Irish music is kind of like chocolate. It goes with almost everything.
The proof lies in the Crossroads Concerts series at the New York Irish Center in Long Island City.
This ongoing program mixes traditional folk music from the Emerald Isle with genres from other countries and cultures. Each periodical performance features a line-up of Irish talent – consider it a house band – with visiting virtuosos from around the world.
The next gig is Irish & Indian Fusion on Thursday, Feb. 27, at 7 pm.
Sameer Gupta, who co-founded the Brooklyn Raga Massive, will play the tabla, while Jay Gandhi, a disciple of the world-renowned Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, takes care of the bansuri, a side-blown bamboo flute with seven finger holes. They’ll jam with Jerry O’Sullivan (Uilleann pipes, tin whistle), Dylan James (fiddle, banjo), and Colin Harte (piano, bodhrán drum, voice).
Shows, which cost $28.52, are on Thursdays at 7 pm. Here’s the rest of the schedule.
March 27: Irish & West African Fusion
Ghanaian drum ensemble Ekome Femo leads a hand-clapping, foot-stomping show with James and Harte.
April 24: Irish & Bulgarian Fusion
Balkan percussionist Jerry Kisslinger and gaida/kaval player Lubomir Smilenov share the stage with O’Sullivan, Sean Tierney (flute, tin whistle), and Harte.
May 29: Irish & Brazilian Samba
Award-winning composer Dana Monteiro and the Harlem Samba School do their thing.
June 12: Irish & Arab Fusion
The Egyptian Golden Age music-and-dance ensemble Zikrayat features Flushing Town Hall Deputy Director Sami Abu Shumays (violin, vocals), Johnny Farraj (riqq, ’ud, vocals), and Nezih Antakli (percussion). They’ll play with Tierney, O’Sullivan, and Harte.
The New York Irish Center is at 10-40 Jackson Ave., about two blocks from the Vernon Blvd-Jackson Av station on the 7 train.
Images: New York Irish Center