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- Parent Category: Jazz Ireland Blog
- Category: The Hot Box
Episode 128 of the Hot Box is packed with marvellous music where we take a deep dive into the piano, looking for the slightly less obviously famous works. You can hear some current music and some that is quite historical.
Starting with Benny Green you can also hear tracks from Joe Bushkin, Fred Hersch, Roland Hanna, Sammy Price and more.
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- Written by: Red Keane
- Parent Category: Jazz Ireland Blog
- Category: Jazz News
Read more: Newpark Academy of Music Set to Reopen: A Triumph of Community and Music
In a moment of celebration and relief, the Newpark Academy of Music has announced that it will officially reopen in September 2024 at its current location, Melfield House. After facing months of uncertainty, this beloved Dublin institution is ready to welcome back students, staff, and the wider community to continue its 45-year legacy of providing accessible music education.
This reopening comes after intense efforts from the Save Newpark Academy of Music group, the outgoing Board of Directors, and a dedicated working group. Their collaboration has ensured that the academy, which has been a pillar of the Irish music education scene, can now move forward stronger than ever. While the academy will remain in its current premises for the upcoming year, plans are already in motion to transition to a new facility by May 2025.
Read more: Newpark Academy of Music Set to Reopen: A Triumph of Community and Music
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- Written by: Werner Lewon
- Parent Category: Jazz Ireland Blog
- Category: All Other Jazz
Read more: Tales from the far Side 22.08.24 Kinda Dukish
On this edition I explore the music and spirit of Duke Ellington with some of his composition, with tunes written in his honour and by a bit of music by the man himself
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- Written by: Daniel Rorke
- Parent Category: Jazz Ireland Blog
- Category: Album Reviews
Read more: Album Review - Pizza Jazz, "Home Delivery"
Steve Welsh - saxophones, flute, clarinet
Darragh O'Kelly - keys
Sean Maynard Smith - bass
Brendan Doherty - drums and percussion
Bassist Sean Maynard-Smith is following up the 2021 recording Eh, No and his more confidence-inducing title Actually, Yeah in 2023, with a release by the Pizza Jazz group aptly named Home Delivery. Born by way of the lactic workshopping of Luckys’ Pizza Jazz evenings at their regular residency in Dublin, Maynard-Smith and his fellows Darragh O’Kelly on keyboards and drummer Brendan Doherty are joined on Home Delivery by American saxophone expat Steve Welsh. What follows is a record that is eccentric in all the right ways.
It isn’t easy music to provide an overview of. Some moments seem to channel the lighter shades of 70s Stanley Clarke in Venusian mode, especially so when O’Kelly’s vintage synth meets Welsh’s flute, such as on the third track Languidity. Other times we are lured more towards firmer Jazz territory, for example with their rendition of the Ornette Coleman classic Ramblin’, which is now for all intents and purposes in the standard repertoire. The enduring fascination lies in the way the ensemble is emphasising some of the more introspective sides of 60s Free Jazz and 70s Fusion, yet at the same time there is a fingerprint of individuality that means drawing too many comparisons to past styles deny Home Delivery’s unconventionality it’s due acknowledgement..
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- Parent Category: Jazz Ireland Blog
- Category: The Hot Box
Welcome to the 127th edition of The Hot Box! In the last two episodes, we celebrated Irish albums from start to finish. If you missed them, I highly recommend catching up—those shows were packed with fantastic music.
This time, we're diving into longer, more immersive tracks designed to help you unwind and savor the beauty of the music. Expect to hear works from the likes of Andy Sheppard, Bill Evans, and selections from the upcoming release of The Dublin Concert, featuring Louis Stewart and Jim Hall, brought to you by Livia Records.
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- Written by: Werner Lewon
- Parent Category: Jazz Ireland Blog
- Category: All Other Jazz
Read more: Tales from the far Side 15.08.24 It's really just a Blues
On this edition I explore some Jazz which is inspired and influenced by the Blues. You can hear Music by Tim Armacost, John Coltrane, Ron Carter, Charlie Haden+Jim Hall, Eric Reed, Mulgrew Miller and others
Read more: Tales from the far Side 15.08.24 It's really just a Blues
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- Written by: Red Keane
- Parent Category: Jazz Ireland Blog
- Category: Jazz News
Read more: Jennifer McMahon's Willow EP: A Soulful Journey and Upcoming Irish Tour
Irish singer-songwriter Jennifer McMahon is set to captivate audiences once again with the release of her highly anticipated EP, Willow. Slated for an August 30th, 2024 release, this five-track collection is more than just an album—it's a testament to McMahon's evolution as an artist, blending her deep-rooted influences in soul music with her signature lyrical storytelling. To celebrate the release, McMahon will embark on an intimate Irish tour, kicking off with a special launch concert at The Bello Bar in Dublin.
A Glimpse into Willow
Willow is a rich tapestry of sound and emotion, recorded across two iconic locations: Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville and The Barn of Music in Dublin. This follow-up album leans heavily into McMahon's love for old-school soul, with lush, warm keys and organs played by Boston-native Clifford Bond and a crisp drum backdrop provided by Colorado’s Dev Malloy. The basslines, both electric and upright, come alive under the fingers of Nashville session player Zachariah Witcher, while Dubliner Darren Giles adds a tasteful touch of electric guitar.
Read more: Jennifer McMahon's Willow EP: A Soulful Journey and Upcoming Irish Tour