Entertainment jazz or no jazz

Flamenco guitarist Juan Martin is perhaps an unusual choice for the Dublin Jazz Week: his music involves improvisation, but certainly isn't jazz. However, nobody was arguing about definitions after his diverse and entertaining concert on Tuesday night.

With Musica Alhambra, Martin aims to trace the development of flamenco through its various roots, both eastern and western. The other musicians were Abdul Salaam Kheir (oud and vocals), Chris Karan (tabla and darabuka), Sarah Murphy (flute), and Kevin Murphy (clarinet). Martin opened the concert with a stylish flamenco solo, before joining with Karan and Kheir for From Damascus to Cordoba. Here and elsewhere, the oud and guitar worked well together (the oud resembles a lute, but has low-tension strings and sounds distinctly eastern). Martin and Kheir entered into long exchanges, swapping phrases and motifs. The style changed markedly for a series of 13th century Jewish melodies. La Rosa Enflorece worked particularly well, ingeniously blending guitar, flute and clarinet, the guitar enjoyed a free, improvisational role, while the other two stuck to the tune.

Martin's own Atlantis Suite worked well, as did the dramatic Aires de Cairo. The concert reached its climax with The Passion of the Lament, a fusion of all manner of styles, driven forward by dazzling guitar rhythms.

The Dublin Jazz Week continues until Sunday; to book for most events contact Ticketmaster on 01-4569569; to book for events at the National Concert Hall and the IFC phone 01-4751572 and 01- 6793477 respectively.