Saxophonist Xhosa Cole has been blazing a trail since he first emerged on the UK jazz scene as the winner of the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year award, in 2018.

A year later he collected the ‘best newcomer’ prize at the prestigious Parliamentary Jazz Awards, and was named Breakthrough Act of the Year by Jazz FM in the UK.

Nubya Garcia (UK)

Nubya Garcia is one of the breakthrough stars of the recent UK urban jazz boom.

A generational talent since long before she released her Mercury Prize nominated debut album in 2021, tenor saxophonist Garcia was named Breakthrough Act of the Year by both Sky Arts and Jazz FM back as far as 2018, and was the Jazz FM’s Jazz Act of the Year, a year later.

Pizza Jazz are a new four-piece comprising some of Dublin’s leading jazz players.

Expect the music of Sun-Ra, Charlie Mingus, Hermeto Pascoal and Ornette Coleman alongside traditional and modern standards from the quartet, who cut their teeth playing a lively residency at ‘Luckie’s on Meath Street in the city.

Sam Braysher is a London-based alto saxophonist. A regular performer at jazz clubs across Europe, he has received international critical acclaim for his warm, delicate sound and deep knowledge of the standard repertoire and American Songbook.

He is joined here by a rhythm section of rising stars from the London scene: in-demand double bassist Jack Garside (Mark Kavuma and The Banger Factory), and swinging young drummer Kai McRae (Rachael Cohen, Stan Sulzmann).

THE KEVIN BRADY ELECTRIC QUARTET FEATURING SEAMUS BLAKE & BILL CARROTHERS

In 2022, Kevin Brady and his Electric Quartet found themselves heading in a groundbreaking new direction, inspired by a collaboration that would redefine their sound.

“If Orgone and The Meters had a baby and moved to Ireland… or maybe it’s as if Booker T and some of the Grateful Dead members and their side projects collided late one night in New Orleans… either way…”Emerging from Dublin, Ireland, (yes, that’s correct - Dublin F’ng Ireland)

Max Zaska is a guitarist, songwriter, and producer best known for his feel-good blend of modern funk, neo-soul, and indie jazz.

With his band, ZASKA, Max brings his original songs to life with a verve and enthusiasm that is infectious. His live work and recordings over the past decade have featured a dizzying array of Irish artists, ranging from Hozier, who was his first vocalist, to Wyvern Lingo, Loah, Tolu Kakay, Jess Kav, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Little Green Cars and Denise Chaila.

Tipped as ‘One To Watch’ by BBC Introducing, Jazz FM UK and Belfast Live, award-winning singer-songwriter Katharine Timoney is making waves as one of Ireland’s leading jazz-soul crossover artists.

London-born jazz pianist, saxophonist and composer Carole Nelson has been a mainstay of the Irish jazz scene, since she first moved here more than 30 years ago.

Shetland islander Norman Wilmore and Glaswegian Corrie Dick daringly blend the old and new with their reimagining of the airs and rich musical heritage of Scotland’s northernmost isles.

Using as their reference point ancient melodies discovered during an island residency, Norman&Corrie’s compositions bridge the gap between tradition and innovation, infusing ancestral melodies with modern production – much has Lankum have done with traditional music in Ireland.

THE KEVIN BRADY ELECTRIC QUARTET FEATURING SEAMUS BLAKE & BILL CARROTHERS

In 2022, Kevin Brady and his Electric Quartet found themselves heading in a groundbreaking new direction, inspired by a collaboration that would redefine their sound.

Pianist Nduduzo Makhathini has been a central figure in South Africa’s vibrant jazz scene for over a decade.

One of just a handful of African-based musicians to be signed to the prestigious Blue Note jazz label, he has released three albums on Blue Note, including Modes of Communication: Letters From the Underworlds, which earned a New York Times ‘Best Album of the Year’ ranking in 2020.

Vijay Iyer (USA)

Described by The New York Times as a “social conscience, multimedia collaborator, system builder, rhapsodist, historical thinker and multicultural gateway,” VIJAY IYER is an influential and shape-shifting presence in twenty-first- century music.

Vijay Iyer has carved out a unique path as an influential, prolific, shape-shifting presence in twenty-first-century music.

Sam Braysher “whose warm tone and consonant and inquisitive approach to harmony is attracting growing attention on the British jazz scene” (All About Jazz) is an alto saxophonist, who has received international critical acclaim for his three albums to date. He is joined here by a top London rhythm section including in-demand double bassist Jack Garside (Mark Kavuma and The Banger Factory) and Kai McRae. The trio play lively, swinging arrangements of items from the American songbook and jazz canon, including compositions by the likes of George Gershwin, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Kurt Weill and Carlos Antonio Jobim.

Collider is the newest project from Dublin based guitarist Chris Guilfoyle. It’s music that explores the electronic worlds of Drum and Bass, House, and IDM, where the rich tones of electric guitar intertwine with ethereal synth sounds and heavy drum grooves.