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"bohola
is an acoustic power trio for the new century, a group whose
instrumental virtuosity, strong vocals and stunning arrangements place them
at the leading edge of today's traditional music scene. Their new Shanachie
disc is one of the most impressive debut recordings ever made by an Irish
traditional music group in America." Don Meade - The Irish Voice
bohola, a band forged in Chicago by
three of Irish Music’s most innovative musicians, Jimmy Keane, Sean Cleland and Pat Broaders,
play a driving, muscular, and yet emotive style of Irish Music with deep roots in the “pure
drop” tradition, melded with the raw and gritty urbanized musical vernacular of the
Irish-American experience. With each regarded as the tops in his field, this combination
provides a powerful, rich and distinctive sound that is coupled with a dynamic and energetic
presence - the sum of which is bohola.
Each musician has an extensive
background in Traditional Irish Music, learning at the hands of some of the finest exponents
of Traditional Irish Music in Chicago and Ireland, with a cumulative playing knowledge of
over 95 years. Although formed in late 1999, the members of the group have known each other
for many years. What began as musical kinship has emerged as bohola.
Jimmy Keane (accordion), born in
London of Irish-speaking parents, immigrated to Chicago from Ireland with his family in the
early 1960’s. His late father James, was a sean-nos (old style) singer who actively encouraged
Jimmy to take up traditional music. In his early teens he began playing music with his Chicago
contemporaries, fiddler Liz Carroll, and flute-player and stepdancer, Michael Flatley.
Jimmy has achieved astonishing and unprecedented success in competitive playing by winning
five consecutive All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil’s on the piano accordion and is regarded by many
as the instrument’s finest exponent. Jimmy has recorded and toured extensively with such
luminaries as Mick Moloney, Seamus Egan, Eileen Ivers, Robbie O’Connell, Liz Carroll and
Dennis Cahill. He has produced numerous recordings and is an arranger and composer of music,
of which many of his compositions have become part of the mainstream in Irish Music around
the world.
Sean Cleland (fiddle), born
in Milwaukee of Irish-American parents was raised in Chicago. He began studying classical
music at the age of seven and briefly studied with fiddler Liz Carroll in the 1970’s. Sean
has won numerous Midwest and North American Fleadh Cheoil’s Titles on the fiddle. In 1989,
Sean founded the alternative Irish/Celtic rock group The Drovers, recorded, and toured
extensively with them until 1999. He has appeared and performed in two major motion pictures:
Backdraft (1991) and Blink (1994), and currently is the premier teacher of Traditional Irish
Music in Chicago.
Pat Broaders (dordan, vocals),
was born in Dublin of parents from County Wexford, Ireland and immigrated to the United States
in the early 1990’s settling in Chicago. Pat began studying Irish Music at the age of twelve
and studied bouzouki briefly with Bothy Band co-founder Donal Lunny. While in Ireland, Pat
began singing and performing with a series of groups including In Tua Nua, Cry Before Dawn,
and An Beal Bocht, who toured with The Chieftains. He also appeared on the RTE television
program, “Night Hawks.” He has performed and recorded with a variety of musicians and groups
including Aengus, Liz Carroll, Martin Hayes, Larry Nugent, John Williams and The
Drovers.
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