by Rose Rushe
LIMERICK Jazz strums on with a busy Spring 2015 season this Wednesday 22. Tommy Halferty pays a return visit with his trio to Dolan’s Upstairs, this incredible guitarist here with this latest project. Count in Dave Redmond on double bass and Kevin Brady on drums, each of these boys being touring and recording artists internationally and on board to perform Halferty’s “exciting and energetic new original compositions”.
Expect this Wednesday night to feature “a blend of improvised music, swing, rock and blues,” John Daly of Limerick Jazz opines. “The trio has proven to be a well integrated ensemble and is one of the most successful groups in Ireland. They will be performing music from their latest studio recording entitled ‘Burkina’ and new arrangements of jazz standards”.
Stars with whom the Derry man has worked since the early 1980s include Czech double bass player George Mraz; they recorded jazz and blues together for RTE. Halferty went on to give workshops at Cork Jazz Festival and play with American sax player Lee Konitz, and later, the French pianist Marital Solal.
Stephane Grappelli is on his list of greats also, as is English guitarist John Etheridge.
Reader, in truth there is no stop to the ‘tick list’ of names over the years so come along to Dolan’s this Wednesday and absorb some of this musicality, genius and friendship. Doors 8.30pm; €10 only.
