2022

april
29

BRAYJAZZ.COM
MAY

Photo: Yazz Amhed

Welcome
We can’t say how pleased we are to be back with another Bray Jazz Festival presentation, in
2022!

It seems a long time ago since we hosted our 20th anniversary festival back in 2019.
A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then, but as we dust the post-pandemic
cobwebs off for our 21st edition, we’d like to say a heartfelt thanks to all who have expressed
their encouragement and support for our return.

It has been a challenging time for the arts sector in Ireland, and a challenging time for
musicians - who have spent much of the past two years seperated from the audiences who
are so important to those working in music. Happily, venues are open again and live
performance is back in an environment in which it can thrive and flourish.

Bray Jazz Festival is back too, thanks to the the unwaiving support of our sponsors, chief
amongst which are The Arts Council of Ireland and Wicklow Co Council. We are
endebted too, to our other backers who make the festival possible each year -The Harbour
Bar, Wicklow Wolf Brewing Company, Powerscourt Distillery, East Coast FM, Music
Generation Wicklow, Bray Town Council, Mermaid Arts Centre, Irish Rail, RTE
Supporting the Arts, and the venues that are hosting shows, this year. We look forward to
seeing you on the May Bank Holiday weekend!
 2022
april
29To
BRAYJAZZ.COM

may
1
Friday, April 29
8:00pm Mermaid: Opening: Umbra (Ireland)
9.00pm Mermaid: Feature Presentation Bill Frisell Trio (USA) €32
8:00pm Whale Theatre, Greystones: Michael Janisch Band (USA/UK) €20
8:30pm Harbour Stage: Ätsch (Ireland/Germany) Free
10:15pm Harbour Stage: Origin Story (Ireland) Free
Saturday, APRIL 30
10.30am Town Hall: Jazz Workshop - Michael Janisch Free
2.30pm Mermaid Matinee: Conor Guilfoyle’s Birth of the Cool Octet (Ireland)) €10
6:30pm Harbour Stage: Andrea Jones Quartet (Ireland) Free
6:30pm Town Hall: Gabriel Garcia Fons & Claire Antonini (France) €12
8:00pm Mermaid Opening: Randy Ingram Trio (USA/Ireland)
9:00pm Mermaid Feature Presentation: Yazz Ahmed Quartet (UK) €30
8:30pm Harbour Stage: Aoife Doyle Band (Ireland) Free
10:15pm Harbour Stage: Latin Jazz Quintet (Ireland/Venezuela) Free
Sunday, May 1
2.30pm Mermaid Matinee: Ilaria Capalbo Quintet (Italy/Sweden) Free
6:30pm Town Hall: Ariel Bart Trio (Israel/Japan) €12
6.:30pm Harbour Stage: Shane Latimer Quartet (Ireland) Free
8:00pm Mermaid Opening: Carole Nelson Trio (Ireland)
9:00pm Mermaid Feature Presentation: Tord Gustavsen Trio (Norway) €30
8:30pm Harbour Stage: Tudo Bem (Ireland) Free
10:15pm Harbour Stage: Richie Buckley Quartet (Ireland) Free
Free

Various venues - Jazz Trail April 29th-1st, see P.14 for detail Free
Bill frisell
trio
USA

Mermaid Arts Centre

Friday April 29, 8:00pm
Double Bill with Umbra
Tickets: €32
“The most significant and
widely imitated guitarist
to emerge in jazz since the
1980s.” – New York Times

Bill Frisell has been described as one of America’s true living cultural treasures. A
guitarist and band leader for close to 50 years, he is regarded as one of the most
important and pioneering musicians in jazz.

A Grammy Award winner who has been voted ‘Guitarist of the Year’ on numerous
occasions over the past 30 years, Frisell has transformed the language of his
instrument, and traversed genres, from jazz to pop, folk to film music, ambient to
avant-garde and country to classical.

