Album Notes

Biographies

Kate McMillen and Tony O’Connell have been performing in the Chicagoland area for several years. The have appeared together as a duet, and with several combinations of friends from Chicago’s Irish traditional music scene. They can be heard weekly at the session hosted by the Murphy Roche Irish Music Club and at Chicago’s many Ceilithe and festivals. “The Banshee” is their first CD as a duet and brings together many guest artists from the Chicago area.


Kate McMillen
Vocals, Piano, Synthesizer, and Bodhran


Kate has a wealth and depth of experience in both the fine and performing Arts. From theatre and film, to playing and singing, to Graphic Arts, Kate has loved all of her artistic and musical projects and endeavors. The CD art for “The Banshee” is all Kate’s ...quot; much of it taken from her pen and ink drawings done for her many calligraphy and illumination projects. Kate left Chicago, where she is originally from, to pursue her arts in New York State. She was a member of, and guest performer with, several local bands, and enjoyed work as a professional historical reenactor for the city of Poughkeepsie, NY. Kate loves the Sean Nos style of traditional Irish singing as well as folk rock. Her major influences are Maddy Prior, from Steeleye Span, and Jacqui McShee, from Pentangle. She is also interested in Celtic history and culture. Kate is a member of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (the International Association of Irish Musicians) and sings and plays the piano with the Murphy Roche Irish Music Club. She now resides in Chicago



Tony O’Connell
Keyboards, Piano, and Acoustic Guitar


Tony hails from Dublin Ireland and immigrated to Chicago in 1982 where he now lives. He began his musical career at the age of nine with his first instrument being the accordion. As a teenager he taught himself piano and guitar. As part of the Celtic Rock revolution of the mid seventies, his keyboards and synthesizers could be heard in several ensembles alongside Fiddle and Uilleann Pipes. Tony was also part of the Irish Showband and Cabaret scene and toured Ireland playing all genres of music. Tony is also a member of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and plays the accordion and piano with the Murphy Roche Irish Music Club. Tony won the solo piano competition at the Midwest Fleadh in 2001 and was runner-up in 2000. Tony also produced and engineered “The Banshee”.

GUEST ARTISTS:


Glen Pekin- Fiddle: Glen is a fine session player and musician from Chicago and has performed with several bands in the area. His fiddle style and entertaining personality earn him much respect and many free drinks.



Melody Geraci- Fiddle: Mel is also a member of the Murphy Roche Irish Music Club band and her fine playing graces the sessions at The Kerry Piper. She can be heard on Crabs in the Skillet and on the Murphy Roche band cuts.



Kell Chole- Flute: Besides being a fine flute and whistle player, Kell is chairperson of Murphy Roche Irish Music Club, which she founded, and is a driving force within the Comhaltas organization.


Chubby Nothin’ and the Bone-

Glenn Nelson (Lead guitar), Mike Wilhite (Bass guitar) and Luke Wilhite (Rhythm guitar) added CN’TB’s brand of hard driving and exciting rock to several cuts on “The Banshee”.