Artist Profiles: Martin Hayes

Born in Ireland, Martin Hayes plays in the slow, lyrical style of his native East County Clare. He grew up playing traditional music with his father, P.J. Hayes, leader of the famed Tulla Ceili Band. The younger fiddler has a great reverence for the old players, “whose music contains the longing and essence that moves you at the level of your soul.” Martin brings the same intensity to his own playing, rendering it unique with passion and intimacy.

Although Martin Hayes always had a passion for music, he did not initially envision it as a career path for himself. “I always loved it, but I didn’t want the precarious life that often comes with being a professional musician. I was good at it and identified with it more than anything else in my life. In retrospect, I was very lucky that a career emerged, even if I hadn’t planned it.”

In his late teens, Hayes had already achieved the impressive feat of being named the All-Ireland Fiddle Champion seven times. By his early twenties, he had moved to Chicago.

Martin frequently performed with guitarist Dennis Cahill, whom he met in Chicago when he first moved to the United States in the 1980s. They formed a jazz/rock/fusion band called Midnight Court, in which they experimented with a variety of new music styles. “I liked reaching outside of the world of traditional music, and it was there that my first adventurous collaboration and lifetime friendship with Dennis Cahill began in a band called Midnight Court.”

Eventually, though, they both turned back to their traditional roots, and after recording two acclaimed solo albums, Hayes began a new musical relationship with Cahill. In 1997, they released The Lonesome Touch (Green Linnet).

“Our allegiance is to the spirit of the moment,” said Hayes, “Our primary wish is that the musical experience be one that lifts our spirits and those of the audience.”

Martin Hayes recorded several albums with the late Dennis Cahill and founded the Celtic music supergroup The Gloaming.

In 2019, Hayes released The Butterfly , a collaboration with American chamber music ensemble Brooklyn Rider.

In February 2023, Hayes announced the release of “Peggy’s Dream” by Martin Hayes and The Common Ground Ensemble.

The Common Ground Ensemble represents the latest chapter in Martin Hayes’ lifelong musical journey, which will undoubtedly continue to evolve in the years ahead. “You have to accept that perfection may elude you forever, but that’s ok because music isn’t about perfection. For me, it’s more about heart, feeling, trust, freedom, communication, and true aliveness in the moment.“

The group includes Cormac McCarthy on piano; Kate Ellis on cello; Kyle Sanna on guitar; and Brian Donnellan on bouzouki, harmonium, and concertina.

Over the years, Martin Hayes has been the recipient of numerous accolades and awards, including the prestigious Musician of the Year (Gradam Ceoil) from TG4, Person of the Year from the American Irish Historical Society in New York City, and the annual Spirit of Ireland award from the Irish Arts Center NY.

His outstanding contributions to music have also been recognized at the inaugural BBC Folk Awards, where he was named Musician of the Year, as well as at the inaugural RTE Folk Awards, where he received the Instrumentalist of the Year award.

In addition, Hayes and his long-time collaborator Dennis Cahill had the honor of performing for President Obama and other dignitaries at both the White House and the US Capitol Building in March 2011.

Furthermore, his contributions to music were acknowledged with an Honorary Doctorate of Music from National University of Ireland Galway. These accolades reflect the profound impact of Hayes’ work and his status as a leading figure in the world of Irish music.

Discography:

Martin Hayes (Green Linnet, 1992)
Under the Moon (Green Linnet, 1995)
The Lonesome Touch, with Dennis Cahill (Green Linnet, 1997)
Live in Seattle, with Dennis Cahill (Green Linnet, 1999)
Welcome Here Again, with Dennis Cahill (Green Linnet, 2008)
The Blue Room (2017)
The Butterfly, with Brooklyn Rider (In a Circle Records, 2019)

With The Gloaming:

The Gloaming (Real World Records, 2014)
2 (Real World Records, 2016)
Live at the NCH (Real World Records, 2018)

Author: Angel Romero

Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.