Martin’s Tyre Isle Band
Created by James Martin, the band plays the traditional dance tunes and ballads from Ireland, Scotland, England and the Hebrides. With Tatyana Gorbunova on flute, the internationally celebrated accordionist Will Holshouser, and Mr. Martin on mandolin, guitar, mandocello, banjo and vocals, the Trye Isle Band reimagines the dance tunes, ballads and Irish Sean-nós tradition of the British Isles. Delving deeply into the original melodies and rhythms of the varied and massive musical tradition of the British Isles, Trye Isle adds to the living repertoire with music they compose in the beloved tradition.
The band continues Mr. Martin’s work touring the US and Canada with the earlier critically acclaimed traditional British isles band called How to Change a Flat Tire. Mr. Martin’s discography includes “A Point of Departure” and “The Traditional Music of Shetland and Ireland” on Front Hall Records.
In addition to playing concerts, the band gives musical and historical presentations about traditional British Isles music to schools, school bands and orchestras. Lecturing on the history of the music, instruments, musicians, and lore both in the British Isles and America, the band gives an overview of how different regions of traditional music cross pollinate both here and across the Atlantic.
Meet the Band Members
James Martin
An accomplished dancer, choreographer and filmmaker as well as musician, Mr. Martin was Associate Arts Professor at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts Dance Department and taught there from 1989--2023. In 2020 he won the New York University Tisch School of the Arts David Payne Carter Award for Teaching Excellence.
He has taught at schools and festivals throughout the world including the Mark Morris Monnaie Dance Group in Brussels, the Ballet Academy of Stockholm, the Dansen Hus in Copenhagen, the Université du Québec à Montréal, the Bat Dor School in Tel Aviv, the National Institute of the Arts in Taiwan, the American Dance Festival, The Juilliard School, Princeton University, Wesleyan University, Tulane University, James Madison University, Spectrum Dance School, Seattle and the White Mountain Dance Festival.
He has danced with Donald Byrd/The Group, Gus Solomons jr, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane and Company, Claire Porter, Jamie Cunningham and Tina Croll, Heidi Latsky, The New York Baroque Dance Company and The Connecticut Ballet Company among others.
Tatyana Gorbunova
Tatyana Gorbunova is a musician & interdisciplinary artist. Recent work includes playing in the band for a stage adaptation of Rime of the Ancient Mariner and multiple roles in Story Winks - modern adaptations of fairy tales (Ophelia Theater Group).
When not playing the flute or acting on stage, she teaches Culinary Arts at a Montessori school and curates the vinyl collection at her record shop, Pancakes Records, in Astoria, NY.
Will Holshouser
Will Holshouser is an accordionist, composer and improviser whose music draws on a wide variety of inspirations, from traditional accordion folk styles to jazz, hymns, classical and experimental music. Will’s music explores these eclectic influences through the accordion’s expressiveness and sense of fun.
Originally from Cambridge, MA and active on the New York music scene since the 1990s, Will has toured and recorded with violinist Regina Carter, trumpeter Eric Vloeimans, and clarinetist David Krakauer, as well as with his own groups. Will's trio has released three albums on the Portuguese label Clean Feed and he has made collaborative albums with Musette Explosion and with Han Bennink & Michael Moore.
Will has also performed with Michael Winograd, Guy Klucevsek, Andy Statman, Mark Morris Dance, Antony & the Johnsons, Suzanne Vega, Loudon Wainwright III, Martha Wainwright, New York City Ballet, New York City Opera, Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra, and many others.