Cool jazz breeze blows on Galway

After the combined madness of the film fleadh, the arts festival and the Galway races over the past three weeks, the citizens of that city could be forgiven for suffering from a little "festival fatigue" this weekend, writes Ciaran Tierney

But, as the racing fever subsides, two city music enthusiasts have decided the City of Tribes can do even more to enhance its reputation as a fun place - and that this is the perfect time to stage the first Galway jazz festival.

West Australian Damien Evans, with co-director Fidelma Mullane, have put together an attractive programme of events which includes five concerts and a series of musical workshops over the next three days. It was from similar humble beginnings that the Galway arts festival came to life 27 years ago.

The result is an attractive programme which includes headlining gigs by Australian saxophonist Jamie Oehlers and his trio at the Radisson Hotel tonight, with guest guitarist Mike Nielson.

A young Dublin-based trio called the Organics plays the same venue tomorrow night.

Oehlers went down a storm in front of a capacity crowd during last year's arts festival in the city, while the line-up of major concerts is completed by the mainstream jazz of Honor Heffernan and the Jim Doherty Trio, who share the stage at the Town Hall Theatre on Sunday.

Evans is even more enthusiastic about a series of workshops, including listening sessions, in which the featured artists will share their love of jazz music and influences with members of the public on both Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

The Galway Arts Centre hosts a workshop for young drummers tomorrow, while Heffernan will give a class incorporating vocal exercises and techniques for adults later in the afternoon.

Mike Nielson hosts an improvisation workshop, for all instruments and levels, in Richardson's on Sunday, and Jamie Oehlers will host a saxophone workshop in Massimo, an Italian-style bar.

The festival will have its own nightly club throughout the weekend, based at the Radisson Hotel, where jazz aficionados can relax and enjoy collaborations by a wide cross-section of musicians.

Evans, an accomplished double bass player and teacher, first arrived in Galway eight years ago. He had toured Britain with a youth band and decided not to go home, instead making a tour of Ireland and Scotland on his own before settling in Galway.

Having noted a keen interest in jazz thanks to his involvement with the city's weekly jazz club above Richardson's Hotel in Eyre Square, Evans decided to hit a higher note by organising a full weekend of musical events.

Musicians such as Michael and Richie Buckley and John Doherty have attracted capacity crowds to Richardson's in the past, while the city's big bands, Black Magic and West Coast, have built up devoted, regular followings.

Evans came up with the idea for a Galway jazz festival with his fiancee, Lorraine Mack, before applying to the Arts Council for funding under their small festival scheme.

The funding never arrived, but the idea for the festival took root and soon Fidelma Mullane was on board to help with the organisation and publicity.

Evans admits they have taken a risk by organising two large concerts at the city's Radisson Hotel less than a week after the hysteria of the races, but jazz fans in the region are delighted to have a weekend bash on their own doorsteps, even if it may take some time to reach the level of Cork's annual jazz festival in October.

"There are still a lot of people around Galway and they find that there's not much happening after the races," Evans said.

"We couldn't put it on in September because I'm getting married, and we're happy enough to go with a small, quality festival in our first year.

"We are not fixed on this weekend in the long- term and we might move it to another date at some point but, so far, we're excited about the prospect of hosting a jazz festival in Galway," he said.

"People seem to know there's a festival on this weekend and we've received massive support for it."