Jazz at The Smithfield Sessions

Dublin City Council presents The Smithfield Sessions, a free weekend of rock, pop, jazz, classical, traditional and contemporary music on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th November. IMC present a dedicated jazz programme on Sunday 13th November.

A pop-up venue will showcase emerging acts and give people an opportunity to attend free workshops in drumming, composition, group music-making and improvisation. The Smithfield Sessions are curated by First Music Contact, in partnership with ourselves, Improvised Music Company, along with Contemporary Music Centre and Music Network and offer an opportunity for Dubliners to enjoy a smorgasboard of musical styles in a relaxed, family-friendly environment over the weekend of the 12th and 13th November.

Improvised Music Company at The Smithfield Sessions
As part of Smithfield Sessions, our jazz programme will take place on Sunday 13th November from 12 noon to 6pm and will include an interactive and creative workshop on improvisation with Lina Andonovska & Izumi Kimura, and stunning musical performances from both Aleka and Matthew Halpin, two stand-out artists that are part of IMC’s 30/30 mentorship programme.

Aleka
Described by The Irish Times as “hip cosmopolitan sound with a borderless trans-national flavour”, Romanian-born, Dublin-based vocalist Aleka brings over 20 years of musical education and high level performances to Smithfield Square for a performance not to be missed. Her bossa nova live band plays a mix of smooth and classic jazz, and encompasses the adventurous Chris Guilfoyle on guitar, the wonderfully elastic grooves of bassist Barry Donohue and the sought-after Matt Jacobson on drums.

Check out Aleka performing here.
Further info on Aleka here.

Matthew Halpin Group
Considered one of Ireland’s most inventive improvisers, Matthew Halpin is an accomplished saxophonist and composer who boasts a Scholarship from the world-renowned Berklee College of Music as well as leading a number of top jazz bands. On Sunday November 13th, Matthew brings his performance experience from the likes of the Blue Note venue in New York and the Newport Jazz Festival to Smithfield for a captivating live show. Matthew Halpin brings together a group of world-class players, and audiences will enjoy Kenji Herbert’s melodicism on guitar, Simon Jermyn’s creative basslines and Sean Carpio’s exciting drum patterns.

Further info on Matthew Halpin here.

Introduction to Improvisation Workshop with Lina Andonovska & Izumi Kimura
Sharing a passion for education and earned recognition for their brilliantly daring and exploratory approaches to music and improvisation, Lina Andonovska and Izumi Kimura invite you to their Introduction to Improvisation workshop, a judgement-free space with two of the top names on the Irish Jazz scene. Recently appointed as flautist of the Grammy Award-winning ensemble Eighth Blackbird, Lina Andonovska has been critically acclaimed for her improvisational approach to new music by the likes of Rolling Stone Magazine, while Izumi Kimura has worked with top artists around the globe, being hailed for her “heroic level of technical fearlessness” by The Irish Times. Lina and Izumi are the perfect fit to bring the fascinating world of improvisation to a larger audience.

Be sure to join us at Smithfield Square on November 13th. These concerts and workshops are all free admission and everybody is welcome!