Jazz hands at the ready

By Finnian Cox

Several new acts have been added to the lineup of the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, including US veterans De La Soul, rising Irish act Bricknasty and UK Bluenote star Maya Delilah and more.

The announcement follows the postponement of headliner Kawasi Washington’s gig until April 2025, with the American saxophonist cancelling his set due to a back injury.

The festival was officially launched recently with a slew of new acts announced. It will run from 24-28 October and will see a series of performances in Kinsale, Douglas, and Cork city across 80 different venues over the course of the long weekend.

Headline events will take place in the Cork Opera House, The Everyman, St Luke’s Church, Triskel, Cyprus Avenue, Kino, and Cork City Hall, with performances also taking place in 74 pubs and clubs across the county.

Alternative hip-hop originators De La Soul are among the new acts announced and will bring their pioneering New York sound to the Cork Opera House on 27 October.

Also announced was an evening with Dublin natives Bricknasty, who will be hosting The Nasty Sessions, celebrating emerging jazz, soul, funk, and hip-hop talents from the Irish scene. Fresh from a performance at Electric Picnic, the band will be joined by several up-and-coming artists, including Shiv, Curtisy, and F3MII, with more to be announced.

While some of the artists announced are not traditional jazz musicians, festival director Mark Murphy explained that this year’s lineup champions jazz, “while also celebrating the genre’s influence on hip-hop, R&B, and dance music”.

This effort to expand the festival’s range can be seen clearly in the acts playing at Cyprus Avenue.

Hailing from Chicago’s southside, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble will bring their trumpets and trombones to Cyprus Avenue for two nights, playing on 26 and 27.

However, in a scheduling choice that summarises the festival’s range, their Saturday performance will be followed and contrasted by a high energy dance set by Navan-based duo, Le Boom.

Originating in 1978, the festival has been an integral part of the Irish music scene for 46 years. With over 100,000 attendees expected, this year could mark the festival’s biggest weekend since its debut.

Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Dan Boyle placed emphasis on the positive cultural and economic impact the festival has on the city.

“The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival continues to boost our local economy while establishing Cork as a global hub for music and culture,” said Cllr Boyle.

“It’s an inclusive celebration, bringing world-class talent to our city,” he said.

The use of the word global is no understatement - the lineup sees acts travelling from Senegal, Japan, and even Galway!

Blending Afro-Cuban sounds with traditional griot music, Senegalese dance-band Orchestra Baobab recently celebrated their 50th year as a group, and will perform in The Everyman Theatre on 27 October.

Hailing from Kobe in Japan, Takuya Kuroda is a distinguished trumpeter, known for his ability to blend genres like funk, hip-hop and soulful jazz. He brings his unique sound to the Triskel Arts Centre on 25 October.

Finally, Galway’s contribution to the festival is the legendary Irish singer-songwriter Mary Coughlan. Celebrating four decades as an artist, she will perform at the Everyman on 25 October.

While the emphasis is on live performances, the weekend will also feature a number of events that encourage audience involvement.

One example is the Blue Note 85 exhibition, which celebrates 85 years of jazz label Blue Note Records in St Peter’s church. The display will showcase the label’s artwork and will also feature a curated pop-up record shop.

At The Cork School of Music there will be masterclasses, as well as musical workshops.

These classes will give both amateur and prospective professional music students the opportunity to learn from musical and industry experts.

Diageo’s head of partnerships Roy Sheridan described last year's success as “outstanding”.

“Our goal this year is to further elevate the festival’s profile both nationally and internationally,” said Mr Sheridan.

“With its vibrant jazz culture and deep-rooted heritage, Cork remains the ideal setting for this dynamic event, beloved by both locals and visitors,” he said.

The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival will run from 24-28 October. See guinnesscorkjazz.com for more details.