live in Seattle puts you in the front seat for new directions in Celtic music. 1999

Tunes: Martin Rochford's / Green Gowned Lass * Port na bPucai / Kilnamona Barndance / Ship in Full Sail / Jer the Rigger / The Old Blackthorn / Exile of Erin / Humours of Tulla / Fitzgerald's Hornpipe / Rakish Paddy / Finbarr Dwyer's Reel No. 1 / P Joe's Pecurious Pachelbel Special * Carraroe / Out on the Ocean * Mary McMahon of Ballinahinch / Miss Lyon's * Dowd's No. 9 / Come West Along the Road

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The Lonesome Touch

This long-awaited duet album captures the astonishing musical kinship between two master players, and is their first recording together. In the manner of great jazz duos, Hayes and Cahill inspire and urge each other on, trading passages, stretching out and digging in. 1997

Tunes: Paddy Fahy's Reel * The Kerfunken Jig * Paul Ha'penny / The Garden of Butterflies / The Broken Pledge / The Mother and Child Reel / Toss the Feathers * John Naughton's Reel / Another Paddy Fahy Reel * The Cat in the Corner / John Naughton's Jig * The Old Bush / The Reel with the Burl * The Lament for Limerick * My Love is in America reels * Tell Her I Am / Gallagher's Frolics jigs * Rolling in the Barrel / The Morning Dew reels * The Bucks of Oranmore / Eileen Curran / Jimmy on the Moor reels * Peggy's Waltz

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Under the Moon

Martin returned to County Clare to record Under the Moon, gaining the accompaniment of his father, famed fiddler P.J. Hayes, and guitarist Steve Cooney. He is also joined by his American musical partners, accordion virtuoso John Williams and Portland guitarist/fiddler Randal Bays. This album contains all the spirit and eloquence of his eponymous debut and adds even more passion. No one can get inside a tune--be it barndance, jig or reel--like Martin Hayes. Under the Moon is an album that stirs the heart and electrifies the mind! 1995

Tunes: Bill Malley's Barndance / Kilnamona Barndance * Cloonagroe Reel / West Clare Reel * O'Connell's March / Galway Bay Hornpipe / The Banshee's Wail Over the Mangle Pit * The Hole in the Hedge / Seamus Cooley's Jig * Bony Crossing the Alps / The Maids of Feakle * Kitty Come Down to Limerick / Catherine Kelly's * Rakish Paddy * Pat Canny's / Come West Along the Road * Fair Haired Molly / Farewell to Milltown * The Lark's March / Kilfenora Jig / The Cliffs of Moher * The Graf Spey / The Boys of Balisodare * The Crooked Road / The Foxhunter's Reel * Lucy Farr's

Martin Hayes

A landmark album from one of the most skillful and soulful fiddlers alive. Hayes can trace his roots directly back to the Tulla Ceili Band, in which he played along with his father P.J. Hayes. You will be overawed by the range and intricacy of his playing, not to mention by his first rate choice of tunes. With guitarist Randall Bays and guest pianist Jim Chapman. 1993

Tunes: The Morning Star / The Caoilte Mountains * Paddy Fahy's Jig / Sean Ryan's Jig * The Whistler from Rosslea / Connor Dunn's * The Star of Munster * The Colliers / Johnny's Wedding* P.J. MacNamara's / John Naughton's * The Brown Coffin / The Good Natured Man * Joe Bane's / The Green Gowned Lass * I Buried My Wife and Danced on Her Grave / The Rooms of Doogh / The Mist Covered Mountain * The Britches * Tommy Coen's Reel / The Swallow

Under the Moon: 13 Celtic Fiddle Solos

All the tunes from Martin's "Under the Moon" album are in this book, transcribed by Allan MacDonald just as Martin plays them. 48 pages. Published by Mel Bay Books, it is available at folk music shops or directly from Mel Bay's web site.