Band Reviews
"Ivers bridges the gap between her celtic roots and styles ranging from jazz, salsa and flamenco to rock funk and even electronica … a sensation." - Billboard Magazine
"The Eileen Ivers Band rocked the house everywhere it played. …A beautifully inventive fiddler …Her playing a tradition-rich yet adventurous, spiced with world, jazz and pop." - Scott Alarik, The Boston Globe
"If New York is a melting pot, this band is turning up the heat." - Tom Nelligan, DirtyLinen Magazine
"At the center of everything, providing both musical energy and a style that constantly pressed against the limits of traditionalism, was the brilliant fiddler, Eileen Ivers. Her Originality and rhythmic swing well provide the bridge Irish music needs to break through to a mainstream audience. …No wonder the audience loved every minute." - Don Heckman, The Los Angeles Times
"Ivers plays with such genius that she surpasses genre. It was an invigorating, highly energetic evening." - Nancy Stetson, Naples Daily News
"Nobody does it better than Eileen Ivers. Not only does the orchestra savor her musicianship and professionalism, but, she never misses to bring a pops audience to its feet with thunderous ovations." - Marvin Hamlisch, National Symphony and Pittsburgh Symphony Pops Conductor
"The Eileen Ivers Band electrified a familiar repertory, merging the Celtic and African diasporas...she made her instrument sound like Jimi Hendrix's guitar." -Neil Strauss, The New York Times
"She electrifies the crowd with a dazzling show of virtuoso playing …then she focuses her attention outwards to the audience, who shout and cheer and answer her calls in a deafening chorus." - Mary O'Malley, The Irish Times
"Throughout the evening the audience …joined in clapping and singing. Ivers and her band received three standing ovations." - J. M. Lacey, Piscataquis Observer
"Do not miss them - people will be talking about this band for years to come. A six piece unit that marinades traditional Irish music and African, Caribbean and other deeply rhythmic beats."- David Perry, Lowell, MA - The Sun
Symphony Reviews
"Nobody does it better than Eileen Ivers. Not only does the orchestra savor her musicianship and professionalism, but, she never misses to bring a pops audience to its feet with thunderous ovations."
- Marvin Hamlisch, National Symphony and Pittsburgh Symphony Principal Pops Conductor
Eileen Ivers gave one of the most exciting Pops concerts for the Portland Symphony Orchestra. The audience, the orchestra players and I were glued to her breathless virtuoso fiddle performance. Eileen's ensemble, 'Immigrant Soul', gave equally high caliber playing. There were long and loud standing ovations throughout the concert. At the end, the audience refused to let the musicians go off the stage. We will definitely bring her back The message to other symphony orchestras: You must bring Eileen Ivers to your community!"
- Toshiyuki Shimada, Music Director and Conductor, Portland Symphony Orchestra
"...the music that had the capacity audience leaping to its feet and clapping in unison was Ivers's incredible fiddling. ...Ivers plays two violins, a standard acoustic one and another that is electrified. She may be the world's fastest fiddler, and she used this skill effectively, but she also is a versatile musician, at home in a variety of idioms and alert to the links between the popular music of Ireland and America. ...Still, Irish music is Ivers's specialty and she performs it with panache, solo or in ensemble, in the spotlight or in accompaniment."
- Joseph McLellan, The Washington Post
"Eileen Ivers is one of the most exciting performers on the World Music scene today. She has performed with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops at Symphony Hall, at Tanglewood, on our RCA Victor CD 'THE CELTIC ALBUM' and on our EVENING AT POPS TV series. Audiences and orchestras alike love her. Having her on your Pops series is a guaranteed grand slam! Don't miss out!" - Dennis Alves, Director of Artistic Programming, Boston Pops
"This letter is in praise of the performance and program presented by fiddler Eileen Ivers and her ensemble with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. She is an immensely talented artist, a great performer and engaging entertainer. The musicians in her ensemble were terrific. The orchestral arrangements were musically interesting and well-crafted. Both concerts here earned and were given standing ovations by the capacity audiences. Her orchestral program debut with us was a great success I highly recommend Eileen Ivers for symphony orchestra concerts." - Rudi Schlegel, Director, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra