Dannsair has achieved a depth and clarity in Irish music few expect from these centuries-old tunes. By combining jazz, classical and traditional Irish sensibilities they push the envelope of the sound into completely new territory. The orchestrated arrangements, emotional fiddle & flute playing along with the percussion and occasional bass bring a complete and essential sound to this traditional folk music.

Kristen Madler
Kristen began classical violin studies with Edward Kreitman at the Western Springs School of Talent Education at the age of eight and later studied with Thomas Wermuth. She has toured extensively throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and Europe with the prestigious Chicago Consort. In college, she continued her studies with Carol Dallinger at the University of Evansville. Kristen began playing Irish music after moving to Santa Barbara in 2002. She continues to be inspired and enriched by the traditional Celtic Melodies. She has performed with Dannsair, Reel On The Ha'Penny, The Chieftains and Carlos Nunez.

Dannsair started years ago through the original Reel On The Ha'Penny sessions at Dargan's Irish Pub. People slowly started gravitating to the music and didn't leave. Russ was performing guitar with his daughter Siobhan on flute and doing the traditional dances. Kristen was doing a classical violinist gig with the City College Orchestra. Karl showed up from Rae Johnson's fiddle circle. Jon Pollay came along from the previous blues band he & Russ had been in. Emily joined up from the Master's program at the University of Califormia. Suzanne Duffy sat in a couple times and played some of the more formal performances. Dannsair currently can be seen live two nights a week: Sundays at the James Joyce and Thursdays at Dargan’s Irish Pub, both located in old town Santa Barbara’s thriving club scene.

Emily Noble

The scene is reminiscent of Austin’s 6th Street musical wonderland. A ten block smorgasbord of sounds: Jazz, Irish, Pop, Blues, Tango, Reggae, Disco, Martini Piano Lounge, Retro 80’s Hair Bands, R & B, Dixieland, Salsa, Old Time, Zydeco, Heavy Metal Tribute Bands, Hip Hop, Nouveau Flamenco, Singer/Songwriter Showcases. It’s all there; over 40 clubs right on-and-off State Street, from Velvet Jones in the 400 block to Café Buenos Aires in the 1300’s.

Suzanne Duffy

Flutist SUZANNE DUFFY regularly performs with the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra and the Opera Santa Barbara Orchestra. She also performs in Florida with the Palm Beach Symphony and the Palm Beach Opera orchestra. Suzanne collaborates with classical guitarist James Edwards as Duo Solaré, and is a founding member of The Aurora Ensemble, an ensemble comprised of flute, viola, and cello.

A four-season member of the Miami-based New World Symphony, under the
direction of Michael Tilson Thomas, Suzanne has also participated in such
festivals as the Music Academy of the West, the Festival-Institute at Round
Top (TX) and the Conservatoire-Americaine at Fontainbleau, France. She has performed with the Santa Barbara Symphony, the Florida Philharmonic, the Indianapolis Symphony and at the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival.

Her teaching positions have included Associate Instructor at Indiana
University, Teaching Assistant at SUNY-Stony Brook, and Visiting Faculty at
Indiana State University, Terre Haute.

She has performed with The Chieftains and is tickled to now be performing collectively with DANNSAIR.

Karl Burrelsman

Over the years, Russ has played plenty of them, including some clubs under three or four different owners and names. Zelo’s, SOhO, Roy, Head of the Wolf, Gallagher’s, Rocky Galenti’s, The Blue Shark Bistro, Andria’s, State & A, just to name a few. The week this is being written one club alone, SOhO, has Allison Browne playing bluegrass one night, Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra playing Flamenco the next and Glenn Phillips from Toad the Wet Sprocket doing his alt-acoustic set the following night. Michael Jordan comes to town every summer and tends bar at O’Malley’s to raise money for his underprivileged kid’s basketball camp at the nearby University of California. It’s a vibrant scene that has spawned all sorts of musical styles, bands, and solo acts.

Irish music hasn’t been slighted. Dannsair, Reel On The Ha’Penny, Foggy Dew, Teresa McGetttigan, Kitchen Junket, Salt On The Rug, Lorin Grean, Mary Murphy, Queen Mab, etc., all gig around town on a regular basis.

Members of the band have performed with The Chieftains, Natalie McMaster, Pat Broderick, Matt Molloy, Mick Coneeley, Gilles Apap, and most of the Irish musicians in Santa Barbara.