Zeitgeist Irland 24

Jan 5th 2024

Having trained in London and Ireland, Cork born vocalist Laoise Leahy (née O’Hanlon) has returned to her Leeside roots to raise her young family and continue her musical pursuits in performance and education in the thriving musical hub that is Cork City. Laoise has developed into one of the most accomplished, versatile and in-demand singers on the Irish jazz and pop scenes. She has performed and recorded with the likes of Bon Iver, Gilbert O’ Sullivan, Damon Albarn, Dermot Kennedy, Sam Beste (Amy Winehouse), Alex Somers, The Staves, Damien Rice, Richard Reed Parry (Arcade Fire), Brian Deady, Efterklang, Jack O’ Rourke and many others. She is now ready to take wings as a solo artist in her own right and bring some original music to her audience alongside her own unique interpretations of jazz material she has honed over the years. She has begun to release original music to great acclaim and worldwide airplay, with her debut ‘Girl’ in August 2022, following up with ‘Safe’ (July 2023) and Oct 2023 brings ‘Starlight’ - the final of a trilogy. Laoise is currently Jazz Artist in residence at Cork Opera House 2023 and was also a residence artist at the ‘Sounds from a Safe Harbour’ Festival 2023. For this special showing to open the Scott’s Jazz Club calendar for 2024, Laoise brings her all-star band of Johnny Taylor, piano, Barry Donohue, bass, and Dominic Mullan, drums, to the club for a spellbinding show of sound, visuals, and beautiful music!

12th Jan 2024

Pianist, composer and founder of Scott’s Jazz Club Scott Flanigan brings his exciting electric band back to the club. Featuring Stephen McClenaghan on guitar, Rohan Armstrong on electric bass and Andrew McCoubrey on drums, this ensemble pays tribute to 1970s jazz funk fusion pioneers Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and Weather Report.

A Belfast native, Scott Flanigan is one of the foremost keyboard players on the Irish jazz scene. He performs regularly across the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Germany, and has recently performed with Van Morrison, the Ulster Orchestra, Larry Coryell, Jean Toussaint, Jim Mullen and Linley Hamilton. As a leader, Scott successfully tours his own contemporary piano trio, as well as a hard-swinging organ quartet. He also runs the successful Scott’s Jazz Club in East Belfast, a weekly jazz club bringing the best in Irish and European jazz to local audiences.

Equally at home in academia as well as the bandstand, Scott received his BMus degree from Ulster University and his MMus in Jazz Performance from Dublin Institute of Technology. Scott has recently completed his Ph.D in Jazz Performance at Ulster University, exploring and assimilating contemporary trends in jazz piano into his own playing.

Scott is also in demand as a teacher of jazz harmony, improvisation and concert preparation, lecturing in jazz piano at Cork School of Music and at Queens University Belfast, alongside a busy teaching schedule both online and at home in Belfast

19th Jan 2024

The Oddgeir Berg Trio have waited four years for this "brand new day". After Before Dawn in 2018 and 2020's In the End of the Night, the third part of their trilogy around the wee small hours now opens its eyes to the light. The conceptual focus on the brighter side has made the album their most dynamic, confident and diverse collection yet. And this despite the fact that the album was recorded under immense pressure and at the least opportune time. The trio had been planning to record new material for a while when the Norwegian government announced a lockdown. With only three days left before an uncertain future, they headed to the studio and completed the entire record in an intense session.

Remarkably, the tone of these nine new originals is hopeful and upbeat rather than gloomy and fearful. The melancholic sound world of the previous two releases is still present on the opening two cuts, “The Dream of Adam” and “Dancing through the Storm”, which seem like a direct continuation of the narrative. Once the transition is complete, however, brighter moods and energetic rhythms dominate the picture.

Of course, neither he nor his collaborators Karl-Joakim Wisløff (bass) and Lars Berntsen (drums) can deny their Nordic nature. And so, towards the end of the album, the tune “Bring on the Night” again descends into darkness. Perhaps an album which is also about waiting for a pandemic to end had to. But in conceptual terms, this, too, is where the circle closes

26th Jan 2024

Described as ‘original’ and ‘highly lyrical’ Edinburgh born pianist and composer Ben Shankland’s trio is an exciting new group on the UK jazz scene with a fresh and distinctive sound. Combining an ever-expanding catalogue of original music with carefully selected and arranged renditions of classics, the band, though young, sound soulful beyond their years and have no trouble getting buried in the tunes they perform.

Shankland’s compositions take the listener from serene, slowly evolving textures to high-octane bursts of energy. With elements of 50s hard bop, 70s ECM as well as more contemporary rhythmic and conceptual ideas, Shankland's sound is one that will appeal to jazz fans of any age.

Having given highly acclaimed performances around the country, the Ben Shankland Trio is testament to the longevity of jazz music and their ability to engage and entertain is sure to connect with audiences everywhere.

'Easeful harmonising and sureness of touch leave one eager to hear more from Shankland in the future' - Scottish Jazz Space

2nd February 2024

Saxophonist Daniel Rorke and pianist Rick Simpson met while on tour with trumpeter Linley Hamilton’s group that included American Jazz greats Adam Nassbaum and Mark Egan. Hilarity ensued. These musicians share a simpatico that makes for playful and exciting musical interaction on the stage. This quartet is born of a desire to further this interplay, joined by two of Ireland’s foremost rhythm section players. Expect adventurous contemporary Jazz music that revels in the joy of improvisation in a way that invites the audience to be part of the journey.

Rick Simpson is based in London playing a wide variety of music, and leads his own group playing original jazz music. In 2008 Rick won a Yamaha Scholarship Prize for Outstanding Jazz Musicians. A recording of Rick’s band was put on the front cover of Jazzwise Magazine.

Daniel Rorke's latest album, Naked Allies, recorded in Brooklyn NY, features renowned saxophonist Oscar Noriega, Simon Jermyn and Matthew Jacobson. Boasting a varied performance career, Rorke has worked with cutting edge European and American Jazz musicians and has won many awards including Icelandic Jazz Album of The Year in 2005.

Daniel and Rick will be joined by two of Ireland’s finest rhythm section plays, bassist Dave Redmond and drummer Shane O’Donovan.