By Eric Fitzgerald
eric@limerickpost.ie
LIMERICK sways to the rhythm this weekend, thousands of music fans making their way to the city for Limerick Jazz Festival 2014 current to Sunday 28.
Now in its third year, this year’s festival has already reached new levels to mark Limerick’s National City of Culture designation. The impressive lineup includes globally recognised, Grammy award-winning Van Morrison, who opened the festival in with a tight, sensational set and saxophonist David Sanborn.
The knockout Van Morrison gig on Thursday 25 night at the UL Concert Hall sold out within 90 minutes of going on sale, no surprise considering it’s his only performance of the year in the country. The man is still a powerhouse: Morrison’s voice, musicianship, delivery are as big, fine and bold as ever, backed by an outstanding band.
The show was also be a memorable homecoming for one of the city’s finest, Dave Keary, from the North Circular Road, who has been a guitarist for the past four years with the Belfast troubadour.
John Daly of Limerick Jazz Society said: “Given the year that’s in it, with Limerick designated as National City of Culture, we went the extra mile in terms of our line-up and it’s been more than worth it. To have secured Van Morrison and David Sanborn is beyond anything we could ever have imagined.”
The Festival has been organised by the Limerick Jazz Society (established 32 years ago) and is the culmination of all the hard work of the society in keeping the jazz scene vibrant in the city.
“We have been promoting jazz, often against the tide, in Limerick for over 30 years but this is undoubtedly our biggest week ever.
“We have brought some great international artists to the city before but this year’s festival is at an all new level.”
David Sanborn
IN the run up to the festival, Van Morrison’s sold-out show at UCH has hogged a lot of the limelight so far but saxophonist David Sanborn is more than up for the task in hand as well. Sanborn has released 24 albums and won six Grammy Awards.
He toured with Stevie Wonder and recorded for Wonder’s ‘Talking Book’ album, played with The Rolling Stones, and toured with David Bowie, with whom he recorded the famous solo heard on ‘Young Americans’.
At the same time, Dave was touring and recording with the great Gil Evans, dividing his time between the two. After moving to New York City and studying with George Coleman, Dave started his solo career where he later collaborated with such artists as Paul Simon and James Taylor.
David Sanborn, sax, feat Joey DeFrancesco on Hammond organ, and Byron Landham, drums play Lime Tree Theatre on Saturday, September 27.
The Dublin City Jazz Orchestra
THE Dublin City Jazz Orchestra is a 17-piece big band comprising some of the best musical talent in Ireland. Led by Ciaran Wilde, four trumpets, four trombones, and five saxophones will perform ‘The Sacred Music of Duke Ellington’.
The Dublin City Jazz Orchestra will also play big band music from the ‘40s and ‘50s along with some more modern bombastic tunes to mix it up! Featuring Tina May Cleveland Watkiss and Maurice Chestnut, the show unfolds at 69 O’Connell Street on Friday September 26.
Jazz Pub Trail
Alongside the big headliners, there’s lots of exciting jazz talent to sample on the Jazz Pub Trail. On Friday check out Kevin & Sian at South’s Bar, and The Charms at George Boutique Hotel. On Saturday LPG play George Boutique while Galway Youth Jazz Orchestra will perform at Jerry Flannery’s, Catherine Street.
Crisis Point Big Band
LIMERICK’S Crisis Point Big Band will perform again this year for Limerick Jazz Festival and will feature some very special guests including two of the best saxophonists on the circuit today: Julian Siegel from the UK and Ireland’s own Richie Buckley, as well as vocalists Conor J Ryan and Keith MacDonald.
This Treaty city’s big band will close the festival as they did last year with great special arrangements from Limerick’s Bryan Meehan, Tipperary born Joe O’Callaghan and Cork’s Paul Dunlea.
This was one of many highlights of 2013’s festival.
This is a show not to be missed. Support comes from Galway Youth Jazz Orchestra from 2pm on at Clarion Hotel.
Founded in 2006 and under the direction of John Fleming, the Galway Youth Jazz Orchestra has performed several times at Galway Jazz Festival including a performance backing singer Ian Shaw, as well as performing with Michael Buckley and the Phil Ware Trio.
The Crisis Point Big Band feat Julian Siegel and Richie Buckley, with vocalists Keith McDonald and Conor J Ryan, will play Pegasus Room, Clarion Hotel on Sunday September 28, 3pm gig.
Limerick Jazz Festival runs from Thursday September 25 to Sunday September 28.