Once described as “the favourite guitarist of many people who agree on little else
in music,” Bill Frisell’s singular sound has won him a long list of admirers and
collaborators: Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, Van Dyke Parks, Charles Lloyd, John Zorn
and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, to name just a few. Everybody digs Bill Frisell!
 Yazz Ahmed
Quartet
Uk
“This is one of the most
important pieces of music in
any genre to appear this year. It
is stunning and unlike almost
anything else you’ve likely
heard” – Glide Magazine (on
Yazz Ahmed’s 2019’s album
Polyhymnia). –
Mermaid Arts Centre
Saturday April 30, 8:00pm
Double Bill with Randy In-
gram Trio
Tickets: €30
British-Bahraini trumpeter Yazz
Amhed is at the vanguard of a
burgeoning UK music scene that
has been reshaping the face of
jazz, and bringing a whole new
generation to the music over the
past decade.
Winner of both the ‘Band of the
Year’ and ‘Album of the Year’ at
the 2020 Jazz FM Awards, Yazz
Ahmed also received the ‘Jazz
Album of the Year’ from The Wire
for her album ‘La Saboteuse,’
which was ranked 18th across all
genres in Bandcamp’s top releases,
that year.
More recently, she added an Ivor
Novello Award to her honours
list. She’s a musical innovator who
draws from jazz and electronic
music, as well as the music of her
heritage in the Middle East, and
has collaborated across genres with
Radiohead, Lee Scratch Perry,
Transglobal Underground and
art rockers These New Puritans.
amongst others.
 tord gustavsen
trio
Norway

Mermaid Arts Centre Norwegian pianist and composer Tord Gustavsen’s

Sunday May 1, 8:00pm music continues to evolve, teasing out beautiful
Double bill with Carole melodies and subtle rhythmic movements from a
Nelson Trio gentle and profound sonic space.
Tickets: €30
A creator of expansive harmonic landscapes, his
intensely lyrical piano playing draws the listener into
the emotional core of his music.

Gustavsen enjoys a large and devoted international

following and is a major star in his native Norway.
He visits Bray with his classic piano trio on the
heels of the release of his eagerly awaited new album
‘Opening’ on the celebrated ECM label. It’s sublime
music where not a note is wasted.

“Go with it… you will emerge refreshed and renewed,”

- Jazzwise
also featuring at Mermaid:
Umbra
Ireland
Friday April 29, 8:00pm | Opening for Bill Frisell
Umbra is one of most exciting and innovative bands in the Irish
Jazz. Comprising some of our most promising young musicians,
the quintet have been described by reviewers as “arguably one
of the most exciting new jazz ensembles in Europe.” Led by
guitarist and composer Chris Guilfoyle, the music is a blend of
harmonic and melodic sophistication, cyclical grooves all played
with the energy of a punk rock band.

Randy Ingram Trio

usa & Ireland
Saturday April 30, 8:00pm | Opening for Yazz Ahmed
American pianist Randy Ingram has been hailed as “a pianist of
taste and resourcefulness” (The New Yorker) and “a formidable
composer” (San Francisco Chronicle). Originally from
California, he has played with leading musicians including
John Patitucci, Billy Hart, Ari Hoenig and Joe LaBarbera. For
this Bray show Randy will be accompanied by one of our own
heavyweight rhythm sections, drummer Kevin Brady and bass
player Dave Redmond.

Carol nelson trio

Ireland
Sunday May 1, 8:00pm | Opening for Tord Gustavsen
Carole Nelson pens sensitive tunes of emotive heft, her less-is-
more approach fostering quietly beguiling trio interplay that is
never showy. Nominally, the music is jazz akin to the Nordic
trio style. Nelson’s 2020 album ‘Arboreal’ was named the Irish
jazz album of the year by ‘All About Jazz. At this year’s Bray Jazz
Festival Carole will launch her eagerly awaited follow up.
Ariel Bart
Trio
israel/japan

Ariel Bart is a musical prodigy. She is one of a small Town Hall

band of chromatic harmonica players whose ranks Sunday May 1, 6:30pm
include Toots Thieleman, Karen Mantler and Stevie Tickets: €12
Wonder.

Aged just 23, Bart draws her influences from “A beautiful harmonica
contemporary European jazz, as well as the music of player, who could be
North Africa’s Maghreb and the Middle East. While classified, as Toots would
her group’s configuration is of a traditional jazz piano have said, between a smile
trio, its frontline of harmonica and cello make for and a tear” – Jazz’halo
the creation of melodies that are both beautiful and
haunting.

