NEW YORK (George Edward Burles PR/ www.walkingoliver.com) - Tenor Paul Austin
Kelly and guitarist Richard Durrant team up on Unleashed On British Isles, a new CD featuring fresh interpretations of time honoured British folk songs.
Unleashed on British Isles is the newest release on the Walking Oliver record label and unites the talents of celebrated American tenor and songwriter Paul Austin Kelly and esteemed British guitar virtuoso Richard Durrant. Although hailing from diverse musical worlds, Kelly and Durrant share a common devotion to traditional folk music and have brought new life to such beloved, traditional British songs as Widdecombe Fair, Geordie, My Bonny, Wraggle Taggle Gypsies, The Gypsy Rover, Henry My Son, and Cockles and Mussels. The CD also boasts the contributions of top-flight British musicians Herbie Flowers on upright bass and tuba, Nick Pynn on fiddle, Philippe Barnes on flute and Tom Arnold on drums.
While previous CD releases on the Walking Oliver label, Hello Michael Rosen and The Walking Oliver Sing Along were recorded primarily for children, Oliver Unleashed On British Isles is aimed at a general adult listenership, particularly anyone wanting to rediscover the rich tradition of British folk music and some of its more obscure gems. Of course, kids can enjoy it too.
"When Richard and I decided to make this recording we had two things on our side; a real love and understanding of traditional folk music and a firm belief that these songs could be embraced by the mainstream without losing their inherent acoustic folk roots." (Paul Austin Kelly).
Born and raised in the state of New York, Paul Austin Kelly became enchanted with Britain, its lifestyle, culture and countryside while performing at the Glyndebourne Opera Festival nearly a decade ago. He soon after decided to settle in the UK with his wife Carol and young son Zack. Paul and Carol Kelly now run the Walking Oliver company together from their home in Lewes, East Sussex with valued contributions and inspiration from Zack as well as their five-year old Weimaraner dog Oliver who graciously lent his name for the record label.
Exciting projects for 2004 include the first Walking Oliver Poetry In Song competition for children. The winning poems will be set to music by Paul Austin Kelly and recorded on a future Walking Oliver CD. Oliver Sets Sail, A Musical Adventure In Three Acts is a groundbreaking illustrated children's book and CD that offers a unique combination of visual, literal and musical elements with original music by Paul Austin Kelly, story by author Marion Roach and illustrations by the famed Korky Paul.
Although incredibly busy with Walking Oliver and its many projects, Paul Austin Kelly is still considered one of todayi?'s finest Rossini tenors and has performed with many of the worldi's most prestigious opera companies including the Royal Opera at Covent Garden, La Scala in Milan and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Mr. Kelly has also made numerous live appearances on BBC Radio. An artist of diverse talents, Paul Austin Kelly is also an accomplished jazz singer, guitarist and trumpet player. He brings together all of his musical skills and influences in producing quality music for the Walking Oliver label.
For more information regarding Walking Oliver including original illustrations by Korky Paul and audio samples, please visit the label's official website: www.walkingoliver.com
For more details: https://www.walkingoliver.com
