n Petter Eidh, Speak Low

POST EVENT REPORT 2019

 20TH ANNIVERSARY
Over the past 20 years Bray Jazz Festival has earned a reputation as one of Ireland’s leading
contemporary jazz events. The festival continued in that tradition in 2019, as its 20th edition
assembled leading jazz stars and emerging voices in contemporary music, from Ireland and across the
globe, for yet another dazzling programme of concerts, recitals and jazz trail performances.
O
ne of the legends of contemporary
American jazz, American guitarist
John Scofield was the star attraction
at this year’s 20th anniversary presentation of
Bray Jazz Festival.
It was unsurprising therefore that Scofield’s performance
with his newest band, ‘Combo 66,’ had booked-out well
in advance of his Saturday night performance at Mermaid
Arts Centre.
On the preceding night the festival’s theatre concert
featured septugenarian New York jazz pianist Marc
Copland, who was booked to appeaar less than 48 hours
earlier, following the 11th hour cancellation, due to illness,
of the scheduled performance by Grammy Award winning
American pianist Fred Hersch.
Sunday’s Mermaid Arts Centre concert switched the
festival’s focus to Europe, and to music in a more classical
vein, as French jazz pianist Francois Courtier joined
forces with German classical cellist Anja Lechner for a
n French quartet ‘No Tongues’ played to a full
house at Bray Town Hall.
n John Scofield’s ‘Combo 66’ played to a full-house
at Bray Jazz Festival.
presentation that drew strongly from both their work
together in the acclaimed classical Tarkovsky Quartet, and
as a duo on the celebrated European jazz label, ECM.
Elsewhere, the 2019 programme featured concerts at
the medieval ‘The Well’ church, showcasing cutting
edge contemporary jazz from across Europe - with
presentations by Swedish saxophonist Mats Gustaffson’s
‘Fire!’, award-winning Swiss jazz singer Lucia Cadotsch’s
‘Speak Low,’ and Dutch experimentalists ‘Tin Men & The
Telephone’ over three nights at the town centre venue.
Bray Jazz Festival’s popular early evening Town Hall
recitals featured music from Lithuania, Ivory Coast,
France, the UK and Ireland over the course of the bank
holiday weekend.
These concerts included a double-bill presentation with
Lithuanian zither (‘kankles’) player Indre Jurgeleviciute and
West African kora master Kadialy Kouyate, a performance
by French arts export award-winners ‘No Tongues,’, and
an album launch concert by two doyens of jazz on these
islands, Irish guitarist Tommy Halferty and English jazz
singer, Norma Winstone.
A feature of this year’s festival was also the number
of collaborations between Irish and international
counterparts. As well as the Halferty/Winstone concert at
Bray Town Hall, there were performances featuring Irish
musicians and American jazz counterparts on two nights
at The Martello Hotel, Bray, and at Arklow Methodist
Church, where Irish bassist Dave Redmond and Belfast
drummer Darren Beckett teamed up with New York
pianist George Colligan, on this year’s bill.
 TAKING BRAY JAZZ ‘ON THE ROAD’
Bray Jazz took the festival ‘On the Road’ to venues across County Wicklow, in 2019

I
n the past 20 years Bray weekend. Furthermore, the festival
also hosted one nighttime concert
Jazz Festival has staged
in south-Dublin, at a newly launched
close to 800 concerts, at venue - The Loft, at Whelehan’s
over 40 different venues. Wines in Cherrywood.

In that time the festival’s main
focus has understandably been on
Bray, where Mermaid Arts Centre,
together with local hotels, bars,
clubs, churches and restaurants have
staged festival concerts on the May
Bank Holiday Weekend.
To celebrate 20 years, Bray Jazz
went ‘On the Road’ however, and
brought contemporary jazz artists
from Lithuania, West Africa, France,
the USA and Ireland to audiences in
Arklow, Blessington, Tinahely and
Roundwood on the May Bank Holiday
‘On the Road’ was an exciting new
departure for the festival, as Bray
Jazz forged new collaborations at
the Paladian Russborough House
mansion, home of the world famous
Beit art collection, at Tinahely
Courthouse Arts Centre, with ‘Music
at Calary Church’, and with the
n West African Arklow Methodist Church. These
Kadialy Kouyate shows were a highlight of our 20th
performed at year, as they allowed Bray Jazz to
Russborough bring high quality contemporary jazz
House. to new audiences in four corners of
County Wicklow, and to South Dublin.

