Port Righ (pronounced "Port Ree"*) is the Gaelic name for the town of Portree on Scotland's Isle of Skye. It is usually translated as "king's port" but may also be translated as "king's music." Since the Celtic harp and the bagpipes were both historically used to entertain kings, the name seems fitting for this unusual group.
* Or "porst ree" or "porsht ree", depending on the dialect...
Jo is internationally known for her evocative interpretation of Scottish and Irish music on the harp. Having spent two months in 2005 writing music, teaching, and performing on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, her knowledge and understanding of the Celtic genre puts her in great demand as performer, adjudicator, and teacher across the country. She was recently nominated for a 2008 WAMMIE (Washington Area Music Association Award) as Best Traditional Instrumentalist. Jo's music has been captured on her five critically-acclaimed recordings, ranging from solo harp favorites (By Request) to a multi-instrumental showcase of the music of Scotland (A Waulking Tour of Scotland.) Jo's most recent album, Flights of Fantasy, is a collection of all-original music. Jo has been described by music critic Pamela Murray Winters as having "the freshness and grace that first gave Celtic music its power"; and Chuck Lipsig from Green Man Review's Best of 2000 listings states, "Jo gets more out of the harp than should be possible."
In addition to playing the Highland bagpipe, Wayne also performs on the shuttle pipes, the Highland pipes' quieter cousin. He brings the sound of the mellow English concertina to the duo's instrumentation as well.
The duo has performed concerts at locations such as the Library of Congress, An Lanntair (Stornoway, Isle of Lewis), the Somerset Harp Festival, the Smithsonian, various Scottish Festivals around the United States and also in Scotland, Ireland, and Germany. Their commitment to a traditional style gives them a sound comfortable both in today's modern society and also fitting for Renaissance festivals, historic sites, and other re-creationist events. "Morrison is at ease with this authentic Celtic music, and lends to it a sense of honest exuberance I find refreshing." -- The Harp Column.
When not performing, Wayne and Jo share their knowledge and love of the
music with others as instructors at
Common Ground on the Hill,
a traditional music and arts center in Westminster, MD. They believe
strongly in the Common Ground conviction that we can come to a greater
understanding of other cultures through the sharing of music and arts.