Vicar St, Dublin Tomorrow Doors open 8pm 818-719300; Cork Opera House Sun 8pm 021-4270022
Day's Hotel, Castlebar, Co Mayo Tonight 8pm 094-9023111 The Glens Art Centre, Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim Tomorrow 8pm 071-9855833 Set@Langstons Hotel, Kilkenny Sun 8pm 056-7765133 JJ Smyth's, Dublin Mon 8.30pm 01-4752565 Riverside Jazz Foundation@No Albis Bookstore, Belfast Tues 048-90319607 Wexford Arts Centre Wed 3pm 053-9123764 Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford Thurs 8pm 051-855038

The Brad Mehldau Trio is probably second only to the Keith Jarrett Trio as the major draw on the international jazz circuit, so it’s a cause for celebration that Mehldau’s group returns for two concerts here. Like Jarrett’s, it’s a long-standing trio: bassist Larry Grenadier has been with Mehldau since the start, and drummer Jeff Ballard joined a few years ago.

Mehldau, who likes to turn to contemporary pop material, as well as standards and his own compositions for the group’s repertoire, also maintains a presence as a pianist in classical music, with impressive recordings with American soprano Renee Fleming and Swedish mezzo- soprano Anne Sofie von Otter.

Meanwhile, guitarist Louis Stewart is on an extensive national tour with vibes player Jim Hart, one of the more wide-ranging talents on the British jazz scene. Hart, who has played with musicians as stylistically diverse as saxophonist Stan Sulzmann, pianist Gwilym Simcock and mainstream reedman Alan Barnes, will be joined by bassist Mick Coady and Barcelona- based drummer Stephen Keogh.

Stewart and his crew close their the tour at the Guinness Jazz Festival next Friday.

CAN'T CATCH THAT, CATCH THIS

Darren Sigesmund Sextet, Co Wicklow, Saturday and Dublin, Sunday