Triskel Christchurch, Triskel Auditorium, Everyman Palace Theatre, Cork Fri-Mon guinnessjazzfestival.com
For jazz aficionados, the real focus at this year’s Guinness Cork Jazz Festival is no longer the Festival Club, but the headline venues of the Triskel and the Everyman Palace Theatre.
The Triskel hosts the most persuasive roster of all, headed by acclaimed young tenor Marius Neset (left) and his quartet; the innovative duo of Trygve Seim and Frode Haltli; Stanley Jordan; and the Bobby Watson Allstars at Triskel Christchurch. The venue will also have several Irish groups in support, while new, exciting, mixed Irish/International groups feature strongly at the Triskel Auditorium.
At the Everyman the most interesting concert is likely to be altoist Greg Osby’s with bassist Michael Janisch’s group, supported by saxophonist Tia Fuller leading an all-female band. But it’s worth noting that perennial visitor Richard Galliano will have trumpeter Dave Douglas and reedman John Surman in a tribute band playing the music of film composer Nino Rota.
Old festival favourite Jean-Luc Ponty will have his own band there, too. After that the choices for those in search of the real thing grow progressively more diluted.
SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS
Friday:Bobby Watson Allstars/Linley Hamilton Quartet (Triskel Christchurch 8pm). Palooka (Triskel Auditorium 11pm)
Saturday:Randy Brecker and Bill Evans's Soulgrass/ Kyle Eastwood Quintet (Everyman 8.30pm). Trygve Seim-Frode Haltli/Jazz Crimes (Triskel Christchurch 3pm). Stanley Jordan/Ian Shaw (Triskel Christchurch 8pm). Wowos New York Sextet (Triskel Auditorium 11pm)
Sunday:Tia Fuller Quartet/ Greg Osby (Everyman 2pm). Jean-Luc Ponty/Richard Galliano (Everyman 8.30pm). Marius Neset/Jerry Creedon Ensemble (Triskel Christchurch 8pm). ReDiviDer (Triskel Auditorium 11pm)
