Soul Driven- eight piece groove masters, Soul Driven have been kicking down venue doors all over the country with their hard-hitting, brass infused mixture of soul, funk, jazz and blues. Whether at the Waterford Spraoi Festival, Guinness Jazz Festival, or Dun Laoghaire Festival of World Cultures, the band has yet to fail in their mission to groove audiences with original arrangements of classic tunes and sheer musical virtuosity.
The beat and groove of Soul Driven is in the hands of two UCC music school graduates, David Duffy and Davey Ryan. Both exceptionally talented musicians in their own right, together they create rock solid, yet playful beats inspired by their backgrounds in jazz, funk and R&B.
Roberto Carrazza and Emanuele Armaforte, both from Italy, moved to Cork with considersble musical experience. Roberto’s jazz and classical training and Emanuele’s jazz/bossa nova background have had a great influence on the bands improvisational approach, while also adding some Italian style. The band is joined by Niamh O’ Sullivan providing honest and dynamic vocals as she lends voice and verse to the Soul of Soul Driven.
Niamh O’ Sullivan, vocals
Niamh O’Sullivan began her musical education at an early age learning piano, fiddle and guitar in her homeland of West Cork. Her singing career began over ten years ago performing in youth choirs, competitions and bands in Cork city and county. Orignally self taught as a singer, Niamh decided to pursue this passion in a more structured way by studying in University College Cork School of Music. In 2003 she received the coveted Donal “Doc” Gleeson Award for demonstrating exceptional performance ability. She went on to graduate with a first class honours degree in 2005 majoring in vocal performance. During her time in UCC she partook in many musical societies and events such as the UCC Trad and Celtfest where she played support to local acts such as John Spillane. Since leaving college Niamh has diversified fully into the realm of pop and soul where she has excelled, entertaining the masses with a variety of groups until finding her musical and spiritual home with SoulDriven in 2010.
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Paul Dunlea, Trombone: Cork
Paul started playing the trombone with the Barrack Street band a local concert band in Cork. Then joined the Defence Forces School of Music where he has have been working as principle trombone player in the Band of the First Southern Brigade in Cork. During this time he has toured with the band to Canada, England, Belgium, and France. Paul has become one of the most in demand trombone players in the country playing with big bands and jazz combos including the Cork City Jazz Band, Dublin City Jazz Orchestra , Hothouse Bigband (Dublin),Opus Pocus Big Band Waterford, The Bones of Cork, Paul has also played with original artists including Fred, Frank and Walters, Mick Flannery and Avatar
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Emanuele Armaforte, guitar: Palermo
Emanuele began studying classical guitar at the age of nine. He discovered a passion for Bossa Nova at the age of eighteen, which sealed his fate as a musician. Studying in Cesena’s School of Jazz, Emanuele played in many Bossa Nova/Swing bands. He moved to Cork about a year ago, where he has quickly developed a reputation for his smooth Italian playing, as well as charm.
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Roberto Carrazza, keys: Umbria
Roberto Carrazza, another native of Italy, plays piano and keyboards for the group. After studying classical music for ten years in the conservatory of music in Perugia he turned his attention towards jazz music studying for one year with Ramberto Ciammarughi, one of the most relevant pianist on the italian jazz scene. Roberto played with several fusion/jazz and pop bands.Since he moved to Cork he increased his experience playing with musicians from many differents countries…Ciaooo!!!
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David Duffy, double & electric basses: Waterford
David is a Waterford-born musician based in Cork. An unaccomplished guitar player at age twelve, David decided to take the easy option and play bass. At age sixteen he began playing double bass and with this joined the De La Salle traditional Irish ensemble and the W.I.T orchestra. Since coming to Cork, David has played in many bands in events from the Dun Laoirghe International Music festival, the Dublin Docklands Festival, Guinness International Jazz Festival, and the Cork Midsummer Festival. David graduated in 2006 from University College Cork with BA and BMus honours degrees. Through his four years of college, David performed with international jazz musicians such as Gerard Presenger, Richie Buckley, Conor Guilfoyle. Since graduating David has persued his performance career and has recently finished recording an album with Eoin and Micháel Ó Súilleabháin alongside musicians such as Ken Edge and Noel Eccles. David continues to be an active part of the Cork music scene.
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David Ryan, drums: Cashel
The top of the ’07 UCC music class, Davey has already received international recognition for his impeccable groove. He has recently been racking up experience playing with Irish alternative rock group Jodavino, having spent the month of May recording with the band in Nashville.
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