Making her first appearance at the Limerick Jazz Fes val, Memphis jazz singer Deborah Swiney is regarded as Tennessee’s finest, the “Sarah Vaughan of the South”. Deborah was raised in the south suburbs of Memphis where her mother was a blues pianist and the neighbourhood was steeped in jazz, blues and gospel and she naturally evolved into one of the south’s finest jazz singers, joining Al Green’s band on backing vocals and working regularly with the great Memphis musicians associated with the bands of Isaac Hayes, Ike Turner, Aretha Franklin and Buddy Guy.

She has toured Ireland once before, with Ireland’s King of the Blues, Nigel Mooney, and we are thrilled to have her in Limerick this year with Nigel Mooney’s Organ Works featuring Nigel Mooney on guitar Sco Flanigan on organ and Dominic Mullan on drums.

Line-up:

Nigel Mooney – Giutar

Deborah Swiney – Vocals

Scott Flanigan – Organ

Dominic Mullan – Drums

Deborah Swiney with The Nigel Mooney Trio

Emilie Conway Trio

Emilie Conway’s innovative and multifaceted work as vocal jazz artist, activist, and pyschotherapist paint a portrait of an individual deeply dedicated to artistic expression, social justice, and the power of human connection.

Emilie Conway is an award-winning vocal jazz artist, composer, and lyricist based in Dublin, Ireland, celebrated for her innovative approach to music. She weaves together original compositions, spoken word, and both improvised and composed music passages, frequently drawing inspiration from literature and visual arts with projects like You Won’t Forget Me: Celebrating Maeve Brennan in Words and Music, Yeats + Tagore, Ireland Meets India (in America) and her current Mondrian work. Conway’s artistic explorations also delve into compelling themes such as the interplay between jazz and other art forms, the unique perspectives shaped by her lived experience as a disabled person, and the creation of jazz for young audiences with shows like The Red Kite’s Blues and commission with the Ark, Solid, Space, Sound.

Award-winning vocalist and ‘a true song stylist for our times’ (Downbeat USA), Shaw, salutes these two songwriting titans. It features the songs of David Bowie and Joni Mitchell, written in parallel times, marking two fascinating Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame artists’ astonishing output. Shaw has recorded a critically highly praised album of Joni Mitchell (‘Drawn To All Things’ Linn Records) and has a personal connection to both, which is the core of this exciting show. In tonight’s performance, Ian is joined by the band to play his arrangements of these songs by two of the most popular and influential artists of recent decade.

With the Julian Siegel Quartet, the BBC Jazz Award winning saxophonist and composer Julian Siegel can be heard alongside some of this generation’s most distinctive voices, creating an in-demand Quartet on the UK and European Jazz scene. The band features inspirational pianist Liam Noble, his fluid touch and dazzling imagination perfectly complementing Siegel’s music and playing, and providing a perfect foil for the many directions the music can turn. With the creative spark of dynamic drummer Gene Calderazzo and the deep groove of bassist Oli Hayhurst dove-tailing perfectly with Siegel and Noble this is unquestionably one of the UK’s most exciting and powerful quartets.

“Completely fulfilling and uplifting… jaw-dropping.” UK Jazz News. ‘Ensconced’ is an exciting duo collaboration between leading UK guitarist/composer Ant Law and celebrated Milan-born British/Turkish vocalist, composer and lyricist Brigitte Beraha. Their acclaimed debut album sees the duo conjure up a spellbinding set of music through poignant originals and reimagined timeless standards.

Greek native vibraphonist, composer, educator and Fulbright Scholar Dimitris Angelakis has been on the scene for over a decade, having collaborated with some of the international jazz scene’s most prominent musicians as a bandleader, sideman and guest soloist. Dimitris’ first influence was his father, an acclaimed Greek trumpet player/arranger, but he also considers NY-based vibraphonist Christos Rafalides and Philadelphia-based vibraphonist/founder of vibesworkshop, Tony Miceli as connections that significantly impacted his career.

Rory Conneally Trio

Rory Conneally is an 18 year old jazz pianist who became the youngest winner of the Young Irish Jazz Musician competition in November 2024, where he delivered an outstanding performance to a live audience and a distinguished panel of judges led by composer Bill Whelan. His jazz piano style draws from diverse influences including Stevie Wonder’s soul music and jazz masters Herbie Hancock, Oscar Peterson, and Thelonious Monk.