Nigel Mooney’s Organ Failure - 21st Century Christmas Blues Show - Yulefest Kilkenny

The Sofa Sessions at Billy Byrnes presents Nigel Mooney’s 21^st Century Christmas Blues as part of Yulefest Kilkenny on December 21^st.

A charismatic figure on the Dublin jazz and blues scenes since the early 1980's, his Gripewater Blues Band spearheaded the blues movement in Ireland and drew many fans of both jazz and the blues. A self-taught musician, Mooney was influenced by the blues from an early age and his hard-bop style of guitar playing is expressive and melodic with a bluesy groove. He possesses a warm and rich tenor voice and has an almost flawless sense of pitch.

Nigel Mooney on guitar and vocals
Johnny Taylor on grand piano
Dominic Mullen on drums
Barry Donoghue on double bass

“Twenty-First Century Christmas Blues” features four new Mooney compositions, including his You-Tube hit single/video “Twenty-First Century Santa Claus Blues”, a poignant Christmas ballad “Let’s Cancel Christmas for Jesus’ Sake”, a new hymn for the twenty-first century in “A Sperm in Albumen” and a modern Christmas re-working with “It Ain’t Nobody’s Christmas But Our Own”. There are also some beautiful new versions of some of our favourite hymns and carols, as well as classic Christmas standards, some magic moments, some crackers and some cheese.

“Twenty-First Century Christmas Blues” is available to purchase in all good shops; the CD can also be purchased at www.nigelmooney.com and as a download/online. Musicians featured on the album include Nigel Mooney’s current regular band: Johnny Taylor on piano, Barry Donohue on bass and Dominic Mullan on drums.

Also featured are - Tenor saxophone: Jean Toussaint (ex- Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers).
Guest Vocalist: Deborah Swiney (ex- Al Green). Guest Vocalists: Sallay Garnett (Loah) and Emma Garnett (Fehdah). Organ: Scott Flanigan (ex- Van Morrison).
Additional guitars by Ronnie Greer and Charlie Mooney.
Horn section by Brendan Doyle (saxophones) and Mike Barkley (trumpet).

“Mooney has pulled a cracker here – this is undoubtedly the finest Christmas collection since last Christmas”

– Sal Nicholas, Christmas Times

Location of event - Get Directions

Venue Information - Kilkenny Castle