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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The quartet are made up of pianist Luke Howard, bassist Diarmuid Lally, drummer Dylan Lynch, and saxophonist Denis Scully.

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With a few notable exceptions (Alice Coltrane historically and Brandee Younger today), the harp is not an instrument that’s commonly associated with jazz music.

Monaghan born Sorcha McCague initially studied classical and Irish harp at both the Royal Irish Academy and TU Dublin, and was recipient of numerous awards and scholarships from an early age.  

She received a scholarship from the International Jazz Harp Foundation to travel to Rio deJanairo in 2018, and there she developed and refined her performance within jazz and improvised music.

Last year she featured in an Improvised Music Company programme for emerging Irish jazz musicians, and undertook an artist in residence programme at Tinahely Courthouse Centre in Wicklow.

Sorcha McCague’s band include three great talents in contemporary Irish jazz, percussionist Hugh Denham, bassist Eoin O’Halloran and Yuzuha O Halloran on alto saxophonist and flute.

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Jenny Hallahan is an Irish bassist and composer originally from Kildare, now based between Bundoran and Sligo. Her work focuses on original music that blends groove-based forms, strong melodic writing, and open structures for improvisation and ensemble interaction.

She studied performance and composition at the Waterford Institute of Technology and later at Newpark Music Centre in Dublin. Over the years, Jenny has performed extensively throughout Ireland across a wide range of musical settings, developing a broad and flexible musical voice.

In 2020, she released her debut EP This Life with her first quartet. The release appeared on the US jazz charts for nine consecutive weeks and was described by Linley Hamilton (BBC Ulster) as “compositional jazz in Ireland at its very best.”

Jenny currently leads the Jenny Hallahan Quartet, a contemporary jazz ensemble performing her original compositions, featuring Cathal Roche on saxophone, Conor Bastible on piano, and Chad Murphy on drums. Recent performances include appearances at The Model, Sligo (Informal Music Afternoon) and the Hawkswell Theatre (Lunchtime at the Well). She continues to develop new work with a view to national and international performance.

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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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Shy Mascot are a Dublin based quintet that combines funk, jazz, and hip-hop styles to create a uniquely provocative sound.

Drawing influence from artists such as The Fugees, Weather Report, and Lianne LaHavas Shy Mascot’s music lives in a realm where complex jazz harmony, free flowing melody and interlocking grooves meet.

Varying between boisterous, fast-paced songs to minimalist, spaced-out jams, the band has performed at a range of venues around Ireland. From the intimate setting of the curated sofa sessions in Kilkenny to the rowdy, rain-soaked grounds of Knockanstockan, Shy Mascot are notorious for their ability to impress audiences in any setting. They’ve also knocked it out of the park at Bray Jazz at The Harbour Bar in the past, and we’re delighted to have them back for our 25th anniversary weekend!

The rhythm section, led by Keith Tobin, act as dynamic improvisational trio, and lay the perfect foundation for both Jamel’s fast-paced, hypnotic raps, and Fiadh Rua Gregg’s soulful vocals. The end result is an versatile quintet that weaves between melodious, ethereal spaces, and deep, filthy grooves guaranteed to get you moving!

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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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The group – pianist Greg Felton, Cormac O’Brien (bass) and Matthew Jacobson (drums) are well known players on the Irish jazz scene – alumni of Newpark Music Centre and involved in some of the most exciting and forward looking jazz projects that Ireland has produced over the past 20 years.

Origin Story’s music is informed by all of these shared experiences and results in provocative and interactive writing and playing, influenced by the origins of the jazz tradition and by the music’s contemporary innovations. 

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Italy-born Luisa Annibali is one of the leading lights in the new generation of jazz musicians on the Dublin jazz scene. Having moved from Rome to Dublin in 2016, she has quickly established herself as a singer and songwriter of repute.

She blends music from her native Italy with Brazilian tinges and contemporary jazz, allowing ample room for her distinctive voice to shine through.

Luisa released her latest album, ‘Libera’ last November. The result of five years of songwriter, the songs on ‘Libera’ reflect Luisa Annibali’sl take on jazz music, mixing feminist themes with contemporary jazz, her songwriting are reminiscent of artists such as Esperanza Spalding and Gretchen Parlato.

The music feels fresh and cutting edge while never losing sight of its roots in the jazz standard repertoire.

Luisa is inspired in her music by artists including The Fugees, Weather Report and Lianna LaHavas.

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