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 Brendan Power is a New Zealander who has developed a considerable reputation for his concert
and recording work featuring the harmonica. Equally at ease on both the earthy Blues Harp as
well as the sophisticated Chromatic Harmonica, he employs his own custom tunings to breathe
fresh life into an often typecast instrument - especially in his original compositions, which
feature on several of the instrumental CDs he has released to date.
Since arriving to live in London in 1992, Brendan's innovative approach has earned him some
notable achievements in a variety of musical fields. He has recorded with classical guitarist John
Williams and flautist James Galway, and in the popular music world has played on tracks by
Paul Young, Shirley Bassey, Mary Black, the French orchestral composer Paul
Mauriat, Van Morrison, and Sting; he has also guested with Sting's band in several TV appearances.
However, it is in the Irish/Celtic music scene that Brendan has become best known; he is of
Irish extraction, and playing traditional music on the harmonica is one of his passions. He won
the 1993 All Ireland Title in the 'Miscellaneous Instruments' category, and subsequently
recorded a CD entitled New Irish Harmonica. Its fresh approach virtually redefined the role of
the harmonica in traditional Irish music, and the album won considerable critical praise: Folk
Roots magazine picked it as one of their top albums of 1994, Rock n' Reel called it "...simply
superb...probably the best instrumental album this year", while the Irish Times described Power
as a "master player" and the album as "electrifying". New Irish Harmonica is licensed
worldwide by the American label Green Linnet.
Its success has led to some prestigious recording and performing work with top Irish
musicians, including extensive guest appearances on albums by Altan, Arty McGlynn & Nollaig Casey,
Arcadie, and a track by Paul Brady on a recent crossover compilation album entitled Common
Ground featuring major Irish artists, produced by Donal Lunny and released by EMI. Brendan
composed the soundtrack for the acclaimed Irish feature film Guiltrip (his album Blow In
contains music from the movie). He’s also composed music for several radio plays in Ireland
and NZ.
His playing was featured in a BBC/RTE television series on the future of Irish music
called A River of Sound, and the Celtic music programs SULT (Irish) and TAKSI (Scottish). From 1996-99
Brendan toured Europe, Australia and New Zealand as a member and featured soloist of the
orchestra for the hit Irish dance show Riverdance. He is now a free agent again, and has been
busy completing an album of original tunes, a blues duo album with Dave Peabody, a
collaboration album in Bulgaria with Georgi Petrov and local folk musicians, the debut album of
the innovative harmonica group Iron Lung, and Live In Ireland, recorded on tour in Feb 2000
with guitarist Andrew White.
Along with playing and recording, Brendan is particularly interested in harmonica tuning and
construction, and has developed a number of innovations in these areas. One of his ideas (the
Power Reed Valve System), was adopted by the Suzuki Musical Instrument Co. of Japan, who
incorporated it in their top-of-the-line ProMaster harmonica.
"In Power are combined all the elements which make for a master player: remarkable
technical skill, deep knowledge of the instrument, and a truly creative approach to the music.
THE IRISH TIMES, Dublin.
"...Power plays both diatonic and chromatic single-reed harmonicas with extraordinary
dexterity, at times enough to make you shake your head in wonder. He will harp blow your
socks off." THE IRISH ECHO, New York.
"...dynamite Kiwi harp player...magic harmonica..." TIME OUT, London.
"Power's dexterity is breathtaking...he takes the harmonica along paths you never suspected
it could go. World class and wide ranging music. NEW ZEALAND HERALD, Auckland.
"Brendan Power reaches astonishing heights of technical brilliance..." the GUARDIAN,
London.
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