Composer-in-Residence at the Sligo Jazz Project is Golden Globe nominated score-writer, arranger, composer and pianist Brian Byrne, who will deliver daily composition masterclasses and a performance of ‘Goldenhair’ based on the poetry of James Joyce.

Founded in 2005, SJP promotes jazz education and performance in Sligo, the county, and further across Connacht, incorporating a summer school and a festival.

Summer school participants gain entry to all Sligo Jazz Festival concerts and all can hang and step up to sit in at the twice daily jam sessions. Fees range from €200 for the week.

Festival director, NoCrows bassist Eddie Lee, will be at Jazzahead in Germany next week, one of a number of top Irish jazz festival promoters who are making the journey over, all promoting and championing the vibrant and innovative scene back home to better acquaint the intercontinental jazz business movers and shakers in attendance with word direct from the very horse’s mouth.  

Festival 

Tues 24 July 8pm  
Liane Carroll and friends

Featuring  

SHANNON BARNETT Trombone

LIANE CARROLL Voice

SARA COLMAN Voice

MEILANA GILLARD Saxophone

EMILIA MÅRTENSSON, Voice

and friends

 
Wed 25 July 3:30pm-4:30pm
Joe Dart: masterclass 
Vulfpeck’s Joe Dart gives a rare bass masterclass prior to his appearance in this theatre with The Olllam with some help from SJP’s bass maestro Federico Malaman and drummer Nicolas Viccaro.

Wed 25 July 8pm double bill 

The Olllam

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Two Bass Hit with Federico Malaman & Henrik Linder 

The Olllam feature piper John McSherry, multi-instrumentalist Tyler Duncan, bassist Joe Dart and drummer Michael Shimmin.

Federico Malaman is joined by the Dirty Loops bassist Henrik Linder with French drummer Nicolas Viccaro and other guests to be arranged.

Thurs 26 July 8pm
SJP Big Band featuring  Malcolm Edmonstone, Liane Carroll, Ryan Quigley, Mike Walker and many others.  

Nightfly and other Stories

Music by Donald Fagen, Mike Walker and others, arranged for big band. 

Malcolm Edmonstone has arranged Donald Fagen’s Nightfly album for big band and singers. SJP’s big band will perform arrangements from this repertoire and other big band numbers arranged by members of the 2018 Faculty. 

Fri 27 July 8pm 
Brian Byrne’s Goldenhair 

Words by James Joyce, music by Brian Byrne

Featuring The SJP Big Band, guests including Lucia Evans, William Byrne, Paul Booth, Ryan Quigley & others.

Brian Byrne's album Goldenhair interweaves James Joyce's poems with a variety of musical styles from traditional to jazz.  

Sat 28 JULY 8pm  
SJP ALL STARS
This year’s All Star concert features no fewer than 26 musicians from 10 countries including Liane Carroll, Malcolm Edmonstone, Federico Malaman, Neal Wilkinson and Paul Booth.  

Faculty

Voice: Liane Carroll. Sara Colman, Emilia Mårtensson (UK)

Piano, Composer in Residence: Brian Byrne (IE)

Piano: Malcolm Edmonstone (UK), Scott Flanigan (NI), Kieran Quinn (IE)

Saxophone: Paul Booth (UK), Meilana Gillard (USA/NI), Ciaran Wilde (IE), Cathal Roche (IE), Matthew Halpin (IE)

Drums: Neal Wilkinson (UK), Nicolas Viccaro (Fra), Paul Clarvis (UK) Steve Davis (NI), David Lyttle (NI)

Double Bass: John Goldsby (USA/DE)

Electric Bass: Henrik Linder (Swe), Federico Malaman (Ita)

Trombone: Shannon Barnett (AUS/DE)

Trumpet: Linley Hamilton (NI)

Guitar: Mike Walker (UK), Mike Nielsen (Ire), Joseph Leighton (NI)

Violin: Oleg Ponomarev (Rus/IE)

Youth Academy in Association with Music Generation Sligo:

Cathal Roche, Ciaran Wilde and Kieran Quinn.