To see John McSherry play without Mike gives us a clue about Mikes playing,whistle and pipes.In a way John,on stage ,is overshadowed by Mike as most people go to see Mike.When you see John playing in this format ,you see how amazing and understated his playing is.He also finds the sweetest impros on the whistle as well.He reads a tune like no other that I have heard and all the top names that I know talk VERY highly of him,the word master is often used and I for one would not disagree.
Donal Lunny has the chioce of any piper on the planet but chooses John,and if you’ve heard the COOLFIN CD you’ll know why.One of the reasons you don’t here so much about John is that he is not much of a self-publisist,rather more like the old school where the music just speaks for itself.
He is one of the nicest people I know in the business and has time for everyone,buy him a pint and he’ll talk for hours.What a gem of a bloke.
If you have not seen his interview with me in Verona this year, check it out at www.kerrywhistles.com in the movies section.
He’ll have a new CD out soon with Donal O’Connor with some new tunes on it. I hope to grab him for doing a whistle CD in the new year.
Phil.