The Goo 1
Words: Cathriona O’Mahony - Improvised Music Comp
any JAZZ Spring is finally springing and swinging with some wild improvised music and superstar visitors on the cards this month. A once-in-a-blue-moon chance to hear Wynton Marsalis at the NCH on Tuesday 11th March, with the Jazz at the Lincoln Centre Orchestra, tickets nch. ie. Kicking off the bank holiday weekend, The Bad Plus pianist Ethan Iverson is also stopping at The Cooler on Friday 14th March with his intimate, film-noir inspired set for some David Lynch vibes. The early show 6:30pm is currently sold out, but a second late performance at 9:30pm has just been announced, tickets improvisedmusic.ie. For orchestral fans, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra with Reinout Douma are giving Radiohead: A Jazz Symphony on Thursday 20th March, 8:30pm, tickets nch.ie, or for a lower-key evening, the Nigel Mooney Trio with guest Lizzie Thomas are on at Arthur’s from 9pm. The excellent tribute bands are coming to the fore this month for those who want to hear a new twist on some old favourites. Art Blakey tribute sextet Aren’t Blakey are back at Arthur’s on the evening of Saturday 22nd March, 6pm, followed by something newer in pianist Greg Lloyd’s single launch ‘5th Floor Up’, at 9pm. 34 The Dublin Jazz Co-op Sundays continue in a curation from vocalist and composer Jenna Harris, with French-American singer-songwriter Zoe Basha on 23rd March 3pm at the Cobblestone, followed by souljazz vocalist Pia Dunne on 30th March. Kildare Jazz Festival are back with a bang this year, and launch their programme on Monday 24th March with an intimate performance from Brazilian legend Filo Machado at The Cooler. Tickets from eventbrite. The main festival programme runs from 4-6 April in Riverbank Arts Centre Kildare, with performances, workshops and more, featuring the Leopoldo Osio Quintet, Orlando Molina & Alicia Garcia, Conor Guilfoyle Quartet, Plínio Fernandes, Camille Bertault & David Helbock, Mark Redmond & Chris Colleton Trio, and more. For funk lovers, Hot 8 Brass Band pay a visit from New Orleans to The Academy on Wednesday 26th March, 7pm, booking on ticketmaster, and Fred Wesley’s Generations project is at The Grand Social on Thursday 27th, tickets eventbrite. Arthur’s programme is strong as always, with an eclectic day of music to enjoy on the 26th - bluesy singing trio The Jam Tarts, followed by gypsy jazz from the Tenters and folk-inspired songs from Kate Dineen. Another excellent tribute to the music of Kenny Wheeler on the 27th, featuring trumpeter Nick Smart with a quartet of Ronan Guilfoyle on bass, Michael Buckley on sax, Leo Osio on piano and Brendan Doherty drums. Kicking off April, it’s a good show for jazz and improvised music at this year’s New Music Dublin, with a programme at The Complex on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th. There’s world premieres of new compositions by Christine Tobin and Joanna Mattrey as part of the BAN BAM award, along with a climate anxiety inspired work by composer Ed Bennett, poet Cherry Smyth and the Decibel Ensemble. Late shows feature Belfast’s trad/ electronic/improvised wild cards Córas Trio, and Friday’s late show brings secret duos of New Music Dublin’s improvisers together for musical conversations in the dark. Tickets newmusicdublin.ie Galway-born, UK-based saxophonist Riley Stone-Lonergan pays a visit to Arthur’s on Saturday 5th April, with a trio featuring some UK legends, Spike Wells on drums and Eddie Myer on bass. And there’s another one for saxophone-lovers on 10th April at Arthur’s with the launch of Kerry-based Tom Caraher’s debut album. Funky electric jazz with a neo-soul tinge, featuring a super-group of Paul Dunlea trombone, Darragh O’Kelly keys, Barry Donohue bass, and Shane O’Donovan drums.