A graduate of the New York University of Jazz and

Contemporary Music, Ariel Bart has collaborated
with such major names on New York’s jazz scene as
veteran bassist William Parker, drummer Andrew
Cyrille and trombonist Steve Swell, and has
performed as a soloist with the Jerusalem Orchestra
East and West.
 Saturday April 30, 6:30pm
Tickets: €12

Renaud GArcia fons &

Claire Antonini
France

World renowned bass player Renaud Garcia Fons’ formed a duo several years
ago with eastern music expert and theorbo maestro Claire Antonini.

Together, they produce music inspired by a shared passion for early music,
jazz, and oriental music in the broadest sense. Their repertoire draws
on material from the Middle Ages, Baroque era, North African folk and
traditional Persian tunes, and has been described as an imaginary journey to a
cultural crossroads.

Renaud Garcia Fons has been called ‘the Paganini of double bass.’ He is a
player of astonishing technique, having devised a five-stringed instrument that
he frequently bows, to explore fully the scope and range of his instrument.
Claire Antonini, is one of the world’s best known players of the theorbo, a
giant, plucked stringed lute from the Baroque era. The duo released their first
collaborative recording ‘Farangi’ in 2019, to widespread critical acclaim.
Conor guilfoyle's
Birth of the Cool
Ireland

The Birth of the Cool Octet is a project of band leader Conor Guilfoyle, who has
brought together some of the finest young musicians on the Irish jazz scene to
celebrate the 1950s musical style associated with the American West Coast called
‘cool jazz.’

The music had its origins in a large ensemble assembled by great jazz trumpeter Miles
Davis in 1949 to play arrangements and compositions provided by Davis and such
legendary composers as Gil Evans, Gerry Mulligan and John Lewis. Their recordings
would make jazz history at what are now called the ‘Birth of the Cool’ sessions.

The music fuses elements of classical harmony with

a jazz rhythm section, and the arrangements and Mermaid Arts Centre
compositions from the time are now considered as Saturday April 29, 2:30pm
important as Duke Ellington’s 1940s recordings or Tickets: €10
Miles Davis’s later masterpiece, ‘Kind of Blue.’
“A finely tuned eight piece
Conor Guilfoyle is one of Ireland’s leading jazz led by one of Ireland’s
drummers. His octet will perform Miles Davis’ classic leading drummers”
‘The Birth of the Cool’ in it’s entirety at their afternoon – The Irish Times
concert in Bray.
Ilaria Capalbo
Quintet
Italy/sweden

‘She bolsters ones faith in

the future of jazz
– Chris May, All About
Jazz

Mermaid Arts Centre

Sunday May 1, 2.30pm
Tickets: €10

Ilaria Capalbo is a rapidly rising star of European jazz – a bassist and composer who
has assembled a quintet of some of the best young talent in Sweden, where she lives.

Her recent album ‘Karthago’ was released to rave reviews – the writing lush and
shimmeringly beautiful - with music spanning the spectrum from intimate duo suites
to the hard swinging sounds of a well drilled quintet.

Born and raised in Italy, Capalbo’s rich bass tone and delicate touch are
complimented by the playing of a band that includes such emerging young stars of
Swedish jazz as Thomas Backman on alto sax and clarinet, tenor and bass saxophonist
Fredrik Nordstrom, guitarist Andreas Hourdakis and drummer Fredrik Rundqvist.

Based in Stockholm, Capalbo is also co-founder of the acclaimed Italian trio Kosmos,
plays in the Swedish quartet Dolores, and is a member of Blue Note and Verve jazz
pianist Chihiro Yamanaka’s European trio.
Harbour Stage
In partnership with:

Ätsch
Friday April 29, 8:30pm:
Led by Irish-based German guitarist, Matthias Winkler, ÄTSCH fuse contemporary
jazz improvisation with the sound aesthetics of modern-day post-rock. The band take
their cues in equal measure from post-rock giants like “Sigur Rós” or “Explosions in
the Sky” as well as contemporary Jazz artists such as “Gilad Hekselman” or “Julian
Lage.” ÄTSCH create a soundworld rich in lyrical melodies.

Origin story
Friday April 29, 10:15pm
Pianist Greg Felton, bassist Cormac O’Brien and
drummer Matthew Jacobson have accumulated
over 25 years of history as musical collaborators and
friends. Origin Story is their newest project. Their
debut album ‘Good Friday’ was named Irish Times
Irish jazz album of 2020.

