Wexford's Johnstown Castle to be transformed into jazz venue for weekend of world-class music

Irish Independent

09-06-2025

Among the highlights of the festival, the biggest of its kind in the South East, are the evening concerts on Friday (Scott Flanigan Trio with Kevin Brady and Cormac O'Brien) and Saturday (the Jay Azzolina Trio).
Up to twelve acts will perform in indoor and outdoor venues like the Cart Room, the Ballroom, the Courtyard and the Visitors Centre. The festival is funded through Wexford County Council's Small Arts Festival Grant Scheme and supported by Rosslare Municipal District.
This year's line-up has many of the biggest names in Irish and international jazz including legendary New York guitarist, Jay Azzolina, accompanied by Wexford drummer Kevin Lawlor and bassist Andrew Csibi.
The festival continues its commitment to innovation in jazz: Wexford pianist Terry Byrne is set to reinterpret Keith Jarrett's Köln Concert, while a singer better known for her folk songs, Imelda Kehoe, is switching to jazz with pianist Killian Browne.
Although the Friday and Saturday evening concerts are ticketed affairs, the day time programme is free to members of Johnstown Castle. Non-members pay the regular admission fee to the estate. For further information, contact (Tel) 053 918 4671.
'Our curatorial aim this year is to facilitate all expressions of jazz musicianship by blending established jazz performers and emerging musicians and commissioning or supporting new work,' said programmer Tom Mooney.
Musicians appearing at Jazz at Johnstown festival this year are Alicija Bar; Fergal Twomey; James Kelly; Graham Lloyd; Bob Batty; Keith Doyle; Cormac O'Brien; Scott Flanigan; Kevin Brady; Kasia Eliasz; Gustavo de Morais; Rafal Szydlowski; Terry Byrne; Carole Nelson; Cormac O'Brien; Dominic Mullan; John Keogh; Matthew O'Connell; Imelda Kehoe; Killian Browne; Meg Lowney; Chris Colloton; Jay Azzolina; Kevin Lawlor; Andrew Csibi; Richard King; Des Mc Hugh; Bob Batty; Fran Dowling; Darragh Groome; Tom Maxwell; Sharon Clancy; Dave Mooney and Tony Rex.
FRIDAY JUNE 20
The Scott Flanigan Trio (Visitors Centre, 8 p.m.)
The music of The Beatles changed the world, a music which continues to be absorbed by many genres, including jazz. The group's legacy will be revisited in this unique Jazz at Johnstown concert on Friday evening, June 20, by a trio of Ireland's most accomplished musicians: Cormac O'Brien on bass, Kevin Brady on drums and Scott Flanigan on keyboards. So, sit back and enjoy a sumptuous summer's evening tribute to the fab four by the fab three at Johnstown Castle, a lively revisiting of the most popular and addictive music of the twentieth century by maestros of contemporary Irish jazz
SATURDAY JUNE 21
Terry Byrne/the Köln Concert (Ballroom /Johnstown Castle, Noon.)
January 24, 1975, proved a memorable, magical night for the audience which witnessed American jazz pianist Keith Jarrett perform a solo recital in the majestic surroundings of Cologne's opera house. Fortunately, the concert was recorded for posterity by ECM who released the recording later that year as a double-album. housed in stylish black-and-white artwork adorned with a picture of Jarrett hunched over the piano. The Köln Concert quickly went on to be regarded as a classic and amassed sales of four million and it is still the best-selling piano album of all time. Terry Byrne, Wexford pianist, reinterprets The Köln Concert into the acoustically wonderful Ballroom.
Tiny Crimes (Visitor's Centre, 1 p.m.)
Tiny Crimes evoke jazz of the late 1930s to early 1940s - when swing was evolving into bebop and electric guitars were making themselves heard for the first time. Two of the great electric pioneers were Charlie Christian and Tiny Grimes, whose playing helped set the standard for this new instrument. Tiny Crimes is a project to celebrate the music of these early pioneers and of their peers, such as Benny Goodman and Lester Young. The members are Richard King and Des McHugh on guitars, Graham Lloyd on bass, Bob Batty on saxophone and clarinet and Fran Dowling on drums. They come from the diverse musical worlds of gypsy jazz, Chicago Blues, bossa nova, straight ahead jazz and world music, with a common belief: 'These tunes aren't good because they're standards; they're standards because they're good'.
From Poland, Kasia is an award-winning vocalist with a strong emphasis on jazz, improvised and Brazilian music. She is a recipient of a Music Bursary 2022 from Riverbank Arts Centre: Kasia has been involved in many jazz ensembles (duos, trios, quintets) as a vocalist and a band leader performing at many prestigious festivals and venues, nationally and internationally. She is joined in Wexford by Gustavo de Morais, who performed at Jazz at Johnstown in 2024, and Rafal Szydlowski.
The Still Organ Stops (Courtyard, 3.10 p.m.)
The Still Organ Stops is a combination of two organ trios in Irish jazz. Comprising three young emerging artists from Dublin - Tom Maxwell on organ, Darragh Groome on drums and Matthew O'Connell on guitar - this trio put their own spin on the unique sound of the organ trio. As Tom plays with Darragh in the Still Organ Trio, and with Matthew as part of Tom Maxwell's Organ Stops, it's not hard to find the reason behind the name! Having gone through college together, the lads often find themselves playing together in different groups and projects around Ireland. Drawing inspiration from all of their own personal influences, from blues to choral works, the jazz tradition and other contemporary music, and with a desire to try out new ideas, the Still Organ Stops bring high energy, creativity and entertainment to their overall sound.
