Mark McKnight with the David Lyttle Group featuring Michael Buckley

www.davidlyttle.com
www.myspace.com/markmcknightjazzmusic

(Click photos to enlarge)

Mark McKnight

Mark McKnight is a guitarist from Belfast, Northern Ireland. Mark began his studies in jazz when awarded a scholarship from the Arts Council of Ireland to study at the Skidmore Jazz Institute, NY. The following year Mark attended Berklee College of Music on scholarship from which he graduated in 2006, receiving awards for outstanding musicianship.

Since returning to Ireland Mark has established himself as one of the country's leading young jazz musicians, as attested to by his being named the "Best Young Irish Musician 2009" at the Cork Jazz Festival, and in addition played with some of the island's most respected classical and concert orchestras, having featured as a soloist in national broadcasts with both the Ulster and RTE Concert Orchestras.

David Lyttle

"...notably assured technique, greased lightning reflexes and an unfailing sense of swing...a prolific composer, too." - Jazzwise (UK)

"...a drummer of real talent." - All About Jazz (USA)

Twenty-five year-old Co. Armagh-born drummer/composer David Lyttle has been hailed as one of the most significant jazz musicians to have emerged in Ireland in recent years. He has performed in the US, Canada, Britain and Europe and developed associations with internationally-respected artists such as Greg Osby, Jean Toussaint, Tommy Smith, Soweto Kinch and Terell Stafford. Among his sideman credits are David Liebman, Jaleel Shaw, Jonathan Kreisberg and Louis Stewart. Lyttle is also becoming increasingly known for his literary cross-over projects. 2008 saw the premiere of his interpretation of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' and this year he premiered his 'Dark Tales' suite, which draws inspiration from the macabre writings of Edgar Allan Poe, Dickens and Robert Louis Stevenson.

Michael Buckley

Regarded as the most important and influential musician on the Irish jazz scene, saxophonist / flutist and composer Michael Buckley has been playing professionally since the age of six when critics hailed him as a child prodigy. Born in Dublin city in 1971 michael first came to prominence on an internation level when, aged thirteen, he played flute with the legendary saxophonist George Coleman in the National Concert Hall. Though largely self-taught, his obvious talent has been developed by his father Dick Buckley, Pat LaBarbera, and Milt Hinton. Buckley has found his own unique voice playing both on saxophone and flute.

Now in his late thirties, Buckley has also performed and toured in recent years with The Mingus Big Band, Jason Moran, Kurt Rosenwinkle, Edward Simon, Jason Robello, Pete King, Badal Roy, Kenny Wheeler, Lee Konitz, Grant Stewart, Ingrid Jensen, Guy Barker, Greg Burk, Damon Brown, Kevin Dean, Perico Sambeat, Florian Ross, soloist with the BBC big band, Albert Sanz, Louis Stewart and Gerard Presencer among others. As well as frequent radio spots, Michael has made numerous television appearances, regularly works on film and television scores and recently collaborated on recordings with Donovan, the Cranberrys, Jerry Lee Louis, Johnny Mattis, and so on.

Michael recorded with out doubt his best work to date. Released on the Spanish label (Urban Beauty) The long awaited release of this latest CD "the tourist" featuring an impressive line up including Edward Simon (piano) Stephen Keogh (drums) and Jeremy Brown (bass)is also a working band throughout England and Europe. A rich and diverse collection of original music is what makes this recording most impressive.

Michael Buckley is one of the most exciting musicians to arrive on the jazz scene in recent times. With a limitless vocabulary and a burnished tone, it's apparent that he's absorbed and discarded many influences on the road to fashioning a voice that is his alone. His rounded, humorous and multi-faceted concept reflects a profound understanding of the music's history, and it is clear that he has the potential to have a dramatic impact on the music's future. His is a talent that cannot be suppressed, a talent that demands to be heard.

Show Length: 56:37
In cue: "The Guinness Cork...."
Out cue: "... of WDUQ-FM, Pittsburgh."