A JOLLY room gathered on the waterside at Clarion Hotel to hear Limerick Jazz Festival’s programme for its 30th anniversary festival, running September 28-30. Jazz authority Brian Priestly was guest of honour along with Minister Jan O’Sullivan and cllr. Tom Shortt; sponsors Eoghan Prendergast and John Crowe of Shannon Development attended with Mick and Valerie Dolan; travel agent Hugh Lilburn, committee helpful Gary Kirby, promoter Tony Bradley and festival facilitators Laura Ryan and Evelyn Hartigan from City Communications Office.
Peter Hanagan on bass and Bryan Meehan on keyboard stoked the tempo while a series of speakers informed us of a three day schedule that mixed Limerick Youth New Orleans Marching Band through the streets with free gigs in pubs, Education Outreach workshops, Tony Rodger’s portrait photography in Roches Street and the thrill of international acts such as Liane Carroll’s Trio.
MC for the evening, Limerick Jazz Society’s Ed Hansom paraphrased a Sunday Tribune tribute to this city’s excellent tradition of jazz: “Limerick is one of those places that punches seriously above its weight. We have a scene that is getting stronger and stronger and we are one of the agents in that”.
Minister O’Sullivan congratulated the society, of whom her husband Paul is a member, on reaching its 30th birthday with a festival, “for all the terrific music it has brought to Limerick. Every known international jazz figure has been brought to Limerick because of Limerick Jazz… This festival is a culmination of the work done over the years and that’s a huge amount of work”.
She had warm praise for the committee, especially chairperson John Daly – “an absolute linchpin for jazz over so many years”.
You can refer to website www.limerickjazzfestival.com for tickets throughout September 28-30 days and nights that platform Black Magic Big Band in Pery’s Hotel; Joe Locke/ Geoffrey Keezer Group in Lime Tree Theatre; Liane Carroll in Dolan’s Warehouse; Crisis Point in Belltable Art Centre; The Blue Monk Quartet in Limerick City Gallery of Art.