Bossa Nua Sextet (Visitors Centre, 4.00 p.m.)
The sextet Bossa Nua will bring the golden age of bossa nova to Wexford with faithful renditions of timeless classics, capturing the magic, elegance, and soul of the originals. Drawing from the golden era of Brazilian music, the band is dedicated to recreating the elegant, soulful atmosphere of artists like João Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Astrud Gilberto, and more. Rather than reinterpreting or modernizing these iconic works, Bossa Nua remains devoted to the authentic sound and spirit of the original recordings, preserving the subtle swing, warm harmonies, and gentle intimacy that defined a musical revolution. The line-up comprises: Alicija Bar (vocals); Fergal Twomey (guitar); James Kelly (piano); Graham Lloyd (bass); Bob Batty (saxophone) and Keith Doyle (drums).
Jay Azzolina Trio (Visitors Centre, 8 p.m.)
New York's Grammy-nominated guitarist and composer Jay Azzolina plays his first ever concert in Ireland at Jazz at Johnstown on Saturday, June 21st at 8 p.m. Jay has been part of the New York Jazz scene for the past three decades. After leaving the Berklee College of Music, where he studied with Pat Metheny, Mick Goodrick and Charlie Banacos, Jay began working and recording in New York with a variety of artists.
Jay's associations include Michael Urbaniak, Herbie Mann, Jaco Pastorius, Harvie S, Spyro Gyra, Dave Samuels, Kenny Werner, Chuck Mangione, Ron McClure, John Abercrombie, Randy Brecker, Jerry Bergonzi, The Westchester Jazz Orchestra and John Patitucci. He will be joined for his Jazz at Johnstown concert by drummer Kevin Lawlor and bassist Andrew Csibi. As a leader, Jay has recorded four CD's of original compositions with some of the most influential players in jazz including, Chris Potter, Adam Nussbaum, Larry Goldings, Gary Versace, John Patitucci, Tim Ries and Greg Hutchinson. Jay continues to write and perform vigorously and will be releasing his fifth CD Present Tense on TRR records this year.
SUNDAY JUNE 22
Imelda Kehoe and Killian Browne (Ballroom /Johnstown Castle, Noon)
Imelda Kehoe is known for her distinctive voice, story-telling and blend of contemporary folk mixed with jazz, blues and soul, described as 'one of the 'finest Irish contemporary songwriters to emerge in recent years'. Her songs are melody-rich, weaving a tapestry of human stories and life experiences written with the listener at heart. In the making of her fourth Album, just released, she met Killian Browne, whose contact details she saved as 'Killian-Amazing Piano player'. This is Imelda's first appearance at Jazz at Johnstown although Killian is a veteran. Expect something magical from this new collaboration.
Sharon Clancy Trio (Visitors Centre, 1 p.m.)
With Tony Rex on keyboards/piano and Dave Mooney on bass, Sharon can sing straight-ahead jazz with aplomb and yet switch styles in the blink of an eye. Expect a magical set of original compositions and jazz classics from this seasoned West End performer. A frequent headliner over the years at Jazz at Johnstown and Aberjazz, Sharon has both a smouldering and sensuous vocal with a seasoned performer's mastery of the stage.
Carole Nelson Trio (Courtyard, 2.15 p.m.)
The Carole Nelson Trio, with Carole on piano, bassist Cormac O'Brien and drummer Dominic Mullen, began at the 2015 Dublin Trio Trio Trio Piano Festival. Their first album, One Day in Winter was released in 2017, described as 'a finely-wrought meditation that tapped into the spacious European piano trio tradition of Tord Gustavsen and Marcin Wasilewski.' Arboreal, their second recording, featuring another collection of outstanding original compositions, was followed by Night Vision in 2022. Songs from Through the Storm, due for release in October, will feature at Jazz at Johnstown.
2 Guitars: John Keogh and Matthew O'Connell (Cart Room, 3.10 p.m.)
John Keogh and Matthew O'Connell make a welcome return to Jazz at Johnstown after their debut in the Cart Room last year. This year they will showcase original material while also applying a jazz touch to popular classics by James Taylor, Bon Iver and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Guitar duets present a wonderful opportunity to experience the interchangeability of jazz-laden guitar playing.
Cluster Funk Quartet (Visitors Centre, 4.00 p.m.)
Following his headline performance at the Johnstown Jazz Festival in 2024, drummer and educator Kevin Lawlor revisits a fusion project from 2016 with a new line-up of musicians. Cluster Funk will perform jazz and groove music by artists including Thundercat, Jamiroquai, Mark Guliana, Erykah Badu, Jorja Smith, Terrace Blanchard, Wayne Shorter and more. The band will also use well known hip hop grooves with jazz standards played over as an alternative take on jazz fusion. Expect everything from organ driven funk to ambient jazz.
Cluster Funk, supported by Culture Ireland, will make its international debut at Aberjazz in Wales later in 2025. Kevin is an established jazz drummer, educator and composer with five independent jazz albums released to date. Cluster Junk at Jazz at Johnstown is Kevin on drums, Chris Colloton on guitar, Meg Lowney on bass and Tom Maxwell on organ.