Jazz-up the bank holiday

DOONBEG will be jazzed up this June Bank Holiday Weekend as the 13th annual Doonbeg International Jazz Festival gets underway with a full programme of performances.

 

Kicking off on Friday, June 1 with gigs at the Igoe Inn, Madigan’s and Comerford’s at 10pm and Tubridy’s at 11pm, there will be nothing but ‘all that jazz’ to be heard throughout the weekend.

 

All performances are free and this year sees the addition of another free event, a musical fun day for tots to teens, on the Saturday. This event gives an opportunity to children to explore making music, trying out new instruments and having fun. It will include three workshop sessions for different age groups at the Doonbeg Hall. Places are limited and anyone who is interested in taking part is asked to contact 065 9055345 or email info@doonbegjazz.com.

The Music for Tots session takes place from 11am to 12 noon and is for those aged one to three, accompanied by a parent. This session includes singing, action songs, dancing and small percussion with a jazzy twist.

The Music Monsters session runs from 12.30pm to 2pm for four to seven-year-olds and includes singing, dancing, games and trying out different instruments including percussion, a violin, and a trombone. The children will also be encouraged to listen to each other and make music as a group.

The Making Music session for eight to 12-year-olds will be held from  2.30pm to 4pm where participants will be using their voice, instruments and random objects to invent new music.

For the main event, this year’s line-up includes Irish jazz bands Tuxedo Jazz, Skazz, Ace Minsky Swingband, Corner Quartet, Jazz Lite and Darktown Strutters. In addition Edinburgh-based JazzMain, German band JAZZONANZ and The Bourbon Swing Jazz Band from Northern Ireland will also feature.
The hot sounds of the jazz age will come alive with Tuxedo Jazz, which features Miss Linda on vocals. This acclaimed group serves up swinging renditions of classics and ranties through instrumentalists and heartfelt vocals.

Skazz are a five-piece that embody the ska movement and have moved from a swing and jazz outfit to pure ska vibes since its inception. In keeping with their jazz roots though, Skazz have chosen the original Jamaican scene Ska of the 1960s, a time when Caribbean mento and calypso first met American jazz and rhythm and blues.

Four-piece Ace Minsky Swingband offers a setlist ranging from jazz, swing, blues, rock and soul to a rich blend of Parisian café jazz.

Jazz Lite are no strangers to the Doonbeg Jazz Festival and this year the four-piece return to offer up a jazz and swing set.

Corner Quartet is a new band from Limerick and they play a tasty mix of standards, old and new. They are led by Borris Hunka on vibraphones, with Fearghal Naughton on guitar and backed by drum and bass combos from Bart Kiely and Colin Bartley.

Drops of Jazz is a two piece band made up of Limerick singer/percussionist Judy O’Connor and guitarist and composer Austin Durack.

Darktown Strutters, a quartet made up of jazz guitarist Brendan O’Ruaidh, Gary Baus on alto saxophone, Dave Duffy on double bass and Niall Dennehy on drums, have a particular penchant for the 1930s and ’40s.

JazzMain, based in Edinburgh, comprise saxophone, bass, keyboards and drums. The band has a wide repertoire including smooth jazz, funk, blues, Latin, be-bop and classic jazz standards of the ’50s and ’60s.

JAZZONANZ is a quintet from Trier in Germany and will delight with original jazz compositions, interpretations and improvisations, while the Bourbon Swing Jazz Band is one of Northern Ireland’s best Dixieland bands. Formed a few years ago by a group of friends who were asked to play together a charity fundraising event, they have evolved into a band which plays in the New Orleans style. For full gig listings visit www.doonbegjazz.com.