Top jazz players shake up Bray

BRAY WAS alive all weekend long for the 15th annual Bray Jazz Festival.

The Festival attracted music goers from all around the country and more than 15 venues throughout the town hosted events. On Friday on of the leading names in Latin jazz and bossa nova, Brazilian guitarist Vinicius Cantuária and his quartet, set the Mermaid on fire with a lively performance which was a huge hit. As a major figure in New York music circles securing Cantari’s appearance was a massive coup for festival organisers.

New York trumpeter Dave Douglas made a triumphant return to the festival, having previously played there in 2007, and in addition to playing an afternoon jazz workshop.

The recital concerts in the town hall featured performances by the West

African seven-piece Manden Express, celebrated traditional folk ensemble This is How We Fly, and by Indian classical music brother and sister Joyeeta and Debiyoti Sanyal.

As always there were a number of free public shows including a three band matinee in the Royal Hotel featuring The Hugh Buckley Quartet, The Joni Project and Karovka on Saturday afternoon, while The Harbour Stage at the town's Harbour Bar was an all-new festival stage that hosted more than half a dozen fantastic live shows.

The Coach Inn, The Hibernia Inn, The Strand Hotel, Barracuda Restaurant, The Esplanade Hotel, Mt Everest Kathmandu, Ocean Bar and Grill, The Wilton Hotel, The Porterhouse, Brady's of Shankill and The Powerscourt Arms Hotel also staged free events on the weekend.

Manuel Sanz Olivera, Mariarosa Riccio, Caterina and Rebecca Barron Macias in the Harbour Bar at Juanjo and Jose. Eileen Fitzpatrick, Dorothy Jacob, Armando and Mary Kelly Borgata at the Marius Neset Quartet in the Mermaid on Saturday night. Festival...

Pianist Uri Caine before his performance on Sunday night in the Mermaid Arts Centre with Wicklow and Dublin jazz musicians Chris Engels, Francesco Turrisi and Dylan Rynhart.

Max Zaska with his band on Sunday night in the Harbour Bar.

Karen Cowley from Bray Band Wyvern Lingo with Zaska on Sunday night in the Harbour Bar.

Juanjo at the Harbo

Greg and Alannah Felton at the Dave Douglas workshop. Joyeeta Sanyal sitarist playing.

Pictures by Barbara Flynn Cormac O’Brien at the Dave Douglas workshop at the Well.

Juanjo at the Harbour Bar.

Niamh Ryan, Jennifer O’Brien and Aoife Roy at Zaska on Sunday night in the Harbour Bar.

Edel Meade at the Dave Douglas workshop at the Well.

Marius Neset in the Mermaid.

Andrew Christofides at the Dave Douglas workshop at the Well.