The Tommy Halferty Trio

Born in Derry, Northern Ireland, Halferty began his musical career in the late 70s taking Jazz Guitar lessons with Louis Stewart, a world class jazz musician. Some of his earliest appearances playing public were with bands such as `Jump' - a jazz fusion group and later on `Nunn' - a trio of flute, double bass and guitar. Most of the material here was drawn from classical, folk and jazz music. In '84, Tommy had the opportunity to play with the great Czech double bass player, George Mraz, as part of the `Jazz Fusion 84'. Later Tommy recorded with George for the R.T.E. Radio show, "All that Jazz and Blues". The next years Tommy played in Portugal in `Hot Clube' with Portuguese musicians and at the famous Cascais Jazz Festival with English sax player Art Themen. The following year, he gave jazz workshops at the Cork Jazz Festival, playing also with the great American alto sax player, Lee Konitz, and later with the great French pianist, Martial Solal. In Dublin Jazz Festival '89, Tommy performed duos with the great American guitarist, John Abercrombie. Followed by duos by the English guitarist, John Etheridge, who worked with `Soft Machine' and the great French violinist Stephane Grapelli, at the Cork Jazz Festival '90. In '91, Tommy was commissioned to write `O Connell Street' for R.T.E's musical celebration of Dublin as Cultural Capital of Europe. Tommy played in Barcelona, Spain, with the great Portuguese bass player, Ze' Eduardo, in February of that year. The following summer he began the Irish French Connection in France with Jean-Philippe Lavergne (Hammond organ) and Christophe Lavergne (drums) and played at the Jazz Festival in Parthenay in '92. In '93 Tommy toured Ireland with the jazz singer Norma Winstone culminating in the Cork Jazz Festival. About this time, Tommy began to form a group combining traditional music and jazz using Tommy Hayes (Bodhrán) and Ronan Brown (Uilleann pipes), appearing on T.V. in Germany and Ireland. However, a distillation of many styles of music - Indian, Flamenco, Arabic and Irish took shape in `Khanda' - a new group with Ramesh Shotham from India, Conor and Ronan Guilfoyle, Martin Nolan (Pipes) and Ellen Cranitch (Flute) from Ireland. Tommy has played as part of a guitar duo (with Mike Nielsen) in the Tel-Aviv International Guitar Festival '94. They were voted Critic's Choice in `The Jerusalem Post' of that year. A special honour was given to Tommy when he was asked to play for President Clinton when he visited Ireland in November '96. Tommy was also a member of the Keith Copeland Trio. They have recorded two CD's for the famous Steeplechase Label in '96 and '97. As part of L'Imaginaire Irlandais in April '96 Tommy travelled to France to play concerts in Nantes, Morlaix and Tréguier. Tommy teaches Jazz improvisation at Dublin City University and has been instrumental in getting Jazz music in the current Leaving Certificate Music course. "New Encyclopaedia of Ireland - He has travelled the world and played with Lee Konitz, Benny Golson, Ronnie Cuber, George Mraz, Dave Liebman, Martial Solal. He has been guest lecturer at the famous Berklee College of music Boston. Tommy was presented with the “Best Irish performer” award at the Derry City Jazz Festival 2004.” Official Facebook Page for The Tommy Halferty Trio