Event Guide

SUNDAYS: Adm €10 (Unless Otherwise Stated)

Sunday 29th January : Tommy Halferty Trio www.tommyhalferty.com Doors 7.30pm - Adm €10
Featuring Tommy Halferty –Guitar, Dave Redmond - Double Bass and Kevin Brady - Drums
The Tommy Halferty Trio perform their first concert of 2012...
performing original compostions penned by Halferty and performing re-workings of jazz standards.

Sunday 12th February : ‘The Music Midnight Makes' - Edel Meade sings Joni Mitchell
Featuring Edel Meade – vocals, Hugh Buckley – guitar, Cian Boylan – piano, Peter Erdei - electric bass & Dominic Mullan - drums

Joni Mitchell is one of the most celebrated artists of the last half century and forty-one years after the release of her landmark album, Blue, Dublin-based vocalist and composer, Edel Meade pays tribute to the legendary singer/songwriter. Few artists have shaped the landscape of popular music as much as Joni Mitchell. Her poetry, insight and originality have influenced so many that contemporary song-writing without her is unimaginable.

Edel has embarked on a project to look at new ways of exploring Mitchell’s vast catalogue of moving and evocative material; songs that will break your heart, highlight social injustice and provoke thought, with beautifully composed chord structures, intriguing melodies and poetic lyrics. Noted for her uninhibited and expressive vocals, Edel will be singing some of Mitchell’s most treasured songs, All I Want, A Case of You, Woodstock, and Big Yellow Taxi. This performance however doesn’t limit itself to Mitchell’s Blue period; it embraces her jazzy excursions with jazz giants, Wayne Shorter, Charles Mingus and Jaco Pastorius on songs like Goodbye Porkpie Hat, Twisted, Be Cool and will include some of Meade’s own original songs, influenced by Mitchell’s deeply personal compositional style.

“A unique voice dripping with soul...”
Ian Shaw, BBC award-winning jazz vocalist

"A wonderful young Irish songwriter..."
Honor Heffernan, Ireland's leading jazz vocalist

Sunday 26th February : TBC

Sunday 11th March : The Phil Ware Trio with guest Phil McDermott www.philwaretrio.com Doors 7.30pm - Adm €10
The Phil Ware Trio one of Ireland's leading jazz groups make a welcome return to JJ Smyth’s on the 11th of March featuring special guest guitarist/composer Phil McDermott. A native of Dublin but now based in Norway, McDermott has been much in demand as a performer on the Scandinavian Jazz scene...
The music performed will feature many original compositions & re-workings of jazz standards by all members of the quartet. Not to be missed…



MONDAYS:

Monday 23rd January : ..SPECTRUM.. Doors 9pm - Adm €10
Featuring: Derek O’Connor (Sax & Keyboards) www.myspace.com/camembertquartetcom, Jimmy Smyth (Guitar) www.myspace.com/jamespsmyth, Paul Moore (Bass) www.myspace.com/polomordha and Tom McDermott (Drums).
Led by tenor sax player Derek O’Connor, ‘Spectrum’ have a reputation for no-holds barred playing by musicians at the top of their game. O’Connor has worked with Van Morrison, Paul Brady, The European Jazz Orchestra and is a member of the popular Camembert Quartet. He finds his perfect foil here in guitarist/composer/producer Jimmy Smyth, a founder member of 70’s rock band The Bogey Boys he also played with Toni Childs with whom he co-wrote the Grammy Nominated "Woman's Boat"album. The group is completed by Paul Moore (Van Morrison, Riverdance, Mark Knopfler and Paul Brady) and Tom McDermott (Cheap Thrills, Alex Chilton, Reverse Trust, D.I.Y. & Gripewater Blues Band).



TUESDAYS:

