Irish-based pianist Izumi Kimura has worked with many of the top names in contemporary and improvised music and performed all over the world. Ahead of her performance at Jazz Connective with violinist Cora Venus Lunny on Wednesday 11th December, we chatted to Izumi about connecting with the essence of music, sharing changes of perspective with audiences, and the mental and emotional struggles and rewards of being an improvising musician.
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Maverick pianist Elliot Galvin’s stupendous creativity has earned him comparisons with Django Bates, though Galvin's singular approach has affirmed his reputation as a true original. A 12 Points alumnus, Irish audiences will remember his trio’s stand-out performance in Dublin in 2018.
We chatted to Elliot about taking inspirations from his fellow musicians, and the centrality of improvisation.
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Jazz Connective is a 2 day pop-up festival of avantgarde and adventurous music, featuring Irish and international artists, curated by Improvised Music Company in collaboration with six European partners.
In addition to concerts on the Project main stage and the CUBE, Jazz Connective features artistic residences, music workshops and discussions about jazz and improvised music in the 21st century, and is the result of ongoing collaboration between Ireland and other European countries. This landmark Dublin event is the 4th in a European series with stops already in Ljubljana, Lodz and Helsinki and future stops in London, Birmingham and Lyon in 2020.
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Ahead of his performance at Signal Series, on Thursday 7th November, Sligo-born guitarist Mike Nielsen and head of TU Dublin's Jazz Performance spoke to us about his approach to music-making. Described by the press as “one of Europe’s most distinctive and iconoclastic guitar voices, equally innovative on electric and acoustic guitars,', Mike Nielsen pioneered TU Dublin's Masters in Jazz Performance, tutors with the Sligo International Summer School and has given workshops at Berklee and the New School.
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OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS Q&A with Darragh Hennessy
Pianist and organist Darragh Hennessy has been active over the last few years as a sideman on the Dublin jazz scene, but takes on the role of leader/composer in the Darragh Hennessy Organ Trio. Their debut album Duchenne Smile was released in 2019, consisting of mostly original material written by Darragh with the organ trio in mind. Their groovy tunes are reminiscent of Blue Note era organ players such as Jimmy Smith and more contemporary players like Larry Goldings.
We chatted to Darragh about the inspirations of being a musician in the present day, making music that speaks to people, and the joys of playing original music. The Darragh Hennessy Organ Trio performs at the final Signal Series of 2019, Thursday 7th November at Arthur's Blues & Jazz Club.
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OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS Q&A with Aengus Hackett, guitarist
Galway guitarist Aengus Hackett graduated from the Conservatory of Amsterdam, and has studied with such leading guitarists as Jesse Van Ruller and Wayne Krantz. Hackett has performed with legendary USA pianist Bertha Hope, and Irish stalwarts, including Mike Nielsen and Conor Guilfoyle. We chatted to him about inspiration, collaboration and the future ahead of his performance with Mike Nielsen at the last Signal Series of 2019, taking place on the 7th November at Arthur's Blues & Jazz Club.
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‘Restless Islands’ awarded funding by Beyond Borders scheme
IMC is delighted that ‘Restless Islands’, a new jazz sextet presented by Ronan Guilfoyle and Improvised Music Company has been awarded funding under the Beyond Borders scheme. The work will be performed in 5 shows across Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, expressing a continued need for cultural partnerships between Ireland and Britain.
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Other Side of the Tracks: Q&A with Garrett Sholdice of Ergodos Label
Garrett Sholdice is composer, producer and musician and holds a PhD in music composition from the University for York (UK). He runs the Ergodos Label with Benedict Schlepper-Connolly.
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