16/07/2020
Next week 21-26 July is the week we would have had our physical jazz festival in Sligo. Sligo Jazz Project is the name given to the whole affair: Europe’s biggest and most inclusive summer school of jazz and improvised music and a boutique jazz festival has grown into one of the most important of its kind in Ireland and one of the most unique anywhere. The success stems from the combination of education, inspiration and entertainment available for all who attend.
Of course, most regrettably, there is no physical festival due to the pandemic and solid plans for our entire summer school of over 120 participants and nearly 30 tutors, built and established for 15 years, had to be abandoned. The revenue losses of the summer school has thrown such a terrible obstacle to the progress of SJP but Sligo Jazz Project will not lie down. With the help of funding from the Arts Council and Sligo County Council Sligo Jazz Project - Virtually! Will air on Facebook live from 21-26 July.
Featured will be one-off zoom discussions, micro-lessons and workshops, and of course performances from Some if the Jazz world’s finest performers including Rufus Reid, Adam Nussbaum, Sachal Vasandani and Steve Rodby, who will be participating from USA, joined by many of the UK’s finest, Liane Carroll, Tony Kofi, Larry Bartley, Paul Booth, Josephine Davies, Malcolm Edmonstone, Phil Robson and a whole host of Irish jazz artists north and south including Michael Buckley, Mike Nielsen, Linley Hamilton, Scott Flanagan and Steve Davis, Christine Tobin, Saffron Trio, Paul Dunlea, Conor Bastible Kieran Quinn and more ...
Transatlantic Zoom sessions will feature renowned US musicians and a very special Sunday edition of David O’Rourke’s Jazz Generations from New York’s iconic Jazz Standard youth programme will team up with Sligo Jazz Project for the occasion and feature some of Sligo’s and Ireland’s most promising young players. A premiere to look forward to will be a new video from Italian ace Federico Malaman, French drummer Nicolas Viccaro and Swedish bass star Henrik Linder (of Dirty Loops fame), who are making a remote recording from three countries especially for Sligo Jazz Project - Virtually!
Lots to look forward to in different media. SJP Virtually! Will feature a premiere screening of David Lyttles “Jazz Life” documentary - the Irish drummer’s travels stateside featuring an exclusive fascinating interview with iconic Jazz educator Jamey Aebersold. Big band performances are being recorded especially in several countries for a fabulous finale to the virtual festival. Check in 22-26 July from 6pm onwards each evening, earlier on the Saturday 25 and Sunday 26. Full programme available on Sligo Jazz page & sligojazz.ie from Friday July 17
Promoting of a new event for music lovers in Waterford City, Ireland.
