Alan Owens
IT SEEMS that Limerick is fast becoming the regional jazz capital of Ireland, easily eclipsing other centres around the country with its burgeoning scene.
Central to this is Limerick Jazz Society, which is set to begin its autumn season of gigs next week and has lined up an impressive coterie of artists to play in the city over the coming months, beginning with four gigs in September alone.
John Daly of the local society recently took the time to speak to the Limerick Leader about the upcoming season, and the artists lined up to perform Upstairs in Dolan's throughout the month of September.
The series begins with Brummie trumpeter Bryan Corbett, who will combine with the Society's House Trio featuring John himself on drums, Joe O'Callaghan on guitar and Peter Hanagan on bass. "Bryan has a fantastic style and is a highly recognised trumpet player," enthuses John.
"He travels all over the place and has a regular hip-hop outfit that he uses in Poland, as well as his own quartet, but he is actually coming over to play with us this time. I just wanted to bring him over to see how it would go playing with us, so I'm looking forward to it."
John explains - for the benefit of non-aficionados - that Corbett features a mix of styles, from originals to jazz standards, with the possibility of a hip-hop tune or two from the popular trumpeter. Daly, hailing from Kileely but living in Caherdavin, has been playing the drums for "30-odd years" and clearly relishes the opportunity to play with the visiting musicians.
"It is great to start it off with the trio," he acknowledges. "I suppose I am in the slightly enviable position where I can engineer gigs for the trio, but why shouldn't we be playing as well, we've spent our life doing this, we are all professional musicians, this is what we do."
Also arriving in town over the coming weeks are Zrazy, featuring Irish vocalist Maria Walsh and UK saxophonist/pianist Carole Nelson, who John hails as "extremely individual" and Organics, one of Ireland's leading Hammond organ trios featuring Justin Carroll, John Moriarty and Kevin Brady.
Of this trio and the Irish acts in general John explains: " They are all well established in the Irish scene and play all original stuff. It would be very modern material, with plenty of improvisation. I try and give the Irish musicians a go at this because they tend to be overlooked a lot of the time, they should get a good run because they are all very high calibre."
There is one particular gig that John is very excited, featuring American greats 'Abercrombie and Baron'. "That is John Abercrombie, one of the top players in the world, a guitar legend who has played everywhere and with everyone, and Joey Baron, who is a world class drummer himself.
They will be joined by Ronan Guilfoyle on bass and Michael Buckley on tenor sax, two of the most highly recognised musicians in this country. So it will be two Americans and two Irish! They will be doing mostly Abercrombie's stuff, he is really very well known."
Daly promises more gigs of this calibre to come over the next few months, and asked about the appetite for jazz in Limerick, he is equally as effusive.
"Well, I'll put it this way, we are building it and building it. We've had so many different acts, if you look back through the last 10 years and see what Limerick has put on, we would put most jazz societies to shame, I would say we are the most consistent, outside of Dublin."


The new season of Limerick Jazz Society gigs takes place this Wednesday September 3 with Bryan Corbett Upstairs in Dolan's. Abercrombie and Baron play on September 11, Zrazy on September 17 and Organics on September 24. More info and bookings on 061-314483