Tuesday 10th January : Dave O’Rourke Quartet with special guests Doors 9pm - Adm €5 Suggested Donation
www.davidorourke.com www.myspace.com/davidorourke
Featuring Dave O’Rourke (guitar), Myles Drennan (piano), Dave Flemming (bass), Shane O’Donovan (drums) and special guests…!!!
For the last nine years, New York City based jazz guitarist, conductor, and arranger David O’Rourke has guided tomorrow’s jazz musicians as ‘house bandleader’ of the Jazz Standard Youth Orchestra. And for his contributions to Jazz Standard Discovery (a music education program that he has led since 1998), David and co-founder James Polsky were named “New Yorkers Of The Week” by NY1 News. Born and raised in Dublin, O’Rourke has built a career defined and shaped by his exposure to and association with many of his musical idols, both in the US and abroad. He has played with Les Paul and Bucky Pizzarelli and studied with legends such as Barry Galbraith and Pat Martino. He currently leads and writes for his own 20-piece band (The O’Rourkestra) at the Zinc Bar NYC, composing and arranging including recent commissions for the City Of Dublin Jazz Orchestra while continuing to perform in the New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia jazz clubs.
As an active performer, David has played the live premiere of George Russell’s “Concerto For Billy The Kid” (this had been recorded in the late 1950s but never performed live). On the same New York Town Hall concert David got to play the guitar in a big band made up of some of the more famous Ellington and Basie alumni. He collaborated with drummer Lewis Nash on a project that brought Irish music and jazz together for a CD (“Aisling”) by a band they called “The Celtic Jazz Collective”. They played two one-week runs at Jazz Standard as well as a performance in Harvard sponsored by the Cambridge Multicultural Center. In 1990 David recorded a CD with Larry Willis (piano), Bob Cranshaw (bass) and Al Harewood (drums) and later that same year wrote an extended orchestral medley from Porgy And Bess for Larry Willis to perform with the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra. A chance meeting with George Benson and Hammond B3 player Seleno Clarke led to David beginning a 12 year stint with Seleno’s Quintet. From their Harlem base the quintet played festivals in the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada and at various US festivals. Throughout his career, David has played with many jazz legends such as Tommy Flanagan’s Trio, Cedar Walton’s Trio, Jackie McLean, Billy Higgins, Curtis Fuller, James Spalding, Harold Ousley, Vernal Fournier, and Brother Jack McDuff.
In addition to an active schedule as a performer, O’Rourke is in demand as a jazz conductor and arranger. He is currently creating arrangements for the debut tour (Japan) of drummer LewisNash’s Big Band. David conducted the RTE Concert Orchestra in Dublin’s National Concert Hall for two years in succession as music director/conductor of thetributes to arranger Nelson Riddle. He conducted for Steve Wilson’s “Bird With Strings” project that also included a workshop in string writing when they performed at SUNY New Paltz. David also conducted Steve’s 50th birthday run at Jazz Standard and wrote string arrangements for trumpeter Jeremy Pelt’s “Close To My Heart” recording followed by further arrangements for the launch performance at Jazz Standard and Sirius Satellite Radio. String arrangements for PamelaLuss led to David conducting the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra strings in a Prague recording studio.
In his early years, David’s own quartet won the best band award at the Guinness Jazz Festival in Cork in 1984 and performed together again one year later at the same festival as part of their prize. At that time, David played in the Five Guitars led by Irish jazz virtuoso guitarist Louis Stewart (with whom he played as a teen, played the Cork Jazz Festival with Turk Mauro, (joined onstage by Teddy Edwards), Irish pianist and arranger Noel Kelihan, British Baritone Saxist Ronnie Ross.
At the age of 21, David was a finalist in the RTE Young Musician Of The Future. This was the first time a non-classical musician made it to the finals. David performed as soloist with the RTE Concert Orchestra, an ensemble that he would return some years later to conduct in the National Concert Hall.
As a child in Ireland, David grew up hearing many styles of music from classical to jazz, folk music and pop songs of his generation and he loved it all. A listening session with his father could include anything from Mozart to Miles, Errol Garner to Debussy – he remembers he and his dad listening to Joshua Rifkin playing Scott Joplin’s rags (not just The Entertainer!) around the time the movie The Sting was popular.



WEDNESDAYS:

Wednesday 11th January : The Raindogs www.myspace.com/harrymcdead Doors 9pm - Adm €10
Our very own inimitable Peter Moore has fronted the International Blues Band, The Raindogs and The Wandering Harrys. Tonight he fronts The Raindogs, who will cover some of his favourite music from Van Morrison, Tom Waits, Leo Kottke and possibly some of his own music from his debut album Faoin Spéir, a collection of recordings that span a number of years. Peter is known for his live on the edge poetic performances and the musicians who work with him are capable of turning corners at a moment’s notice, they have to because that's how Peter works. Peter is the Performer, the Musician, and the Voice, the voice that could grind coffee beans and make music at the same time. He will be joined by some of the finest musicians on the scene, some of which are, Anthony Stapleton - guitar and Kevin Malone - drums. Peter’s gigs are always infused with spontaneous creativity!

Wednesday 25th January : aja playing the music of Steely Dan Doors 9pm - Adm €12
'Aja' is a tribute band playing the music of Steely Dan. Theirlive set opens with the entire classic album Aja, hence the name.
Featuring : Gerry Farrelly - Keyboards, Greg Boland - Guitar, Tommy Moore - Bass / Vocals, Alan Cunningham - Drums, Johnny Graham - Vocals, Sinead Stone - Vocals, Mark Wilde and Serge Stavilla - Saxaphones.

