New Park Nights at the Twisted Pepper.

Thanks to Newpark Music Centre’s Bachelor in Jazz Performance, young Irish jazz musicians are now receiving a level of training every bit as good as their European counterparts , and it's sure to have a profound and positive impact on music here.

The graduate class of 2010 will be giving you a taste of whats to come with performances in the heart of the city at The Twisted Pepper, Middle Abbey Street, throughout February and March. These Tuesday gigs showcase the very best in emerging talent, with two bands nightly rounded off by a jam session hosted by members of Newpark’s renowned faculty of leading Irish jazz artists.

Tuesday 2nd February

Stephen McHale Quartet

Mayo born Stephen McHale has his roots in rock, having shared the stage with acts like the late James Brown and Sharon Shannon. Moving into the jazz idiom, he debuts as bandleader with pianist, Leopoldo Osio, bassist Dan Callaghan and Tommy Gray on drums suffusing the sound of swinging bebop with his own brand of funk rock.

Dan Callaghan’s Kwartet

Luke Dunford - piano

Stephen McHale - guitar

Tommy Gray -drums.

Double bassist Dan Callaghan has been playing as a professional sideman for the last four years, this is his first time to emerge as bandleader. Callaghan exudes personal and quirky compositions inspired by the melodic angularity of Thelonious Monk and the harmonic sophistication of the Ahmad Jamal Trio.

His tight arrangements and attention to detail demonstrate a particular affinity for small group writing, while also leaving lots of room for the band to add their collective sound.

Coming together on the night for some hard swinging, rhythmic richness and interactive improvisation are band members Luke Dunford on piano, Stephen McHale on guitar and Tommy Gray on drums.