Biography
The Poor Clares came together in New Orleans during 1993 and soon ranked among the South’s foremost Celtic ensembles. Their debut appearance that year at the Crescent City’s Jazz and Heritage Festival immediately distinguished the group and secured a contract with a major distributor. Later engagements featured a performance in the National Geographic Society’s distinguished series. Change of Habit, the 1997 Centaur Records release, became the label’s first departure from its classical catalog into world music territory.
Named after a Franciscan religious order, the band formed while its future members were appearing separately at O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub in the French Quarter. Their sound merged original folk songs with traditional Celtic material, adding New Orleans jazz, Cajun elements, and touches of gospel and Latin music. The roster included Betsy McGovern on guitar and vocals, Beth Patterson on bouzouki, oboe, percussion, keyboards, bass, and vocals, Justin Murphy on bodhran, whistle, and flute, and Patrick O’Flaherty on mandolin, button accordion, and vocals. After Patterson left to launch a solo career, the remaining musicians reorganized as Re Mor, Gaelic for “Big Easy.”
Named after a Franciscan religious order, the band formed while its future members were appearing separately at O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub in the French Quarter. Their sound merged original folk songs with traditional Celtic material, adding New Orleans jazz, Cajun elements, and touches of gospel and Latin music. The roster included Betsy McGovern on guitar and vocals, Beth Patterson on bouzouki, oboe, percussion, keyboards, bass, and vocals, Justin Murphy on bodhran, whistle, and flute, and Patrick O’Flaherty on mandolin, button accordion, and vocals. After Patterson left to launch a solo career, the remaining musicians reorganized as Re Mor, Gaelic for “Big Easy.”
Albums