Wednesday 29th February : aja playing the music of Steely Dan Doors 9pm - Adm €12
'Aja' is a tribute band playing the music of Steely Dan. Theirlive set opens with the entire classic album Aja, hence the name.
Featuring : Gerry Farrelly - Keyboards, Greg Boland - Guitar, Tommy Moore - Bass / Vocals, Alan Cunningham - Drums, Johnny Graham - Vocals, Sinead Stone - Vocals, Mark Wilde and Serge Stavilla - Saxaphones.



THURSDAYS: ISOTOPE (Dublin’s Long Running Jazz Session). Doors 9pm - Adm €8
Regular mainstream jazz session featuring – Hugh Buckley (Guitar) www.myspace.com/hughbuckley , Richie Buckley (Sax) www.myspace.com/richiebuckleymusic , Myles Drennan (Piano) www.myspace.com/mylesdrennan , Damian Evans (Bass) www.myspace.com/damianevansbass , Shane O’Donovan (Drums) and many more………..!!!!

Every month ISOTOPE will feature the music of well known song writers.

Thursday 12th January : ISOTOPE play the music of The Rolling Stones

Thursday 19th January : ISOTOPE

Thursday 26th January : ISOTOPE play the music Stevie Wonder



FRIDAYS: Doors 9pm - Adm €10 (Unless Otherwise Stated)
Friday Nights host a series of performances featuring some of the countries finest blues, roots, r’n’b and jazz acts

JANUARY

Fri 6th : Parchman Farm www.myspace.com/parchmanfarmbluesband Doors 9pm - Adm €10
Formed by guitarist Pete Mc Gowan and ex bass player Gerry Murray and Tommy Grimes after the demise of The Axis Blues Band, Parchman Farms' distinctive style of blues soon established them as one of Ireland's Premier blues bands. The aim of the band was to steer clear ofexcessively heavy handed and endless soloing, and to retain the distinctiveclassic blues style of early chicago - a formula that has worked well for the band giving the favourable comments from many of the blues artists the bandhave played with over the years including Phil Guy, Larry Garner, Louisianna Red and Rock Bottom amongst others. With Chicago being the mecca for many blues musicians while checking out some of the clubs, Pete and Fran on different occasions had the privilege of guesting with Johnny Drummer in Lee's Unleaded blues club (South Chicago) and Charlie Love in Kingston Mines and also took to the stage in Rosa's (West Chicago) with the James Wheeler's band. Having played all of the major blues and Jazz festivals at home, the band have since madetheir mark on the International scene, gaining excellent reviews and response from critics and audiences alike when they appeared on the main stage at Lillehammer Blues Festival in Norway, and have also been well received at festival appearances and tours in the Nederlands, Finland and in Britain where the band performed four times, including appearances on the prestigious International stage at the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival. The band's first CD “Nothing But The Blues” gained considerable European airplay and was also featured on the Paul Jones radio show in Britain , guitarist Mick Martin's Blues Party Show in California, and Don O's show in Texas, while back home they have opened the launch of the Dublin Guinness Blues festival on several occasions, as backing band to Eugene Hideaway Bridges and Johnny Mars, and also supported Joe Louis Walker and Robben Ford on main festival nights.

Fri 13th : Brian Meakin Band www.myspace.com/brianmeakinband Doors 9pm - Adm €10
Brian Meakin is a self taught practitioner of solid honest blues rock guitar playing. from the age of 16 Brian has been absorbing the skills and passion for playing of such guitar gods as Hendrix, Ray Vaughan and Gallagher. Brian has been in many different line-ups during his career until he went out in his own name. The Spirit Store Recording is probably the best Line-up to date with Jed McConkey on Bass and Michael Meakin on Drums.They have played festivals and gigs all over ireland, have appeared on tv and radio and represtented Ireland on Beale Street in the international blues challenge in Memphis, Tennessee with the addition of Terry Meakin on Keys. with skill, passion and hi-energy, Brian delivers a stunning performance in his live shows - ever humble to his roots and influences you might catch him on a great night or a brilliant night.

Fri 20th : Love Minus Zero Doors 9pm - Adm €12 www.myspace.com/loveminuszero-irl
Love Minus Zero - playing the music of Bob Dylan
Whether you’re a die hard Dylan fan from the start or a new fan, you won’t want to miss this gig … Love Minus Zero guarantee a great set of classic Dylan tunes and more on the night, taking in material from the 60’s and onwards. Love minus Zero came together in May this year with the idea of gigging the Dylan tunes that we all wanted to play at one time or another, and to share his music with his many fans out there.
The band’s name might be new to you, but the guys involved are no strangers to JJs, playing in many of the bands that are already well-known there, including Parchman Farm, The Hightones, Hollywood Slim and the Fat cats, Salvo Blues Band and others.

