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“The Arrow & The Song”

A debut acoustic folk album

By

Jerome Taheny

 

This original work by Sligo based singer/songwriter Jerome Taheny features 6 original songs and 4 poems set to music. The songs are in a mellow folk style and demonstrate Jerome’s deep rich toned melodic voice and his unique acoustic finger-picking guitar accompaniment, complimented by a few sympathetic musicians and  backing singers. The title track is based on a Longfellow poem and sets out the aspirations of the singer – for his songs to find their way into the hearts of the listener.

 

Steve Wickham of The Waterboys has described the album as “enchanting” with “superb guitar playing and arrangements”. He goes on to say that it has “unusual chord changes and musical twists that kept me engaged”. He describes House as “wonderful and reminds me of Jacques Brel”. He compliments the lyrical honesty of the works, especially the closing track , Twinkle, a song written to encourage a friend in a difficult period of life.

 

The selected poems are rich lyrically and paint universal stories of life, loss, love and longing. The poetic works are from 2 old world and  2 modern day poets and balanced with his original songs, combine to give the album a rich, gentle and subtle feel, with an undertow of more serious life issues. The songs reflect on topics such as illness, MS, alcoholism, depression, and life’s decisive moments, often forced upon us and ways in which positivity can be harnessed in adversity.  The gentle approach lures the listener in to exploring the deeper issues in a musically comfortable space.

 

The album was recorded in Tony Maher’s Headford Studio and produced by Johnny Duhan.

Launch gigs are planned for later in the year and details will be posted on Jerome’s website: www.tontotaheny.com        e-mail: info@tontotaheny.com

 

For more information, promo requests, or to set up an interview, please contact Jerome on mobile: 087-7523522 or email: tontotaheny@hotmail.com

Jerome Taheny

is a self-taught guitar player from County Sligo in the west of Ireland who has nurtured a life long passion for music. Deeply influenced by the work of Irish songwriters like Johnny Duhan, Jimmy MacCarthy, Johnny McEvoy, Mick Hanley and Thom Moore, the seed of an oddessey into songwriting world was planted listening to their work. Having played alongside Donal McLynn in his establishment in Old Market Street, Sligo, to further his knowledge of music and performance, he developed his talent and went further afield to become a solo artist. A quality management career in manufacturing industry kept him from working on his music more fully until recent years.

 

A love of the Irish artists and  songwriters drew him to their performances and a fortituous meeting with one of his heroes of this world, Johnny Duhan; and he didn’t disappoint. After seeing Johnny perform an awesome show where only standing ovations were delivered after each half of the show, he contacted Johnny to compliment him on the performance. Johnny invited him to keep in touch. A friendship developed and a mutual friend Francis Kennedy, who had recorded a few of  Jerome’s songs, suggested he let Johnny hear the songs. Johnny took note and in a few months enough songs were evaluated to engender the idea for an album.

 

A few months serious work ensued and with Johnny’s help “The Arrow and The Song” was born. A mutual love of poetry, music, and the sacredness of word and melody, friendship and respect were combined with a few very unique professionals present in the maternity ward(sorry Tony- bad description of the studio), to witness the birth of these songs. The songs are rooted in life experience and friendships and special moments when the words of others sparked a marriage of melody and lyrical poetry.

 

Jerome is a self taught guitarist and he developed a fluid finger-picking style to embellish his accompaniment of his own songs. His influences in this sphere included Henry McCullough, Richard Thompson, and Liam Clancy’s performances amongst others. This style is used to great effect on the album and it is combined with unusual chordal changes to imbue the work with many vibrant shades of  musical colour in the soundscape.  The songs might be uneasy listening for those tackling the harder issues of life, but their purpose is to engender positivity and a  seeking of a better sense of enjoyment of the journey-song of life.

 

Album available on itunes,cdbaby and from Jerome’s website:

tontotaheny.com

e-mail: info@tontotaheny.com

 

Commendations on the songs:

 

“Enchanting.

 Love your lyrical honesty.

There is some beautiful music happening here too.

Superb guitar playing and arrangements.

Nice unusual chord changes and musical twists that kept me engaged.

House is wonderful and reminds me of Jacques Brel.

And I love the closing track “Twinkle”

 

Steve Wickham, (The Waterboys/ No Crows)

 

 

“Some very nice touches there. I am honoured you felt moved to use my words in this way”

David Wheatley, (Poet Author of Recklessness)

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“It’s a lovely song, so sweet to hear the passion in your voice and to have the story put to music. I am honoured that you made something more of the poem.”

Annie(Ana Ramana) Callan.(Poet Author of Copper)

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