Drawing on the classic Hammond organ trio tradition while bringing a distinctly contemporary Irish voice, the group delivers imaginative interpretations of jazz repertoire alongside original material.

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Their ‘neo-tropicália’ is a contemporary reimaging of the Brazilian Tropicália musicial movement of the late 60s and early 70s, that melded elements of samba, bossa nova and regional folk music with contemporary, international and often psychedelic influences. The music honours such Brazilian musical icons of that period as Caetano Velosa and Gal Costa.

ÓNinaÓ launched their debut single on RTE Radio’s Arena radio show, and have played stand out recent shows at Culture Night 2025, Five Lamps Arts Festival in Dublin city centre, and at the Brazil Day carnival at Dublin’s National Stadium, last September.

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Also Featuring: Mike Nielsen’s Sound Recipes

A towering figure of contemporary jazz whose influence spans generations, Fred Hersch has shaped the language of the modern piano trio throughout a career marked by continuous reinvention.

With an extraordinary 17 Grammy Award nominations and countless other awards and honours to his name, Hersch is, for many, the jazz pianist of his generation.

Possessing a touch and keyboard technique like no-one else, his flawless technique deploys just the right combination of sensitivity, intelligence and emotion to absorb and captivate the listener.

Across a career that spans more than 50 years, Fred Hersch has produced over 60 albums as a composer and bandleader, and his creative spark shines as brightly as ever. ‘The Surrounding Green,’ his third release on the celebrated ECM label made many ‘best of’ lists for 2025, and has ranked third in the Album of the Year rankings of Slate Magazine.

It’s an elegant and masterful jazz recording, the trio format enabling Hersch to craft improvisations that are both intricate and unhurried, creating music that doesn’t need to raise its voice to be heard.

** PERSONNEL CHANGE**
In a change in personnel to that originally announced, Fred Hersch will be joined on his European dates this Spring by Felix Moseholm (bass) and Jochen Rueckert (drums). A Master’s graduate of the prestigious Julliard School, Felix Moseholm is best known for his work with pianist Brad Mehldau and singer Samara Joy. New York based Jochen Rueckert has performed and recorded with artists including Marc Copland, Mark Turner, John Abercrombie, Pat Metheny, and Ron Carter.

“…one of the greats of contemporary jazz piano — elegant, erudite, playful, emotional, engaged and thoroughly engaging” – The Irish Times

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A triple-harpist, singer and sonic explorer whose performances feel at once ancient yet utterly contemporary, Cerys Hafana’s music honours old songs and storytelling from Wales in a remarkable way.

Hafana’s 2022 album Edyf, which drew inspiration from a Welsh online archive of two-hundred-year-old manuscripts and notebooks was named one of the Top Ten Folk Albums of the Year by The Guardian. It’s 2025 follow-up ‘Angel’ received the newspaper’s Album of the Month award.

Hafana is a wondrous player and singer with a beautiful voice. Inspiration is drawn from Welsh folk song, from nature, and from broader Celtic music traditions, including Breton folk dance rhythms and call-and-response techniques.

The triple harp originated in Italy in the 16^th century and was first introduced to Wales in 1680.  It’s commonly described today as ‘the Welsh harp,’ with three parallel rows of strings allowing all semi-tones to be accessed without pedals.

Cerys Hafana applies subtle electronics to create atmospheric textures. It’s timeless music that’s strikingly contemporary in mood and feel.

“…endlessly inventive… a profoundly moving listening experience.” – The Guardian

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Havana-born pianist Harold López-Nussa’s music pulses with the richness of Cuban music, with its distinct combination of classical, folk and popular music elements, as well as its embrace of jazz improvisation. 

The son of a pianist mother and jazz drummer father, López-Nussa released a series of trio and quartet albums before being signed to jazz music’s most famous and influential label, Blue Note in 2023. On the New York label he has since released two critically acclaimed albums, the five-star rated ‘Timba a la Americana’ in 2023, and its follow-up ‘Nueva Timba,’ late last year.

Championed as the future sound of Cuban jazz by none other than the legendary godfather of the genre, Chucho Valdes, Harold López-Nussa’s playing is beautifully virtuosic with energetic quick-fire flourishes and high-wire musical configurations.

Classically trained at Cuba’s National School of the Arts, López-Nussa studied jazz at Havana’s foremost music conservatory, The Instituto Superior de Arte.  He quickly established his credentials, winning both the first prize and the audience prize for solo piano at Switzerland’s prestigious Montreaux Jazz Festival when he was aged just 21.  

It’s joyous, upbeat Afro-Cuban jazz, delivered with infectious energy by a trio that includes his brother, drummer Ruy Adrián, and long-time collaborator, bassist Gaston Joya.

“One of the most gifted of his generation” – Le Monde

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The DCU Centre for Jazz Performance Studies was founded in 2017, and offers a four-year, full-time Honours degree (DC014) designed to train professional musicians. The course features a diverse, international student body, and has hosted students from backgrounds as diverse as Brazil, Iran, Israel, Italy, Denmark, India, France, and Serbia, since it was started. The curriculum covers performance, composition, and music production.

Three of last year’s top graduates have been awarded the opportunity to lead ensembles at Bray Jazz, and each group will deliver a short concert performance to open this year’s festival.

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Celebrating his 80th birthday year, Halferty’s fire burns as brightly as ever.

A composer, mentor and educator for generations of Irish musicians, Derry-born Halferty’s own career began in the late 70s, when he featured in an array of jazz fusion bands before finding his own distinct sound and playing style, and created a vast canon of music that drew it’s influences from classical, folk, Irish traditional, French music and and rock influences.

A regular and popular player at Bray Jazz over the past 25 years, Tommy Halferty will be joined here by a stellar band featuring some of the country’s top players – bassist Dave Redmond, Kevin Brady (drums) and pianist Scott Flanigan.

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Opening presentation in double bill with Fred Hersch Trio

Guitarist, composer and author, Mike Nielsen is a leading teacher of jazz guitar in Ireland. His unique style is influenced by jazz, classical, flamenco, Irish and world music genres.

Mike Nielsen has featured on more than 25 recordings, including with celebrated US saxophonist and flautist Dave Liebman, with whom he has also toured. His current performing focus is on solo guitar and with his new trio with New York double bassist, Brian Questa and long-time collaborator, Shane O’Donovan, drums and electronics.

Sound Recipes present special arrangements of popular and jazz songs in addition to original compositions.

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Max Zaska is a guitarist, songwriter, and producer best known for his feel-good blend of modern funk, neo-soul, and indie jazz.

With his band, ZASKA, Max brings his original songs to life with a verve and enthusiasm that is infectious. He’s performed and recorded over the past decade a dizzying array of Irish talent, ranging from Hozier, who was his first vocalist, to Wyvern Lingo, Loah, Tolu Kakay, Jess Kav, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Little Green Cars and Denise Chaila.

Bray born and raised and now living in the midlands, Max Zaska makes a welcome return to his home town and to this year’s 25^th Bray Jazz, where he’ll play songs from his eagerly awaited new album.

He exudes breezy optimism, plays with a smile on his face, and leads a tight big band that’s part funk, part jazz and part RnB, the overall concoction serving up rich slabs of what Max Zaska himself describes as “future soul.”

“…a refreshing sense of fun and mischief, who isn’t afraid to go deep” – The Irish Times.

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