A new innovation for Bray Jazz this year is a late night club in the upstairs gallery space at Mermaid Arts Centre, after the main show, each night.
The theme for this programme of shows is ‘Ireland – At Home & Away’ – derived from the differing relationships that the participating musicians have with the island of Ireland. One of our bands comprises Irish musicians living north and south of the island; another is made up entirely of Irish players living and working overseas, and the third is a great UK- band led by an Englishman who has now made his home in rural Ireland.
Gigs will start at 10-45pm, and we have some great music planned – free to attend for festival-goers.
FRIDAY, 3RD MAY: 10.45PM
SCOTT FLANIGAN TRIO
Pianist and organ player Scott Flanigan is a key figure in the recent renaissance of jazz in his native Belfast. He’s worked with some of the city’s greatest musicians – Van Morrison included – and has played with an array of great bands on the island. Scott Flanigan’s hard swinging trio here include guitarist John Moriarty and drummer Kevin Brady, two of Dublin’s mainstay jazz players. Read more here.
SATURDAY, 4TH MAY: 10.45PM
HALPIN/JERMYN/BECKETT
A great trio of Irish players who have made their homes overseas – in Vienna, Berlin and London respectively. Saxoponist Matthew Halpin, bassist Simon Jermyn and drummer Darren Beckett have all built impressive music careers and resumés on both sides of the Atlantic, and return home here to play what they describe as “twisted groove-base compositions, fuelled and directed by improvisation.” Read more here.
SUNDAY, 5TH MAY: 10.45PM
PHIL ROBSON ORGAN TRIO
Guitarist Phil Robson has been a major figure in jazz in his native England for more than 20 years. A winner of the since winning the Musician of the Year award in 2009, he has played with Kenny Wheeler, Mark Turner, Django Bates and Barbara Streisand, amongst others. Phil now lives in rural Ireland, but reconnects here with his great organ trio colleagues, Ross Stanley (keys), and drummer Gene Calderazzo. Read more here.
The initiative is supported by The Arts Council of Ireland and Mermaid Arts Centre, and is part of a national pilot programme to support arts venues to become part of the night-time economy. It is also being supported by Wicklow Wolf Brewing Company and Powerscourt Distillery.
We’re providing a (limited availability) subsidised late night bus service home from these shows. To find out more about the transport options available, heading northbound and southbound from Bray, click on the link here.
