Phil Grimes, Johnstown, Waterford Tues 9pm 12/10; Dolans, Dock Rd, Limerick Wed doors open 8.30pm 13/10 061-314483; Tobergal Lane Cafe, Sligo Thurs 8.30pm 15; also Dublin (Fri 25th); Coleraine (Sat 26th); Letterkenny (Sun 27th)
The brilliant young Belfast-based drummer, David Lyttle (pictured), heads up a rather special group for a tour here next week. Much attention will be focused on the astonishingly gifted 13-year-old Slovakian guitarist, Andreas Varady, who has lived in Ireland with his family since 2007. Already this disarmingly modest prodigy seems destined for the highest ranks on his instrument; international recognition has been swift and at the close of this tour he will headline his own group at London’s celebrated jazz mecca, Ronnie Scott’s, with US bassist Michael Janisch.
On tour here with Lyttle and Varady is another exceptional guitarist, Torsten Goods, from Berlin. A generation older thanVarady, he numbers George Benson, Birelli Lagrene and the late Les Paul among his early guitar guides, and his wide experience includes working with the great American saxophonist, Chris Potter, and one of Europe’s best trumpeters, Till Brönner. Completing the group is Euan Burton, arguably the finest Scottish bassist to emerge in the past decade.
