Brian Dunning (flautist)

Brian Dunning (21 December 1951 – 10 February 2022) was an Irish flautist and composer,[1][2] largely known for being a member of the Celtic band Nightnoise.[3] He had both Celtic and jazz influences early on. He studied jazz and classical music, and was a student of James Galway.[4] He taught music for a short while at Ashlyns School in Berkhamstead, in the United Kingdom. He studied at the Berklee College of Music in 1977.[5]

Dunning played the flute and panpipe in Puck Fair, a primarily instrumental "Irish jazz" group formed in New York in 1984 that played traditional Irish songs and original compositions.[4][6] They released the album Fairplay on the Lost Lake Arts/Windham Hill label in 1987, with Dunning on flute and drummer Tommy Hayes on bodhran, joined by various musicians including Mícheál Ó Domhnaill.[7][8] The group was later reformed in Dublin with Dunning, guitarist Sean Whelan, and percussionist Robbie Harris, releasing the album Forgotten Carnival on their own label in 2008.[9] He collaborated with keyboardist Jeff Johnson since the late 1980s, recording several albums together, including Songs from Albion (1992), The Music of Celtic Legends – the Bard and the Warrior (1997), Byzantium (2000), and Patrick (2004).[10][11]

Brian was a member in the extraordinary band Nightnoise since 1987.

Dunning can be heard on the soundtrack to Gangs of New York, Windhorse, and The Outcasts.[12][13]

Dunning died on 10 February 2022, at the age of 70.[14]

See also

Selected discography

With Jeff Johnson and Wendy Goodwin

  • Under the Wonder Sky (2010)
  • Winterfold (2013)
  • If I Do Not Remember... (2016)
  • Kohelet (2020)
  • Coming, Going (2022)

References

  1. ^ "Brian Dunning". Self-published on LinkedIn. Archived from the original on 28 June 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  2. ^ Van Gelder, Lawrence (19 August 1999). "Footlights". The New York Times.
  3. ^ Harris, Craig. "Nightnoise". Allmusic. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  4. ^ a b Holden, Stephen (27 June 1986). "Pop/jazz; Irish music and dance in a 9-hour celebration". The New York Times.
  5. ^ World Music Central
  6. ^ Shepard, Richard F. (16 September 1985). "Going out guide". The New York Times.
  7. ^ Flaggert, Robert (29 September 1987). "Puck Fair". The Michigan Daily.
  8. ^ "Puck Fair". 95.1 WAPE. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  9. ^ Schilder, Eelco (March 2009). "Brian Dunning's Puck Fair "Forgotten Carnival"". FolkWorld. No. 38.
  10. ^ Dunphy, John P. "Jeff Johnson and Brian Dunning : Sons of Light". Music Tap.
  11. ^ Dunphy, John P. (6 October 2003). "Jeff Johnson & Brian Dunning: Patrick". Music Tap.
  12. ^ "Ark Music". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 16 August 2007.
  13. ^ "Brian Dunning". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2014. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  14. ^ Jazz musician Brian Dunning dies aged 70