The band’s members have also played all of the major blues, jazz, country festivals, and venues throughout the countryover the years in various outfits. The lineup in addition to Pete Mc Gowan – Guitar, Ciaran Brougham – Bass, and Fran Dowling –Drums, are keyboards whiz Vinnie O’ Connor (Cantaloupe, Don Baker, Ben Prevo, etc) Guitarist and multi instrumentalist Pat Mc Sweeney (Rye River Boys) and Simon Bolger - an excellent singer songwriter in his own right - who found time between writing and recording his own material to get this up and running. Special guest on the night with the band will be Violinist Oona McFarland … make a note in your diary and get there early for this one!!

Fri 27th : Susan Tomelty Band www.susantomelty.com Doors 9pm - Adm €10
Northerner Susan Tomelty has embarked on a musical journey that has brought her to Drumshanbo Co. Leitrim via England,Scotland, Denmark, Sweden, Belfast and Nashville. With the release of“Belfast Live” CD in 1996 which celebrated peace in the North, she supported Van Morrison, and sang for Nelson Mandela in Glasgow. A pure and distinctive voice, she can cover a wide range of material but her influences are more rhythm and blues, soul, and gospel calling from artists such as Dylan, Big Mama Thornton, The Staple Singers, Susan Tedeschi, James Brown, Aretha Franklin,Mike Henderson, Etta James and Steve McGovern. The Band itself has had manyterrific line-ups over the years including the late great Dave Early on drums, Nicki Scott on bass, Jim Armstrong, Billy McCoy on guitar and the late Steve McGovern on piano. Tonight she will be joined by another terrific line-up… Fran Byrne (drums), Tommy Moore (bass), Pat Farrell (guitar) and special guest Peter Tumelty (sax). Will be great… don’t miss this one!

FEBRUARY

Fri 3rd : Left, Right & Centre www.myspace.com/leftrightcentrebluesband Doors 9pm - Adm €10
A conglomeration of some of the most experienced blues players around ‘Left Right & Centre’ come to the Blues Club to deliver their renditions and tribute to the music of the greats such as the great Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Leadbelly and all the Kings, Freddie,Albert and BB. The band comprises some of the finest of Dublin’s musicians, Ed Deane on guitar, John Quearney on bass, Noel Bridgeman on drums and featuring Trevor Kinght on keyboards.

“Left, Right & Centre are Ireland's own Blues Royalty, we've got the Kings of Regal Rockin Boogaloo. They are a powerful blues trio, the most explosive since old Einstein souped up his A-bomb with razzle-dazzle and ramalama back in the day. Noel Bridge was laying down the perfect beat in Skid Row when Phillip Lynnot was a singer without a bass guitar. Noel is the guv'nor as testified by the cast of superstars who wonttour unless he's behind the kit. Artists he's work include Van Morrison, Steve Earl, Bobby Withlock, The Waterboys, Mary Black, Donal Lunny and lots lots more. Ed Deane began playing electric guitar with Dublin legand's Blues House. That was before he kick-started the London boogie scene with Bees Make Honey he's also played with Nick Low, Graham Parker, The Frankie Miller Band, to name a few. John Quearney plays the earthquake bass that shook the foundations of a million gin joints that The Business and Red Peters and the Floating DublinBlues Band once call home. He's played with blind blues legand Jeff Healy and from the Delta, Big Jack Johnston the oil man.” - Eamonn Carr Evening Herald

Fri 10th : Dave McHugh Band Doors 9pm - Adm €10

Fri 17th : Bree Harris Band Doors 9pm - Adm €10
Back by popular demand Bree and herexcellent band return to see in the summer season. Both a singer and a songwriter Bree has built up a reputation of being one of Ireland’s finest singers. She has appeared on many TV shows. With consummate playing fronted by Bree's sublime vocals, covering a breadth of styles from rock to jazz and blues. Her biggest influences are Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt, Aretha Franklin, KD Lang, Lyle Lovett, Leonard Cohen and Jeff Buckley. Check her out always a treat!

