ALREADY planning for major 40th anniversary celebrations in 2021, Limerick Jazz has pulled together a Spring season of international acts, and set the Festival programme for September this year.
Chairman John Daly, percussion player extraordinaire, is delighted with their string of music makers booked for Dolan’s into May. From album tours to Ireland tours, there’s plenty of fizz in the mix.
In date order for these monthly performances, look ahead to the following.
“We are beginning in February with a piano player who is a Cork man who has been living in London for the past 25 years,” John says. “John Donegan was working in banking but is a very fine pianist. He has just released an album called ‘Kite for Kate’ – Kate is one of his daughters. It is a whole album of original tunes, all his own stuff.
“He is coming to Ireland on February 27 and is playing in Dublin, then Limerick on Thursday 28 and Belfast on the 29th.” Various choice artists will join his trio in each city.
“Linley Hamilton, the sax, clarinet player of note, has built a new house in Belfast with his good wife Maggie Doyle – and it has a 40 seater music auditorium. It’s called Maggie’s Farm and the gig will take place there, with Linley and myself and Don Bodwell on bass. Now that is going to be exciting.”
Gigs around the country with Cork and Galway factored in will feature musicians such as Paul Dunlea and Matt Berrill joining the essential unit of John Donegan, John Daly and Don Bodwell.
“On March 12 we have former members of Steely Dan, Jon Herington on guitar and Jim Beard, piano and keys. They have just produced a new duo album ‘Chunks and Chairknobs’ so I’m hoping this will be very well attended in Dolan’s Warehouse as Steely Dan are such a huge band.” Booking for this gig on https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/jim-beard-and-jon-herington-tickets-90150248821
There’s a third Spring date ahead, Conor Guilfoyle from Dublin set for Dolan’s Upstairs on Thursday April 16. “That will be the Conor Guilfoyle Octet and they are performing the iconic classical album ‘Birth of the Cool’.
“Made by Miles Davis, it was released in 1967 and the unusual thing is that it was recorded in 1949 and ’50 over three sessions. It is the instrumentation line up that makes this album stand out.”
Keep your ears peeled for French horn, tuba, saxophone and baritone saxophone, the usual rhythm section and trombone, all on stage at once.
“These guys on this album ‘The Birth of Cool’ were all major, major players. It’s based on classical music and bebop jazz so it got the term ‘cool’ from this collaboration. A really amazing album.
“Miles Davis was one of these geniuses who could change his music over a generation, doing jazz, rock and fusion. It is going to be an interesting gig.”
Limerick Jazz’s performance from the weekly workshops led by saxophonist Ed Hansom will pack out the Upstairs – as on December 5 – with a series of hard-driving ensembles by professional and student musicians and vocalists. Note the date: Thursday April 30 which is International Jazz Day.
On to a May gig next for Zrazy, another duo, female, comprised of Carole Nelson and Maria Walsh. “They are very fine musicians, have been playing together over 30 years, piano and saxophone. A lovely programme and Maria is a great singer.” And our headline’s nod to South American stars?
The government of Chile got in touch with Limerick Jazz Society with an invitation to field a percussionist and his band famous to Latin America. For this year’s five day festival, the city will welcome the José Ignacio Mena Fernandez Band.
In September, the Cuban/ Latin rootsy mix of Septepto Internacional had the fanbase storming at Limerick International Jazz Festival. Big guns will blaze again for lyrical hip-sway to beautiful rhythm.