Andrea jones Quartet

Saturday April 30, 6.30pm
Ireland’s jazz college has been a production line for
exciting new Irish musical talent, for decades. The
cream of the crop of the current generation includes
tenor saxophonist Andrea Jones, whose quartet
features some of the best young players from DCU
Centre for Jazz & Contemporary Music (Formerly
Newpark Jazz College).
Aoife doyle band
Saturday April 29, 8:30pm
Aoife Doyle has been one of the best
known performers on the Irish jazz
scene for more than a decade. She
released her new album ‘Infinitely
Clear’ a soothing, soulful mix of jazz,
folk, soul and blues that has garnered
widespread praise.
Latin jazz quintet
Saturday April 29, 10.15pm
The Latin Swing Quintet brings
together two of Ireland’s finest percus-
sionists with three great Venezuelan
salseros creating a unique blend of both
hot and cool sounds. The shimmering
vibraphone floating over the pulsating
Latin rhythms creates a sound that is
impossible to resist.
SHANE LATIMER
QUARTET
FEAT. THOMAS BACKMAN
(Sweden/Ireland)
Sunday May 1, 6:30pm
One of Sweden’s most reputable saxo-
phone and clarinet players, Thomas
Backman, reconnects with Irish guitar
innovator Shane Latimer and bassist
Cormac O’Brien, with whom he toured
over a decade ago. Expect sparks to fly!
tudo bem
Sunday May 1, 8.30pm
Brazilian music has been a passion of
bassist and composer Ronan Guilfoyle
for many years, and in this group he
has assembled some of the finest players
in the jazz and Brazilian idioms to
play classic Brazilian pieces, known
and loved the world over. Those who
think Brazilian music is confined to
Bossa Nova will think again. Expect the
joyous, infectious rhythms and grooves
of Brazil played with an authentic feel.
Richie Buckley
Quartet
Feat. Scott Flanigan
Sunday May 1, 10.15pm
With his unique style and virtuoso
technique, Richie Buckley is
internationally recognised as one of
Ireland’s leading jazz performers. He is
joined here by long-time collaborators,
guitarist John Moriarty and drummer
Kevin Brady, and by Belfast based
Hammond player Scott Flanigan.
Jazz fringe
2022

powerscourt
The Hibernia distillery visitor
Strand Road centre
Enniskerry
Saturday April 30 Sunday May 1
Firm Roots 9:30pm Antonello D’Orazio Band 2:00pm
Sunday May 1 Luisa Annibali Quartet 3.30pm
Danny Tobin Blues Band 9:30pm

Wicklow wolf
brewing co
Newtownmountkennedy
Monday May 2
Aaron Murphy Quintet 3:30pm
Charlie Mooney Band 5:00pm

Osullivans bar
castle st
Friday April 29
Leopoldo Osio &
Antonello D’Orazio 8:30pm
Sunday May 1
Orlando Molina Duo 8:30pm
Luisa Annibali

 michael Whale Theatre, Greystones
janisch band Friday April 29, 8:00pm
Tickets: €20 (from www.whaletheatre.ie)
USA/UK

Acclaimed American bassist Michael His new album Worlds Collide is an

Janisch has become a major figure on the
contemporary UK jazz scene since he
decamped to live in London, 17 years ago.
He’s a prolific and decorated band leader
and musical producer, and is the founder of
the influential Whirlwind Recordings label.
Janisch is a MOBO-Award nominated solo
artist, and leads a fantastic young quintet
that features some of the top young talents
in UK jazz.
electro-acoustic album of original material
recorded at Abbey Road Studios. It
combines contemporary jazz that’s heavily
influenced by both the London/New
York scenes alongside free improvisations
and soaring melodies over multi-metered
grooves that pay homage to artists such as
Feli Kuti & Afro-Beat and the electronic
music pioneer Aphex Twin.
“...awesomely virtuosic bass guitar”
- The Guardian

jazz Workshop
with Michael Janisch
How to play Jazz, Funk, Swing Grooves, and playing
in a band will be amongst the subjects covered in this
introductory workshop with Michael Janisch and
bandmates Tim Armacost (saxophones) and Marc Ayza
(drums). This workshop will provide an insight, tips, and
more for both aspiring jazz musicians and for the musically
curious. Mermaid Arts Centre
Sat April 30, 10.30am
In partnership with: Free admission
 Tickets can be purchased through the website at:
www.brayjazz.com or by contacting Box Office at
Mermaid Arts Centre on (01) 2724030.

brayjazz.com