ARTS page threw a light on the quality of this coming season previously with mention of Jamie Oehlers, the Australian saxophonist. He’s the opening riff to A/W 2015 Limerick Jazz Society on Wednesday September 9, Upstairs in Dolan’s.
“Oehlers is one of the finest sax players in the southern hemisphere and is renowned,” advises John Daly, chair of Limerick Jazz. “His piano player Tal Cohen has won The Barry Harris Award this year, which is significant. Peter Hanagan on bass and myself on percussion will make up the quartet”.
Looking ahead to an international class programme, the next gig will be on October 10 at 8.30pm. “Andy Sheppard is a British icon of jazz, one of the guys who are around a long time. Sheppard is in the same bracket as Cleo Laine and John Dankworth, his name is on everybody’s lips. He is signing in with a quartet”.
There’s no loss of class in November, with Wednesday 4 being platform for Myriad3. This is a three-piece instrumental outfit from Canada. Closing out in December, “we will have the end of term Jazz Improvisation party which usually takes place on the first Sunday in the afternoon”. Venue TBA.
Next month, the fourth Limerick Jazz Festival will open on Friday September 25 with the Paul Dunlea Big Band at 69 O’Connell Street, “a gig that will feature a vocalist of our own and the music of Frank Sinatra who would be 100 years old this year had he lived. Paul Jost and Alicia O’Hanlon [Cork School of Music] will sing”.
Paul Jost is a jazz singer of phenomenal talent who has another platform on Saturday September 26 with The Jost Project, a seven piece.
Late on Friday September 25th, it’s Upstairs at Dolan’s for the Phil Ware Trio playing with Spanish saxophonist Perico Sambeat. Sambeat is Ware’s pick of the world with whom to play; band on 10.30pm. From Valencia, Sambeat played here back in 1994 in Jurys Hotel with none less than Brad Mehldau on piano. Again, Limerick Jazz was behind this pull.
Come Saturday September 26 “there will be music on the streets and a workshop in Hunt Museum with Linley Hamilton on trumpet. A small performance will follow. The main concert will be The Jost Project at Savoy Hotel”.
Anticipate a rearrangement of greats: The Beatles; Emerson, Lake and Palmer, “played in a different style, funk to jazz”.
Then a late call Saturday 26th to Dolan’s for The Brian Priestley Quintet presenting a Canonball Adderley tribute, “one of the great bepop sax players back in the 40s, 60s”. With vocals.
Factor in a music trail from Souths to George Boutique Hotel, from Mickey Martin’s to Milk Market for the Galway Youth Big Band. Finally, Sunday September 27 will sing out at Dolan’s Warehouse, an eclectic mix of Ancór choir with Honor Heffernan backed by Hugh Buckley on guitar, starry guests and The Jost Project “with a different programme”.
www.limerickjazzfestival.com