This weekend, the Galway jazz festival kicks off on Friday, 30 September at 10pm with improvising turntablist Deviant.

Although slimmer than previous editions, this, the seventh festival offers several highlights such as the visit of straight-ahead tenor saxophonist Rick Margitza, supported by a rhythm section of Irish-based musicians: Myles Drennan (piano), bassist Dan Bodwell and drummer Shane O’Donovan. They will be wrapping the festival at the Druid Theatre on Sunday 2 October at 8pm; tickets are €10.

There is a distinct sense of experimentation in this year’s festival, and in particular a juxtaposition of the acoustic and electronic, courtesy of Dutch-based duo Neophobic and Irish acts Soft Day and the aforementioned Deviant, who will be offering their sonic manipulations in contrast to the free acoustic quartet concerts in the festival club at Meyrick Hotel (Friday and Saturday nights).

Neophobic, who last year had an album released on Bugge Wesseltoft’s label Jazzland, will also be joined by Irish trombonist Colm O’Hara (pictured) in an enticing pairing of brass with piano, drums, sampling and live electronics. Tickets are €10/15 and the performance will be in the Druid Theatre at 8pm, 1 October.

The most ambitious programming of the weekend is surely Sax and Polyphony, the pairing of Galway chamber choir Cois Cladagh and a chamber voice ensemble form the Cork School of Music with local-based sax-men Matthew Berrill and Bertrand Huvé. This will be in St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church at 10pm on Saturday, 1 October; tickets are €10.

Tickets for all shows are available on the door, and can also be pre-booked by calling (091) 569777, For more information, see the festival website:

galwayjazzfest.com/gjf11

facebook.com/galwayjazz