Steinar Raknes is a Norwegian bassist, vocalist and songwriter who has worked with artists as rich and varied as Chick Corea, Michael Brecker, Bobby McFerrin and Ola Kvernberg.  

Regarded as one of the leading bassists of his generation, he is also a member of the trio of celebrated pianist Tord Gustavsen.

A double bass virtuoso, playing both pizzicato and arco, he is known for his captivating solo presentations.

Steinar Raknes has a broad musical palate, and his work encompasses contemporary jazz, Sami folk music of northern Scandinavian, as well as American roots, blues and Americana.

He is an instrumental double bass teacher on the celebrated Trondheim Musikkonservatorium, from where he is also a graduate.

“Surprising, beautiful and highly rewarding” – All About Jazz

The post Steinar Raknes (Norway) appeared first on Bray Jazz Festival.

Shetland islander Norman Wilmore and Glaswegian Corrie Dick daringly blend the old and new with their reimagining of the airs and rich musical heritage of Scotland’s northernmost isles.

Using as their reference point ancient melodies discovered during an island residency, Norman&Corrie’s compositions bridge the gap between tradition and innovation, infusing ancestral melodies with modern production – much has Lankum have done with traditional music in Ireland.

They combine drum kit and saxophone, with organ foot pedals, sampled field recordings and earthy, cutting-edge electronics to breathe new life into instrumentals that range from haunting spirituals to raucous ceili stomps.The pair are immersed in the UK’s jazz and contemporary music scene, Corrie Dick drumming with the acclaimed quartet Dinosaur and the award-winner Jacob Collier, and Norman Wilmore working with The Peatbog Faeries and Glaswegian Mercury Prize nominee, Corto.Alto, and Beth Orton.

The post Norman & Corrie (Scotland) appeared first on Bray Jazz Festival.

​

Pianist Greg Murphy played for more than 20 years with Rashied Ali, former John Coltrane drummer, on the New York scene. 

 He appears here with top-line Irish rhythm section, Cormac O’Brien on bass and drummer Shane O’Donovan.  

A world class pianist, Greg Murphy has also worked with Ornette Coleman, Carlos Santana and Archie Shepp. His 2019 album ‘Bright Idea’ was #1 in the jazz charts.

Greg began his musical adventures in 1971 when he joined the Ray-Fisk Grammar School Band in Chicago.

A jazz study grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1984 gave Greg the opportunity to go to New Orleans and study with the eminent pianist and jazz educator, Ellis Marsalis. He began recording and performing with The New Orleans Jazz Couriers, Percussion Incorporated, and his own group, The Fusicians. While living in New Orleans, Greg performed with Donald Harrison, Wynton Marsalis, and countless other great musicians. 

He moved to New York in 1987 and began what had become a long association with Rashied Ali. Greg performed and recorded with Ali and his various groups throughout Europe, Canada and The United States from 1987 until Rashied passed away in 2009. 

Throughout his career, Greg has performed extensively in the US, France, Ireland, Japan, China, The Philippines and beyond with his own trio and other groups. He’s also worked in New York with Ornette Coleman and in France with Carlos Santana and Archie Shepp. In 2012, Greg recorded the theme song “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” for the HBO documentary Redemption, which received a 2013 Academy Award nomination for best documentary short. 

The post Greg Murphy Trio (USA/Irl) appeared first on Bray Jazz Festival.

Harbour Bar
Saturday, 3rd May. Time 6.30pm

London-born jazz pianist, saxophonist and composer Carole Nelson has been a mainstay of the Irish jazz scene, since she first moved here more than 30 years ago.

Her current project, The Carole Nelson Trio with bassist Cormac O’Brien and drummer Dominic Mullen has produced a series of highly acclaimed albums since they release their first recortding, One Day in Winter, in 2017. It’s follow up ‘Arboreal’ was listed amongst the albums of the year by The Irish Times, as was its follow up ‘Night Vision’, which she lanched at Bray Jazz Festival in 2022.

Carole first came to prominence on Ireland’s music scene when she formed the successful jazz pop combo Zrazy with vocalist Maria Walsh, in 1991.

The post Carole Nelson Trio (Irl) appeared first on Bray Jazz Festival.

Harbour Bar
Sunday, 4th May. Time 6.30pm

Hayley Kavanagh is a Dublin-based saxophonist and flautist who’s become an active player on the Irish jazz scene since returning last year after a number of years living and performing in Prague and Berlin.

Since returning home she’s contributed as a sideman in various collaborative projects, and established her own ensembles. She’s also the co-founder of the Arthur’s Jazz Jam in the popular city venue, Arthur’s Blues & Jazz Club, and curates the Jazz Event Guide ‘Cookin’ Dublin’.

Her great young quartet includes Eric Doyle (guitar), Fionn Ruadh (double bass), and Niall Crichton (drums).

Hayley will present new compositions which have yet to be performed on stage as well as a selection of tunes from some of her biggest influences from the hard bop era, such as Joe Henderson and Hank Mobley.

The post Hayley Kavanagh Quartet (Irl) appeared first on Bray Jazz Festival.

Mieko Miyazaki and Franck Wolf form a rare and original duo, their music blending the elegant charm of the ‘koto,’ a half tube zither that is Japan’s national instrument, with the melodic lines of Wolf’s clarinet and saxophone.

Miyazaki is recognised globally as one of the masters of the koto. She has performed at numerous international events, while her compositions have been voted amongst the most beautiful koto compositions. In 2020, she recorded and released a remarkable transcription of Bach’s ‘Goldberg’s Variations’ for solo koto.

Their musical partnership has flourished since Miyasaki made her home in France, and their ability to take listeners through the different musicial world’s that they occupy – Wolf’s inspiring melodic chants fliting with the elegant, etherial charm of Mieko Miyazaki’s deft and lovely koto playing. 

Prepare for an impressionistic and lyrical musical recital that will shed new light on the links between the Japanese and western musical worlds.

You can find out more about Mieko and Franck here: https://www.miekomiyazaki.com/en/home/ and https://www.franckwolf.com/index_eng.html

The post Mieko Miyazaki & Franck Wolf (Japan/France) appeared first on Bray Jazz Festival.

​

Hayley Kavanagh is a Dublin-based saxophonist and flautist who returned to Ireland in 2023 after seven years in Prague and Berlin.

Since then, she has become an active figure in Dublin’s jazz scene, leading various ensembles and collaborating on a wide range of projects. She has performed alongside some of Ireland’s most respected jazz musicians, including So-Young Yoon, Derek Whyte, Linley Hamilton, and Cathal Roche.

In addition to her performance work, Hayley co-founded the popular jazz jam at Arthur’s Blues & Jazz Club and the jazz event guide Cookin’ Dublin, both of which have become important parts of the city’s jazz community.

The Hayley Kavanagh Quartet, featuring Eric Doyle (guitar), Fionn Ruadh (double bass), and Niall Crichton (drums), delivers a high-energy, hard-swinging sound deeply rooted in the hard and post-bop traditions.

Drawing inspiration from jazz greats like Joe Henderson, Hank Mobley, and Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, the group combines driving rhythms, intricate harmonies, and bold improvisation. Their repertoire blends original compositions with carefully selected standards, capturing the intensity and soulfulness of ’50s and ’60s jazz while bringing their own contemporary interpretations to the music.

The post Hayley Kavanagh Quartet appeared first on Bray Jazz Festival.