Nigel Mooney, one of Ireland’s most enduring and beloved figures in jazz and blues, has announced his forthcoming album, Mooney’s Mood, now available for advance purchase through his website.
Currently in the final stages of production, Mooney’s Mood is a record of Mooney’s favourite ballads, recorded in intimate small-group settings. The album features an impressive roster of Irish and international artists, including Louis Stewart, Jim Doherty, Michael Buckley, Johnny Taylor, Scott Flanigan, and guest vocalist Deborah Swiney.
The album grew out of Mooney’s long-running Sunday night residency at Dublin’s United Arts Club — an eight-year tradition that inspired a return to the elegance and restraint of the ballad form. Performing in an unamplified trio with Johnny Taylor (piano) and Barry Donohue (bass), Mooney rediscovered the subtlety and beauty of quieter expression.
That atmosphere of warmth and intimacy carries through the new recordings, which include a rediscovered ballad featuring the late guitar legend Louis Stewart, a duet with pianist Jim Doherty on one of his own compositions, and a selection of tender performances alongside Dublin stalwarts Michael Buckley, Charlie Mooney, and Scott Flanigan.
Adding to the album’s emotional depth, Deborah Swiney, the Memphis jazz singer formerly of Al Green’s band, lends her voice to several tracks — a highlight for longtime fans who remember her past collaborations with Mooney.
The album’s cover artwork was painted by Mooney’s close friend Tim Goulding, whose portrait captures the reflective spirit of the project — Mooney in his mood.
With recording now complete, Mooney is funding the mastering, design, and manufacturing stages through a simple, direct pre-order system on his website. Fans can purchase the album in CD, vinyl, or MP3 formats, or opt for special bundle packages ahead of its autumn 2025 release.
From his early days with The Gripewater Blues Band to acclaimed albums like All My Love’s In Vain (2005) and The Bohemian Mooney (2013) — the latter winning The Irish Times Jazz Album of the Year — Mooney has remained a touchstone of the Irish jazz and blues scene.
With Mooney’s Mood, he turns inward, crafting a deeply personal statement that showcases the lyricism, warmth, and humanity that have defined his career.
“Right now the mood is optimistic,” Mooney writes, “that I will raise the funds needed to finish everything off, pay the bills and get this album out.”
Pre-order Mooney’s Mood
Visit nigelmooney.com/new-album-advance-purchase to support the album’s release and secure your copy on CD, vinyl, or digital download.