The blog is dedicated to Irish Jazz and to the fans, musicians and venues that support it. if you have any content you would like to add to the blog please get in touch.
In this edition I talk to Irish Singer Christine Tobin and guitarist Phil Robson about their music, their careers and their devotion to Jazz and I play a handpicked selection of their records and a few tracks of their choice.
Read more: Tales from the far Side 14.10.21 Interview with Christine Tobin and Phil Robson
“I wrote CLARE SKY after a tragic incident that happened in the community. It's a lament and a tribute to this magical place and the warmth of the people here. I have found great solace and peace on the West Coast of Ireland. With CLARE SKY I've tried to paint a picture of the places I love the most.”
Aoife Doyle is originally from Bray, Co. Wicklow. She moved to Liscannor, Co. Clare in 2014. While she has been performing for many years, it was upon moving to the West Coast of Ireland that she found her songwriting voice.
Read more: AOIFE DOYLE shares new song CLARE SKY from upcoming album INFINITELY CLEAR
On this week's edition I say my last Goodbye to "Groove-Doctor" Dr. Lonnie Smith who died a few weeks ago, his music always remembered. And today you can hear a handpicked selection of his music during his very fruitful and colourful Career.
Read more: Tales from the far Side 07.10.21 Remembering Dr. Lonnie Smith
Triskel’s jazz offering is an integral part of the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, often providing a haven from the busyness of the city during a jam-packed weekend. This year, Triskel have curated a weekend of cinema and concerts featuring the best of local and international jazz legends.
Cork musicians Paul Dunlea and Cormac McCarthy join forces on Friday 22nd October for a set that will include both standards and original compositions. On Saturday 23rd “piano whisperer” Marc Copland is taking to the stage for a concert that will also pay homage to his long time friend and collaborator John Abercrombie. The impressive line-up finishes on Sunday 24th with two concerts in association with Music Network – Xenia Pestova Bennett and Ed Bennett perform a a radical reinterpretation of Bach’s famous Goldberg Variations at 2.30pm, while at 8pm Kit Downes launches his brand new album Dreamlife of Debris.
“Triskel are very proud to bring together such special artists for what will be an outstanding weekend of exceptional music, all of it inspiring, original and sublime,” said Tony Sheehan, Artistic Director with Triskel. “We’d like to pay tribute to Music Network and Guinness Cork Jazz Festival for their partnership and support and what was a challenge to pull together for everyone involved.”
JAZZ GUITAR............"the IRISH TOUCH" where you can hear the "magic strings" of Louis Stewart, Tommy Halferty, Hugh Buckley, John Moriarty, David O'Rourke, Julien Colarossi, Mike Nielsen, Nigel Mooney and Phil Robson.
Read more: Tales from the far Side 30.09.21 Jazz Guitar -with a touch of Irish
The main event in The Hot Box 074 is a move to the Guitar Files Letter F. So we feature 3 greats from that file, Tal Farlow, Bill Frisell and Chris Flory. But there’s other stuff too. An exciting taster from Aoife Doyle’s upcoming new album, the single Strength to be Strong, and a track from Kevin Brady’s Electric Quartet upcoming world release “Plan B”.
Plus we find an amazing young guitarist from the D file who has just come to our attention, Graham Dechter, from his new album “Major Influence”.
On this edition I celebrate and explore the music of Thelonious Monk interpreted by a variety of artists adding their own imaginations and improvisation to it, artists like Carmen McRae, EST, Sphere, Steve Lacy, John Beasley's Monk'estra, Francisco Bearazotti and Tinissima4Tet, Elliott Sharp and of course the man himself.
Read more: Tales from the far Side 23.09.21 Kinda Monkish-a Journey into Thelonious Monk's Music