Kevin Stevens travels to Ethiopia to find a tradition that has flourished against the odds.

Will Vinson (alto saxophone), Lage Lund (guitar), Ben Street (bass), Jochen Rueckert (drums), JJ Smyth’s, Dublin, 17 January 2010

Métier: Michael Buckley (saxophones), Justin Carroll (Fender Rhodes), Joe O’Callaghan (guitar), Ronan Guilfoyle (bass), Sean Carpio (drums), Cabinteely House, County Dublin, 15 October 2009

Lester Young — musical visionary and ensemble journeyman, hipster icon and distant loner — was the most influential instrumentalist in early jazz but, in his prime, never led his own band.

Mouthpiece, Diatribe (DIACD009)

The Olympia Theatre, Dublin10–11 June 2009Ry Cooder’s career has included so many reinventions it has been hard to keep track.

OvernightReMark RecordsOver the last couple of years, the young Belfast guitarist Mark McKnight has been quietly building on a stateside jazz education in New York and Boston, completed in 2006.

ZeitgeistFresh Sound New Talent LRP 005It is nearly three years since drummer Kevin Brady formed his current trio with fellow Dubliner Dave Redmond and the mercurial American pianist Bill Carrothers.

The roll of jazz in Eastern Europe through the decades

TogethernessLiving Room Project (LRP 004)Since its debut early last year, the Dublin quartet Togetherness has grown into one of the leading lights of the Irish jazz scene. Impressive performances at 12Points!

Si Dolce è il TormentoDiatribe DIACD003Francesco Turrisi is an Italian pianist, accordionist and percussionist who has been brightening the Irish jazz scene with his unique blend of influences since moving to Dublin three years ago.

J.J. Smyth’s, Dublin15 March 2009It is surprising that jazz, which owes so much to its African roots, does not return to the creative well of African culture more often.

Ethan Iverson (piano), Tim Berne (alto saxophone), Hank Roberts (cello), Dave King (drums)The Sugar Club, Dublin28 January 2009What happens when buffaloes collide? A lot of dust and thunder.

The 12 Points! festival overrides old ‘European jazz’ tags

Breathing TimeDiatribe DIACD004 Since forming in Dublin four years ago, the lively, progressive quartet Trihornophone has been intriguing audiences with improvised music that is playful, open, and always fresh.

Kevin Stevens meets the innovative saxophonist David Murray

Liquid SunshineLiving Room Project LRP 003The Hammond organ has a venerable jazz history.

John Abercrombie (guitar), Michael Buckley (saxophone), Ronan Guilfoyle (bass), Joey Baron (drums)Whelan’s, Dublin14 September 2008Since moving from Berklee College to New York City in 1969, guitarist John Abercrombie has brought his superb

Simon Jermyn’s Trot A MouseFSNT 318Dublin bassist Simon Jermyn’s new recording on the Barcelona label Fresh Sounds has been gestating for a while.

Jazz in Marciac in the south of France, and Dún Laoghaire’s Festival of World Cultures

Kevin Stevens meets two new collectives in the Irish jazz scene.

CascadeImprovised Music Company The release of Cascade is an important event, not just because of the quality of the music, which I’ll get to in a moment, but also for the circumstances of its origin and production.

The Art of DreamingCandid Records, CCD 79853Cormac Kenevey has been busy this year: a slew of Irish gigs, a pair of nights at the iconic Ronnie Scott’s Club in Soho, radio and television appearances, and album launches in Dublin, London and

Now in its ninth year, the Bray Jazz festival in May has emerged as the leading Irish jazz festival after Cork. Kevin Stevens was there.

Dave Binney (alto saxophone), Craig Taborn (piano), Scott Colley (bass), Brian Blade (drums)Whelan’s, Dublin 12 May 2008 Over the last few months, music fans here have been treated to a steady flow of visiting artists who, in one way or ano

Kevin Stevens considers the career of guitarist John McLaughlin ahead of his first appearance in Dublin.

The jazz scene in Ireland has witnessed a rush of young talent and now plays host to a long list of international artists. Kevin Stevens looks at the range of music out there and explores the next steps for Irish jazz.

Michael Buckley (tenor saxophone, flute), Justin Carroll (piano), Ronan Guilfoyle (bass), David Lyttle (drums) & Greg Osby (alto saxophone)JJ Smyth’s, Dublin24 February 2008The enrichment of jazz education in Ireland in recent years has

Pharoah Sanders Tripod, Dublin3 February 2008 Though tenor saxophonist Pharoah Sanders has been performing and recording steadily for over half a century, most listeners associate him with the short period over forty years ago when he playe

Common GroundLRP Music, LRP002Among the notable features of the Irish jazz scene in recent years has been the emergence of several outstanding keyboard trios, including the Phil Ware Trio and Organics, both of which are rhythmically anchore

Various venues, Cork26-29 October 2007The Cork Jazz Festival, held as usual over the October bank holiday weekend, celebrated its 30th anniversary this year, giving jazz fans and more casual attendees its customary selection of challenging

CallingImprovised Music Company, IMCD 1019‘I don’t feel like I’m singing,’ Billie Holiday said. ‘It’s like I’m playing a horn.’ The great jazz vocalists use their voice as an improvising instrument, more...

Fred Hersch (piano), John Hebert (bass) and Eric McPherson (drums)Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire, Co.

Tomasz Stanko (trumpet), Marcin Wasilewski (piano), Slawomir Kurkiewicz (bass) & Michal Miskiewicz (drums)Vicar Street, Dublin18 September 2007Tomasz Stanko has been around.

On the fortieth anniversary of John Coltrane’s death, and in the context of recent commemorative events in Dublin, Kevin Stevens looks at the life and work of one of the greatest of jazz innovators

JJ Smyth’s, Dublin12 August 2007 In 1963, 22-year-old Frank Zappa played a concerto for bicycles and pre-recorded tape on ABC Television’s Steve Allen Show.

Project Arts Centre, Temple Bar, Dublin 227 April 2007Improvised Music Company’s 12 Points!

In Our Own TimePewter Music (689076561365)The English pianist Phil Ware is a familiar figure on the Irish jazz scene.

Paul Williamson (trumpet), Michael Buckley (saxes and flute), Joe O Callaghan (guitar), Justin Carroll (keyboards), Ronan Guilfoyle (bass), Sean Carpio (drums)Projects Arts Centre, Dublin, 7 April 2007Ronan Guilfoyle’s seven-part suite Term