Fri 24th :



SATURDAYS: SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. Doors 9pm - Adm €10 (Unless Otherwise Stated)

JANUARY

Sat 7th : The Ben Prevo Band www.benprevo.net Doors 9pm - Adm €10
For those of you who don’t know Ben Prevo, this expatriate New Yorker has been one of the best kept secrets on the Irish music scene for the past 15 years. A guitarist and vocalist, he brings the integrity and honesty of the blues to his unique mix of blues, rock, funk, country and more. Twisting tones on a fender telecaster at the moment, his repertoire consists of a mix of covers and original tunes and songs. Described as "one of the most talented guitar players" (Justin Comiskey - Irish Times. Ben has worked with many pop, blues and rock groups including Jaco Pastorious (Weather Report), Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane), Rick Danko and Levon Helm (The Band). Always worth the visit!

Sat 14th : Ed Deane Band www.eddeane.com Doors 9pm - Adm €10
Featuring: Ed Deane (Guitar & Vocals), James Delaney (Keyboards), John Querney (Bass & Vocals), Noel Bridgeman(Drums & Vocals) and Eamon Murray (Sax & Harp).

Sat 21st : Gerry Hendrick Band feat. PJ Salmon Doors 9pm - Adm €10
Gerry a veteran with 25 years of guitar playing under his belt is probably best known for the time he spent as leadguitarist for our very own blues harp player Don Baker. During his time he has also worked with The Business, Andrew Strong, Sinead O’Connor to name but a few. Gerry will also be joined by the fantastic Kevin Malone on drums, DaveByrne on bass, Salvadore Urbano on Keyboards and the new addition of PJ Salmon on vocals and guitar. The band will perform an eclectic mix of material from blues to progressive acoustic tunes, ranging from Freddie King, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Robert Johnson, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Pink Floyd. Don’t miss this one! Always good stuff!

Sat 28th : Father & Son Doors 9pm - Adm €10
Put together In memory of the late Dick Buckley, sax player and educator, father of Richie and Michael whom you allknow well. Richie has long been recognized on an international level as one of the finest jazz musicians of today. His performing credits include Van Morrison, Freddie Hubbard, Dave McKenna, Jiggs Wigham, Bob Dylan, Georgie Fame, Carlos Santana, Elvis Costello and many more. His recording credits include Van Morrison, James Williams, Barry Manilow, Riverdance, The Spice Girls and Elmer Bernstein. The longest serving member of Van Morrison's band, Buckley has also recorded and performed with most major Irish artist such as The Cranberries, Christy Moore, Sinead O'Connor, Paul Brady and Bill Whelan. He will be joined by The Quearneys, The Bridgemans and other potential special guests. Promises to be a great night.

FEBRUARY

Sat 4th : The Business www.thebusinessbluesband.com Doors 9pm - Adm €10
One of the original and experienced blues bands around ‘The Business’ return to JJ’s to deliver their renditions and tribute to the music of the greats such as the great Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters and Leadbelly to name but a few. The band comprises some of the finest and foremost of Dublin’s musicians, the superb Pat Farrell, sporting a new 335 guitar is playing out of his skin. The band gets better and better every time I see them. Always worth it!

Sat 11th : Nigel Mooney www.nigelmooney.com Doors 9pm - Adm €10 TBC
Nigel Mooney has long been regarded as Ireland's leading blues guitarist. A charismatic figure on the Dublin jazz and blues scenes since the early 1980's, his Gripewater Blues Band spearheaded the blues movement in Ireland and drew many fans of both jazz and the blues. Having played with the likes of B. B. King, Lowell Fulson, Louisiana Red and many more from the Chicago scenes and beyond, Mooney's bluesy guitar style crosses the jazz boundaries and he has appeared with Georgie Fame, Joey de Francesco, Russell Malone,Peter Ind, Louis Stewart and Bobby Watson.

Sat 18th : Ben Reel Band www.benreel.com Doors 9pm - Adm €10
A native of South Armagh, and basing himself in Monaghan, The Ben Reel Band have just released their 4th album, ‘New Horizon’, to rave reviews and some major airplay around the world, which also has not gone unnoticed by some of the world’s biggest record companies, in particular Sony Columbia NY which has recently offered them a deal. The band has built a solid reputation around the country and further a field as one of the tightest and best live acts around. The music offers a refreshing earthy, soulful, rootsie, and rockin sound, delivered by an excellent set of musicians that will leave you roaring for more. Don’t miss this one, it promises to be a great gig!

Sat 25th : The Heavyweights Doors 9pm - Adm €10
Made up of some of the most experienced blues player around ‘The Heavy Weights’ come to JJ’s to deliver their renditions and tribute to the music of the greats such as the great Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Leadbelly and all the Kings, Freddie, Albert and BB. The band comprises some of the finest of Dublin’s musicians, John Quearney on Bass, David Murphy on guitar, James Delaney on keyboards and Noel Bridgeman on drums. Check them out!