All that jazz . . .

Openjazz 99, the second of the Improvised Music Company's annual open days, got an emphatic vote of approval from the public last Sunday, writes Ray Comiskey. More than 3,000 people attended the Temple Bar Music Centre for concerts and workshops, as well as a jam session in the Arthouse. All concerts were packed - standout programmes included fine sets by the Newpark students, the Noel Kelehan Quartet and, especially The Night in Havana Orchestra - with queues for every workshop throughout the day.

The IMC's Gerry Godley also reports that the recent visit of Boston's famed Berklee faculty to Newpark, to which Berklee school committed $50,000 in scholarships and actually awarded $160,000 worth, has led to a commitment that Berklee will be back at Newpark next year as part of the Dublin Jazz Week, bringing the great tenor saxophonist, Joe Lovano, with them. Further recognition for jazz in Ireland has come from the leading magazine, Jazziz, which has included tracks by The Improvised Music Ensemble and Devsirme on a just released CD sampler which also includes performances by John McLaughlin, Jan Garbarek and the late Michel Petrucciani.