“A JAZZ FESTIVAL OF INTERNATIONAL REPUTE”

In the eyes of the arts critics, Bray Jazz Festival is one of leading jazz music events taking place in Ireland

I
n three of the past four years, Bray Jazz • “Bray Jazz Festival has established its credentials not
only as one of the essential music festivals in the Irish
Festival has been chosen as the ‘Event
calendar, but as a jazz festival of international repute.”
of the Week’ by critics at The Ticket, the
weekend arts supplement of The Irish Times.
In 2019 the newspaper wrote of Bray Jazz: “Compared
to others, Bray Jazz Festival plays a quality not quantity
game, celebrating jazz as a contemporary artform in all
its diversity, from heavyweight Americans to European
experimentalists, with some exotic outliers and creditable
support for the domestic scene up and down the bill.”

The festival’s 20th anniversary edition attracted favourable

attention elsewhere too, with RTE Radio One’s ‘Arena’
arts programme dedicating a 15 minute slot to the festival,
and entertainment guides at each of The Irish Times,
Irish Independent, Irish Examiner, Sunday Mail, Newstalk
Radio, RTE lyricFM, Entertainment.ie, Joe.ie and What’s
On in Dublin all including Bray Jazz Festival in its listing of
highlights of the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Kind words about Bray Jazz Festival have included:

• “This small but feisty festival punches so far above its

weight, there ought to be a stewards’ inquiry” - The
Irish Times.
• “One of Ireland’s most accomplished contemporary
jazz music happenings...” - Cara, Aer Lingus n Sweden’s ‘Fire!’ perform at The Well church in
• “...a little gem.” - The Sunday Independent Bray at this year’s festival.
- All About Jazz
 n Norma Winstone & Tommy Halferty.

FESTIVAL SUPPORTERS
Bray Jazz Festival has received sponsorship backing from more than 50 separate businesses, state
bodies and other institutions and agencies since the festival was launched 20 years ago.

B
ray Jazz Festival is made possible each year thanks to the support received from
the concert going general public, and the backing that is received from sponsors,
institutions and cultural funders.

Each year, Bray Jazz receives backing from The Arts Council of Ireland, from Wicklow County Council and from Failte
Ireland. In 2019, the festival also received support from the European Union through Wicklow Rural Partnership’s
LEADER programme, and received the backing of Wicklow’s Creative Ireland programme.

The 2019 festival was also backed by RTE’s Supporting the Arts programme and by East Coast FM, a long-standing
festival partner.

For our fourth successive year we enjoyed the backing of the county’s leading micro-brewing company, Wicklow Wolf
Brewing Company, and were delighted to welcome onboard the newly launched Powerscourt Distillery, based in
nearby Enniskerry, as a sponsor.

A number of cultural missions in Ireland and international

cultural agencies also supported Bray Jazz in 2019,
including the Embassies of Switzerland, France and
Sweden, while support was also provided by Holland’s
Going Dutch scheme, by France’s AJC, and by the
French Jazz Export Bureau.

Bray Jazz Festival is also grateful for the backing of

Music Generation Wicklow, of Mermaid Arts Centre,
Irish Rail and Transport for Ireland, of The Martello
Hotel, The Harbour Bar, The Glenview Hotel, The Royal
Hotel & Merrill Leisure Centre and of our other venue
supporters: Whelehan’s Wines, The Hibernia Inn, The
Coach Inn, The Strand Hotel, Butler & Barry, The Old
Anchor, The Ocean Bar & Grill, Cornerstone Church
at The Well, Calary Church, Arklow Methodist Church,
Russborough House and Tinahely Courthouse Centre.

n Bray Town Hall has hosted events at Bray Jazz Festival

since the festival was started.

To contact Bray Jazz Festival call George/Dorothy Jacob at: Tel. 086-8654170
E-mail: brayjazz@gmail.com Web: www.brayjazz.com
 BRAY JAZZ FESTIVAL
20th Anniversary

20th Anniversary

“Ireland’s leading
contemporary
jazz festival”
- THE IRISH TIMES

Pictured from top,

left to right: Dobet Gnahore
(Ivory Coast), China Moses (USA),
Paolo Fresu (Italy), Tord Gustavsen
(Norway), Ambrose Akinmusire (USA)
and Dave Douglas (USA).

20

May 3rd-5th 2019

www.brayjazz.com
 20TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2019
Once described as “the little festival that could”, Bray Jazz has demonstrated remarkable lasting power as a high
quality boutique festival event on the east coast. The festival has earned a reputation for presenting some of the biggest
international names in jazz, and will mark its 20th birthday in 2019.

