简介：IfyougrewupintheshadowofDublin'sfamedPipers'Club,asJoeMcKennadid,youwouldlearnearlyonwhatmakesatoppiper.Asayoungman,McKennaprovedhecouldplaythepipeslikethedevil,winningtwoAllIrelandChampionships.Anexperiencedinstrumentmaker,McKennaonedaydecidedtobranchout,andbuilthimselfalowwhistle—usingducttapetoconnectalengthofbrasstubingwithamouthpiecehepurchasedfromaLondonjunkdealer.Itdidn'ttakelongforMcKenna'sreputationasawhistleplayertogrowalmostaslargeashisreputationasapiper.JoeMcKennafrequentlyplayswithandtourswithhiswife,harperAntoinetteMcKenna,andhissisterinlaw,tinwhistleplayerMaryBergin.Heisalsohighlyregardedasabuilderofuilleannpipes.FromadistinguishedpipingfamilyinDublin’sLiberties,JoeMcKennatooklessonsfromoneofthegreatestpipers,LeoRowesome(19031970),atthePipers’ClubonThomasStreet.JoewasalsoinfluencedbytheplayingofWillieClancy,JohnnyDoranandPatsyTuohy,andhedevelopednotonlyabrillianttechniqueonthechanterandregulators,butalsotheabilitytodesignandmakehisownuilleannpipes.Aswellasbeingamasteruilleannpiper,Joeisanaccomplishedtinwhistleplayer,talentedbuttonaccordionist,pianist,singerandcomposerandapioneerofthelowwhistle.In2001Joereleased‘TheIrishLowWhistle’,asoloalbumshowingyetanothersideofhismusicianship.Withhiswife,harper/singerAntoinette,Joerecordedfourstudioalbums,plusa“Bestof”compilationin1997,andtheyalsomake‘TheOpenDoor’withtheirbandSluaNuain1993.ThatsameyearJoereceivedthe“NewIrishMusicComposeroftheYear”AwardfromIMROandreceivedanArtistinResidencetoworkoncompositionwithagroupofstudentsinasecondaryschoolinBray.JoecontinueswithatightschedulerunningShanachieRecordshereinIreland,touringworldwide,performinginschoolsandcommunitycare,givingworkshopsandmasterclasses,producedalbums(includingDanú)andtourswithAntoinetteMcKennaandhersister,tinwhistlevirtuosoMaryBergin.