Tuesday, 29 November 2016


Tom; Tom when did your drumming career start?
My career started at the ripe age of 6 in a pipe band in my area of Greenhills, D12. Here l learned the roots of good drum skills, discipline, dynamics and most if all, rudiments!

Tom;  Did you undertake any further musical studies?
After several years playing with The dada's back in the late 80's, early 90's, l took myself off to study in other areas of music less known to me. Then l met the Great John Wadham. I studied jazz with John for 3 years while playing with a new jazz outfit "The Jazz Globetrotters" taking our name from the The Globe Bar in Dublin where we held a 14 year Sunday residency.

Tom; Wow, 14 year residency, that’s impressive!
I'm still playing with this band and after 3 other residencies we are now playing our 4th year every Tuesday night at The Leeson Lounge Dublin with a mixture of bebop and hardbop.

Tom; Tom what about your recording career?
In 2014, l was approached by Eleanor McEvoys producer to arrange a jazz instrumental album of some of her songs. So l put the best musicians that l work with together, a tight quartet with pianist Myles Drennan, bassist Dave Fleming and saxophonist Ciaran Wilde. With two days rearranging the selected 13 tracks and two days recording in The Cauldron studio, we recorded a fine 10 track CD of Eleanor McEvoys music in jazz style.

Tom; Who else have you recorded / played with?
I have played with Georgie Fame, Mary Coughlin, Imelda May, Louis Stewart, Paul Langosh (bassist with Tony Bennett) . I've supported Mose Allison in the iridium jazz club in NYC. Also the Lincoln Centre NYC and Helen's jazz supper club on 9th ave for a week with a tribute to Peggy Lee with Dave Fleming db, Cian uBoylan pno as Trio Con Brio with Susannah de Wrixon vocals.

Tom; Any other part of your music career that we need to mention?
I am also teaching drums at The Ratoath School of Music in Meath and Glasnevin Academy of Music.

Thanks To Tom Dunne for the words

Photo by Des Cannon