When Miles Davis and John Coltrane shared the bandstand, they changed the trajectory of American music forever. This October, the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival welcomes two contemporary pioneers who carry that very same revolutionary spirit.

Jazz pianist, composer, and artist Jason Moran hails from Houston, TX. He’s an alumnus of the Manhattan School of Music where he studied with Jaki Byard. Upon graduation, he studied with Andrew Hill and Muhal Richard Abrams. Moran’s 18-year relationship with Blue Note Records produced 9 highly acclaimed recordings. His groundbreaking trio, The Bandwagon (with bassist Tarus Mateen and drummer Nasheet Waits) is currently celebrating their 20th anniversary.

Paul Duffy is a multi-talented musician, composer, and vocalist. He has had an impressive career performing around the world with the legendary Irish band The Commitments for six years. Paul is a true musical powerhouse, playing multiple instruments, including saxophone, trumpet, flute, guitar, keyboards, drums, bass, tin whistle, and even bagpipes! Throughout his journey, he has shared the stage with notable musicians like Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Brian Johnson, Suzi Quatro, Paul Brady

Experience the electrifying sound world of Grammy-winning pianist and composer Bill Laurance.

This October, Music Network presents one of the most inventive voices in contemporary jazz. A founding member of five-time Grammy Award-winning group Snarky Puppy, Bill has wowed audiences around the globe with his genre-defying performances and compositions.

A revolving roster of jazz and blues acts featuring some of Ireland's finest musicians from Richie Buckley and Chris Comhaill to Ben Prevo and Karl Clews. Expect fabulous music as the perfect backdrop to your Saturday afternoon.

Hailing from Belfast, Scott Flanigan is one of the foremost keyboard players on the Irish jazz scene. He performs regularly across the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Germany, and has recently performed with Van Morrison, the Ulster Orchestra, Larry Coryell, Jean Toussaint, Jim Mullen and Linley Hamilton. As a leader, Scott successfully tours his own contemporary piano trio, as well as a hard-driving organ group. He also runs the successful Scott’s Jazz Club in East Belfast, a weekly jazz club bringing the best in Irish jazz to local audiences.

Ireland’s “King of Swing” Luke Thomas and The Swing Cats return after their triumphant sell-out performance at last year’s Guinness Cork Jazz Festival with their brand-new Kings of Swing Tour.

With her third album, composer and bandleader Jasmine Myra has stepped confidently into the next stage of her unique musical explorations. Where Light Settles is a cohesive artistic statement from a distinctive and confident voice in UK music, and a significant evolution from the critically acclaimed Horizons (2022) and Rising (2024).

Saturday at the Jazz Festival Club brings a full day and night of live music to The Metropole Hotel, with performances spread across the Ballroom, Douglas Vance, Beckett, Met Bar, Lobby and the outdoor terrace on MacCurtain Street.

CEO Experiment is the highly acclaimed International Quartet featuring Leopoldo Osio (piano), Peter Erdei (electric bass), Cote Calmet (drums) and Andalusian saxophonist Carlos Ligero.

Okonski is the eponymous piano trio led by Asheville, North Carolina–based pianist Steve Okonski, featuring Michael Isvara Montgomery on upright bass and Aaron Frazer on drums. Often recording fully improvised performances directly to tape, the trio’s music has been described as meditative, introspective, and ethereal.

Patrice Brun is a French saxophonist, established in Ireland since the late 90’s, and has been an active member of the jazz scene since the early 2000’s, leading his own groups, quartet and sextet formats.

Jazz Allstars is a jazz supergroup celebrated for their annual headlining performances at Crane Lane Theatre’s Jazz Festival in Cork.

This all-star ensemble features some of the biggest names in international jazz: Ryan Quigley on trumpet, Paul Booth and Derreck ‘Doc’ O’Connor on saxophone, Paul Dunlea on trombone, Michael Janisch on bass, Scott Flanigan on piano, and Thomas Tomas Gall on drums.

Sunday Jazz at the United Arts Club
Relax into a Sunday afternoon of jazz in the elegant surroundings of the United Arts Club.

Pop, Soul and Jazz from upcoming Limerick-based singer Edwina Van Kuyk

Edwina van Kuyk is a pop-soul artist from Limerick, Ireland. Her debut EP ‘Feels So Right’ was released on October 28th and received strong national radio support, earning airplay on stations including RTÉ 2FM, 98FM & Today FM. The title track was named RTÉ 2FM’s ‘Track of The Week’ with a recent live performance on Virgin Media’s ‘The Six O’Clock Show’.