Tin whistle wiz
John Cromie is known for his versatility and heartfelt interpretations of
traditional Irish music.
After playing tuba all through high
school, John is a relative newcomer to the whistle. He purchased his first
whistle in May of 1990 at the urging of a good friend, (who still has not been
forgiven by John's wife), and the rest has been a quick slide down a slippery
slope.
Before long the urge to play out overcame common sense and he was
sitting in with local groups both on stage and in the recording studio. It was
also during this period that he became the official "whistle consultant" for Celtic Treasures, a fine Irish gift
shop in Saratoga Springs, NY.
He then had the great fortune of being asked to
perform the music for "Out of the Heavens in Showers," a one-man play on the
life of Micho Russel, the legendary Doolin whistle player. This very touching
and intimate drama is the work of the very gifted Irish poet and playwright John
Doorty.
The world premiere took place at Café Lena in Saratoga Springs, NY
which in turn led to a Rennselaer County Council on the Arts grant for John to
go to Ireland and perform the show with traditional musicians.
A second trip
was in order the following year for the final production on Inisheer, the
smallest of the Aran Islands.
Other performance highlights include half a
dozen shows at Café Lena, including opening for Paddy Keenan, two whistle nights
with Ray Wall, Jerry Jenkins and one of his favorite performers, George
Ward.
John also performed at the 2000 Capital District Scottish Games with Jennifer Licko, a
wonderful song stylist and singer of traditional Scots Gaelic songs.
Last,
but certainly not least, he performed at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall with
Jay Unger and Molly Mason, Mark O'Connor for a performance of Jay and Molly's
fine orchestral piece "The Harvest Home Suite."
In addition to whistle,
John's duties with Skuttlebutt include the very new job of singing, both lead
and harmony, so pay attention -- an adventure can happen at any moment.
A
favorite of east coast festivals and sessions, John teaches whistle, has
recorded extensively and is working on both a solo album and a tune book of
original compositions.