Ballymaloe Grainstoreis delighted to be part of the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival for the first time and to present an exclusive performance by Equinox, a jazz quintet based in the Netherlands, featuring veteran American vocalist Marjorie Barnes.  Their exclusive engagement is on Sunday 26 October at 8pm.

Born and raised in New York City, Marjorie Barnes has done it all from jazz to soul, R&B, Broadway and back.  In a long and varied career, she has sung with legends such as Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Mel Lewis and many others.

While living in the Netherlands from the 1980s until 2000, Marjorie performed extensively with Jerry van Rooyan and The Skymasters, as well Peter Herbolzheimer’s big band and the Metropole Orchestra. She also worked in Dutch Television, and helped create the jazz vocal departments in the Conservatories of both Amsterdam and the Hague.  After a decade spent working in America, Marjorie returned to the Netherlands in 2012 in full command of her vocal gifts and authoritative stage presence.

Equinox is co-led by guitarist Dan Nicholas and bassist Johnny Daly.  Nicholas comes from New York City and Daly is a native of Dublin, Ireland.  Both musicians have made the Netherlands their home, inspired by the rich jazz climate they found there.

Joining Nicholas and Daly in Equinox are three of the country’s top jazz musicians: the tenor saxophone titan Simon Rigter, the elegant and adventurous pianist Bob Wijnen and master drummer Marcel Serierse. The band plays a mix of vivid original pieces, personal arrangements of standards and classic jazz repertoire. Equinox is deeply rooted in a wide spectrum of jazz tradition, which constantly informs the band’s musical explorations. 

The meeting between Equinox and Marjorie Barnes is done in a true collaborative spirit, with the band’s signature sound acting as a platform for tailor made arrangements that perfectly fit Marjorie’s unique vocal gifts.  While Equinox also remain focused on the instrumental interplay for which they are known, Marjorie brings an emotional and dynamic depth to the band’s live shows which makes for a fully engaging concert experience.