Jazz Ireland Blog

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.

Nigel Mooney (guitar, vocals) was the very first jazz and blues musician to play in JJ Smyth’s, back in 1986. The upstairs venue in Aungier Street went on to become the nearest thing we had to a jazz club in Dublin. Sadly, all this has come to an end with the owners’ decision to sell the pub. After several ‘farewell gigs’ over the last few months, the absolutely final finale took place on Sunday 23 April. Nigel Mooney, who played the first gig 31 years ago, also played the last. He was backed by Johnny Taylor (piano), Barry Donoghue (bass) and Dominic Mullan (drums), with Richie Buckley (tenor sax) as a special guest. The place was packed.

Sue Rynhart is pictured with a track from her new album Signals in the mix this time. Also music from Tony Bennett, Semuta, Colette Cassidy & Nigel Clark plus more..

Full Link to image sand more details on Jazz Spec

Jazz Mine is a play on jasmine which is one possible originator in respect of JAZZ as a description of the music being featured on this weekly show. Jazz keeps developing so the intention is to keep the focus on newer stuff with many forays into the Jazz Mines to illustrate past jazz musical triumphs.

On this edition I'd like to invite you to join the Hep Cat's Ball for a blast of hot Jazz for the coolest Jazz Cat. from Erroll Garner's Twisting the Cat's Tail to Charles Mingus' Pussy Cat Dues, the Cats are really hoppin' , with music by Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Oscar Pettiford, Lucky Thompson, Herlan Riley, John Coltrane and others..

Allen Smith of Jazz on the Terrace talking re Tommy Halterty composed suite for public premiere at No. 22 South Anne Street Dublin 2 on Sunday 9th. April. In this episode of Jazz Mine you will also hear music from Kevin Brady, Monica Chapman, Tommy Halferty & Izumi Kimura, Michael Buckley and more.

Full Link to image sand more details on Jazz Spec

Jazz Mine is a play on jasmine which is one possible originator in respect of JAZZ as a description of the music being featured on this weekly show. Jazz keeps developing so the intention is to keep the focus on newer stuff with many forays into the Jazz Mines to illustrate past jazz musical triumphs.

"Spring will be a little bit late this year"

The longing for spring, love, sunshine and romance is the theme of this week's edition of "Tales from the far Side", where you can hear spring-related Jazz tunes and songs with contributions by Sarah Vaughan, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Red Garland, Jim Hall, Pat Metheny, Tony Bennett, Bill Evans, Herlin Riley, Clifford Brown, Max Roach and Zoot Sims.

Come on in for a musical Spring Fantasy.

In the 12th edition of The Hot Box we establish a flashback to jazz events in Ireland in the distant past. In Hot Box 11 we heard how a hotel in Ballsbridge had not one, but two resident jazz groups, and how members of the famous Ray Charles big band used to sit in. "Free jazz for the price of half a pint" said our correspondent, who was an impecunious student in 1964.

Now dubbed Unreliable Memories, in the next historic tale, Donald Helme recalls Ireland’s Number 1 location for the presentation of jazz in the late 1960s, The Fox Inn in Ballymadun, Ashbourne, Co. Meath! Purchased by American saxophonist Jim Riley, when the gents toilet was the next door field, and the nightly takings were £5, the remote country pub became a haven for jazz fans for about 6 years, with residencies by the likes of Keith Jarrett, Jon Hendrix , Annie Ross, John Surman, Mal Waldron and Lee Konitz.

In this episode of Jazz Mine you can hear racks from Tommy Halferty Trio, Erroll Garner, Josh Green & The Cyborg Orchestra, Max Richter, Johnny Dankworth & His Orchestra and more.

Full Link to image sand more details on Jazz Spec

Jazz Mine is a play on jasmine which is one possible originator in respect of JAZZ as a description of the music being featured on this weekly show. Jazz keeps developing so the intention is to keep the focus on newer stuff with many forays into the Jazz Mines to illustrate past jazz musical triumphs.