Cora Venus Lunny & Izumi Kimura

The Sofa Sessions is proud to present the innovative improvising duo of Japanese pianist Izumi Kimura and Irish violinist Cora Venus Lunny.

9pm / No Cover Charge / Donations welcome

Izumi Kimura - piano
Cora Venus Lunny - violin/viola

“…a journey of constant revelations, the two musicians embracing space and silence as tools to frame their dialogue…Kimura and Lunny’s riveting improvisations heightened the senses and stirred the blood, the emotional energy of their music fairly animating the crowd.”

All About Jazz

“one of the Irish scene’s most intriguing duos…the empathy between the pair is astounding, and the breadth of the exploration a delight”

Irish Examiner

Cora Venus Lunny is a freelance improvising violinist, violist, vocalist and composer with a strong classical background and extensive experience in contemporary classical, improvised, recorded and folk musics.

A violinist since early childhood, who has performed around the world as a soloist and chamber musician before specialising in contemporary music, Cora has been exploring improvisation and composition for many years. After releasing 1943, a self-produced EP of covers and originals, Cora’s 2nd album, Terminus Conscientiae, part of Diatribe’s Solo Series, was a spontaneously composed response to Bartok’s sonata for solo violin, “as much an exercise in textures and transposition as it is a display of safety net-free high-wire virtuosity“ (JMI) “ Fans of Bartók, contemporary string adventures and improvised music will find much to appreciate in Lunny’s highly personal, soul-searching endeavor” (allaboutjazz.com)

Since this time, free improvisation has become a very strong focus for Cora, having performed in various combinations with Izumi Kimura, Colm O’Hara, Cathal Roche, Rob Casey, David Lacey in this capacity.

As a member of Yurodny, Cora has also written for them, and with Kate Ellis, was commissioned in 2016 to write a piece for Common Ground, relating to the 1916 commemorations.

Cora’s latest music can be found at trancebranches.bandcamp.com and patreon.com/trancebranches

Japanese born, Irish resident Izumi Kimura has performed extensively throughout the country and abroad. She has worked with some of the leading performers and ensembles in Ireland and beyond from both disciplines of classical and jazz, including RTE Symphony Orchestra, RTE Concert Orchestra, Crash Ensemble, Michael D’arcy, Ioana Petcu-Colan, Ken Edge, Benjamin Dwyer, Cora Venus Lunny, and many more from the world of classical music, and with jazz and improvising musicians including, Barry Guy, Gerry Hemingway, Tommy Halferty, Ronan Guilfoyle, Michael Buckley, Joe O’Callaghan, Oki Itaru, Dominique Pifarély, Benoít Delbecq, Stéphane Payen, Sarah Buechi, and many more.

She has premiered many works including music especially written for her. Composers she worked with include Gerald Barry, Ronan Guilfoyle, John Buckley, Benjamin Dwyer, Kevin O’Connell, Ian Wilson, Greg Caffrey, Fergus Johnston and many others. She has performed at many festivals in Ireland and abroad including RTE Living Music Festival, Boyle Arts Festival, Dublin Dance Festival, Dublin Fringe Festival, Bray Jazz Festival, Galway Jazz Festival, Engage Bandon Arts Festival, Kilkenny Arts Festival, SPECTRUM festival, Music Current Festival, Ghent Street Festival of New Music, Music 21’s ‘Brazil Now’, ‘Artes Da Irlanda’ in Sao Paolo, and Creative Connexions in Sitges.

Izumi has been developing both solo and group works as an improviser. Her current projects are trio with Barry Guy and Gerry Hemingway, duos with Cora Venus Lunny, Tommy Halferty, Marco Colonna, and other wonderful artists.

Izumi Kimura’s Website - https://izumikimura.com/

Location of event - Get Directions

Venue Information - Billy Byrnes

Billy Byrnes is a family run tradional Irish bar and first opened its doors in 1954. We are centrally located in Kilkenny City, just around the corner from the train and bus station.