B ray Jazz Festival will mark 20 years on

the May Bank Holiday weekend (May
3rd-5th), 2019.
Established in the Millennium Year (2000), the event has,
over the past two decades grown to become one of Ireland’s
leading boutique music festivals and the premiere jazz festival
event within the Greater Dublin area.

In recent years Bray Jazz has been described as “one of the

very best small jazz
festivals in Europe”
(All About Jazz), n Promotional light-boxes for Bray Jazz Festival close to
“Ireland’s leading Grand Canal Dock in Dublin city, last year.
contemporary jazz Bray Jazz has featured performers from more than 50 different
festival” (The Irish countries, has hosted more than a dozen Grammy Award
Times) and “a little nominated musicans, and has showcased many of the leading
gem” (The Sunday names in jazz music.
Independent).
Bray Jazz is backed annually by The Arts Council of Ireland,
In 2016, 2017 and by Wicklow County Council, Failte Ireland, and by a broad
2018 Bray Jazz is range of other business supporters, both national and local.
selected by the critics Since it started Bray Jazz Festival has also enjoyed support
at The Irish Times from a wide number of embassies and cultural missions
as their ‘Pick of the in Ireland, including the Embassies of Norway, Sweden,
Week’ for cultural Denmark, Estonia, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France, Holland,
happenings in Ireland Belgium, Poland, The United States and The Czech Republic.
on the May Bank It’s activities have also been supported by the French Jazz
Holiday weekend. Export Bureau, The British Council, Going Dutch and
n Raffaele Bossard (USA) Alliance Francais.

A MILLENNIUM PROJECT
‘The Spire’ on Dublin’s O’Connell Street is perhaps the best known lasting legacy of Ireland’s celebration of the dawn of
a new millennium. But less than 20 miles to the south, support from The National Millennium Committee made another
project possible that endures to this day - Bray Jazz Festival.

B ray Jazz Festival was launched in 2000,
as one of a programme of events
taking place across Ireland to celebrate
the dawn of the new millennium.
The inaugural Bray Jazz Festival took place on May 2nd-4th,
2000, with headline concerts being staged at Ardmore Film
Studios. More than a dozen other local venues hosted concerts
and recitals across the North Wicklow town on that bank
holiday weekend. Supporters included Bray and Wicklow
Councils, Guinness Ireland, Failte Ireland and the National
Millennium Fund, amongst others.
Two years later Bray Jazz moved its headline shows to the
newly-built Mermaid County Wicklow Arts Centre, and staged
the very first concerts to be staged at the new theatre. In
the 19 years since then Bray Jazz has staged more than 700
concerts, recitals and jazz trail shows featuring more than
3,500 musicians from Ireland and overseas.
A firm favourite with jazz lovers from at home and abroad,
the festival has a large and loyal following, and attracts
audiences of more than 5,000 to the North Wicklow town, on
the May Bank Holiday weekend, each year. Bray Jazz is one of
a handful of National Millennium events that continue to this
day.
 WHAT CRITICS HAVE SAID
Bray Jazz Festival receives extensive pre and post event media coverage each year. The festival has also enjoyed sponsorship
support from RTE LyricFM, From the RTE Supporting the Arts Scheme, and from East Coast FM.
Below are samples of coverage of Bray Jazz Festival in recent times.

“Since its inception 19 years ago, and local musicians that is a credit to its
the Bray Jazz Festival has pursued a organisers...”- THE TICKET - THE
determinedly forward-looking artistic IRISH TIMES “Pick of the Week’ - April
policy, giving Irish jazz listeners a chance 2017
to witness some of the innovators and
influencers in the art form up close and “A Little Gem” - -SUNDAY
in person. This year’s bill ticks those INDEPENDENT, 2015
boxes yet again...” - THE TICKET,
THE IRISH TIMES ‘Pick of the Week’, “One of the very best small jazz festivals
2018 in Europe” - ALL ABOUT JAZZ, 2015

“One of Europe’s leading boutique “A regular fixture in the Irish music

jazz festival events.” - IRISH
INDEPENDENT, 2018
“Bray Jazz Festival returned for its
nineteenth year with perhaps its
strongest international programme
to date, selling out the main theatre
three nights in a row and drawing good
crowds to the smaller venues around
town for the numerous fringe events...”
-ALL ABOUT JAZZ, 2018
n Bray Jazz Festival previewed in the
Aer Lingus in-flight magazine, Cara.
“This small but feisty festival punches
so far above its weight, there ought to
be a stewards’ inquiry. Bray Jazz Festival
continues to serve up a well-considered
and credible programme of international
calendar for 19 years now, the Bray Jazz
Festival has become something of an
institution, and it has been described as
one of the best small jazz festivals in
Europe. -FAILTE IRELAND 2018
“One of Ireland’s most ccomplished
contemporary jazz music happenings...”
CARA MAGAZINE (AER LINGUS),
2016

