Playing the Hawk’s Well on 21 July Dhafer Youssef is the latest addition to the 2015 Sligo Jazz Project festival line-up this summer.

Born in Teboulba, Tunisia in 1967, Youssef, above, is known for his work with Renaud Garcia-Fons, Markus Stockhausen, Carlo Rizzo, Nguyên Lê, Wolfgang Puschnig and Christian Muthspiel, among others, with his music rooted in the Sufi tradition. His many widely acclaimed albums include Divine Shadows, Digital Prophecy, and Electric Sufi, and his music has the ability to embrace both middle eastern classical styles, electronica, and dance grooves.

Bass-guitar jazz and soul session don Chuck Rainey (Eli and the Thirteenth Confession, Black Byrd, Pretzel Logic) is guest of honour flying in to give masterclasses and a public interview. And Youssef also joins The Impossible Gentlemen, above, already confirmed as Sligo Jazz Project’s first ever band-in-residence, saxophonist Ernie Watts – best known for his work with Cannonball Adderley, the late Charlie Haden in Quartet West and with Kurt Elling – plus Hastings-based singer Liane Carroll whose rendition of ‘Ithaca’ on Simon Purcell’s new album Red Circle was a choice vocal highlight of 2014, all heading way out west. Bassist John Goldsby, a longtime member of leading German big band the WDR, will once again be part of the faculty and perform.

Sligo dates are 21-26 July for 2015, and summer school enrolment has already begun.