THE Arts Council, after a fallow start to 2016 for Limerick Jazz Society with zero funding, trumped with a €10,000 grant for September’s Jazz Festival.
To John Daly, chairman of LJ and founder of Limerick Jazz Festival, this is some sweet music, all the more as it carries promise: “We achieved the highest grant available under the Strand through which we applied to the Arts Council. This makes us eligible to apply through Strand 2 next year which allows for a possible maximum grant of €20,000”. There’s hope.
The festival, opening out over four days from Thursday September 22 to Sunday 25 at multiple venues, really does bring bang for buck through Limerick.
Look forward to vocals by Norma Winstone, Dublin City Jazz Orchestra, David O’Rourke on guitar from New York, trombonist and big band leader Paul Dunlea, Atchere’s latin fusion sounds from The Canary Islands and Britain’s The Partisans.
Let John Daly begin the Beguine.
“This year we host the free jazz trail on Thursday September 22, going between four venues throughout the town. In Shannon Rowing Club we have Birgit Burhenne singing, backed by Rory Keane on guitar and the Mysterious Mister Valentine. The Royal George Boutique Hotel will host Jazz Manouche, a gypsy-jazz sound band, while in South’s you will here The Charms, singer Linda Galvin with Mossie O’Shea on sax.
“Dolan’s Bar hosts Jazzology, who are guitarist Ray Fitzgerald with myself on drums and Peter Hanagan on bass”.
“Our dearest ticket is for Friday 23 at the Belltable, at €25. Everything else is only €15 which makes these concerts possible for everyone,” he reminds us. “On that night we present Dublin City Jazz Orchestra with Norma Winstone, the best jazz vocalist in Britain today, and Claire Daly on baritone sax”.
The Partisans will knock out the late gig in Dolan’s Upstairs, winding up around midnight at what is essentially the festival club venue.
Rolling into Saturday September 24 daylight, there will be music on the streets and workshops with artist in residence David O’Rourke at The Hunt Museum “and perhaps an impromptu gig with Norma Winstone”. O’Rourke’s Band will play Dolan’s Upstairs that night at 8pm, followed by Atchere at 10.30pm.
Sunday 25 will be one long, happening, rock’nroll wrap party that begins in Dolan’s Warehouse at an 2.30pm. Come along for the Limerick Improv Little Big Band of 10 musicians with founder Ed Hansom on saxophone, all led by Bryan Meehan.
“Then we have the guitar masters, David O’Rourke, Joe O’Callaghan, Hugh Buckley and Derry’s Tommy Halferty under one roof which is really exceptional, with myself and Peter Hanagan as the rhythm section. Finally we end with Atchere from the Canaries and mainland Spain who do a latin and jazz fusion, really cool stuff that will bring out the salsa and zumba dancers”.
A happy, happy day.
More on www.limerickjazzfestival.com.