THE FIRST 20 YEARS

From its start as a millennium year project to the present, a look back at some highlights of the past two decadess of
• 2000 - The inaugural Bray Jazz
Festival takes place, with headline
concerts at Ardmore Film Studios,
and over 40 other shows taking
place at hotel, bar and community
venues across North Wicklow.
• 2001 - The Arts Council of Ireland
become the main sponsor of Bray
Jazz Festival.
• 2002 - Mermaid Arts Centre opens
its doors to host its first ever shows
with Bray Jazz Festival. The festival
also receives an award from Bray
Chamber of Commerce for its
contribution to local business.
• 2004 - Bray Jazz Festival marks the
May Weekend accession of 10 new
countries to the European Union,
during Ireland’s EU presidency,
with performers by leading name
artists from Poland, Hungary, Czech
Republic, Estonia and Cyprus.
• 2006 - Bray Jazz receives a Chamber
Bray Jazz Festival.
• 2013 - Bray Jazz hosts an outdoor
mini-festival of Balkan music
outdoors in Bray Civic Plaza as a
part of the annual festival.
• 2014 - Bray Jazz begins an ongoing
collaboration with the national
‘Music Generation’ youth education
programme.
• 2016 - One of Bray’s oldest
buildings, the 400 year old St Paul’s
Church at Main St hosts Bray Jazz
concerts.
• 2016-2018 - Bray Jazz is chosen as
cultural ‘Pick of the Week’ for three
n Dave Douglas ‘Moonshine’ was successive years by The Irish Times
recorded at Bray Jazz Festival. ‘The Ticket’ magazine.
• 2018 - Heritage buildings - Bray
of Commerce award for its
Methodist Church and Norava Road
contribution to tourism.
Parochial Hall are used to stage
• 2007 - New York saxophonist Dave
festival concerts for the first time.
Douglas releases a new album based
upon recordings of his concert
performance at Bray Jazz Festival.
 A MUSICIAN’S MESSAGE
New York trumpeter Dave Douglas has been hailed as “the unassuming king of independent jazz.” Trumpeter,
composer, educator and band leader, he recorded a ‘live’ album based upon recordings of a live concert in Bray, in 2006.
He is also the only international name player to have performed Bray Jazz, with different projects, on three occasions.

W ow! Twenty years of Bray Jazz! Congratulations on this

wonderful festival.
Bray is dear to my heart because on one day in 2006 I both went on a gorgeous hike up the
mountainside, and recorded what became the live album ‘Moonshine’ with my band ‘Keystone’.
The combination of good sound and a warm audience never fails. We love it there!
Here’s to many more years of Bray Jazz.
Dave Douglas

SPONSORSHIP
Bray Jazz Festival has received sponsorship backing from more than 50 seperate businesses, state bodies and other
institutions since the festival was launched in the year 2000.

B ray Jazz Festival has been made possible thanks to the

support that the event has received from the concert
going public, as well as the backing it has received from
sponsors and institutional funders.
Bray Jazz receives funding from The Arts Council of Ireland, and receives annual
funding from Wicklow County Council.

Bray Jazz Festival has also been supported by Failte Ireland, the Irish tourism board
in each year since the festival was created. The 2018 festival was also supported
by RTE’s Supporting the Arts programme and by East Coast FM, a long-standing
festival partner.

Other sponsors of Bray Jazz Festival’s programme of activities in 2018 were The
Wicklow Wolf Brewing Company, Iarnrod Eireann, The Jazz Promotion Network,
together with the Embassy of Sweden, Embassy of Norway, Going Dutch
programme, Jazz
Export Bureau
n Bray Jazz poster displayed on rail
of France, Music
services.
Generation
Wicklow,
Mermaid Arts
Centre, The Martello Hotel, The Glenview Hotel, The
Harbour Bar, and the Royal Hotel and Merill Leisure Centre.

Additionally, the festival’s venue partners also included The

Hibernia Inn, Butler & Barry, Betelnut Cafe, Ocean Bar &
Grill, The Coach Inn, The Porterhouse and Mount Everest
of Kathmandu.

n The medieval town centre ‘St Paul’s Church’ has been

used to host concerts at Bray Jazz.

To contact Bray Jazz Festival call George/Dorothy Jacob at: Tel. 086-8654170
E-mail: brayjazz@gmail.com Web: www.brayjazz.com