Jazz Festival salute to friends and Louis Stewart

Photo by Salvatore Conte, Dolan's Warehouse on September 25
Photo by Salvatore Conte, Dolan’s Warehouse on September 25

LIMERICK Jazz Festival 2016 pulled off an incredible four nights and three days of hot and happening concerts, gigs and workshops that embraced all ages and several contintents.

Operating principally out of Dolan’s – bar, Upstairs and Warehouse venues each delivered – the city and jazz fans showed out in stellar numbers to express appreciation.

Top notch for this tabloid hack was the fun latino fusion lilt to Atchere. This Canarian 8-piece played late and great Upstairs and again on Sunday September 25 in Dolan’s Warehouse by day. Were speakeasies ever this fun?

Flanked in Sunday’s programme by the Limerick Jazz Improvisation Little Big Band and guitar great David O’Rourke leading Tommy Halferty, Hugh Buckley and our own Joe O’Callaghan, plus John Daly on drums and Peter Hanagan being the coolest cat on bass, those musical hours made the lock-in of 2016.

The immersive afternoon was also occasion for two presentations initiated by Limerick Jazz Society’s John Daly, Gerry Kirby, Ed Hansom, Robert Hernan and more:

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No. 1, a farewell to legendary guitarist Louis Stewart, now pillowed on a cloud of cigarette smoke and stroking angels’ wings for chord-play.

No. 2, a warm salute to four retiring/ retired members of Limerick Jazz Society – none of them within a breeze of celestial playtime.

Pictured by Salvatore Conte are left, Tony Rodgers, Bryan Meehan, Evan Morrissey and Dr Paul O’Sullivan. They got a right ragging from bossman Daly as he presented a framed photograph/ tribute each. Founding father Evan Morrissey made a most gracious and able speech in response. Love-all.

Rodgers, a gifted semi-professional photographer, gave to LJS a signed portrait of the late Louis Stewart taken in 1996 by himself.

End of era, yet the strength of this fifth and underfunded festival augers a robust future for 35 year old Limerick Jazz Society and their canny strategies to survive and flourish.

 

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