Top Brass
We take a moment to appreciate the unsung heroes of the Cork Jazz Festival: the sax, trumpet, trombone and other brass players that will play up to four gigs per day all weekend.
‘Tis the season to don some sequins and go out and listen to some saxophone, or maybe a full brass ensemble.
Really, the Cork Jazz Festival is the calendar event for brass players of all descriptions. Sax and trumpet are king, of course. (Editor’s note: Yes, we know that despite its brassy body, Saxophone isn’t actually classified as a brass instrument but a woodwind, like flute and clarinet!)
There are any number of phenomenal international acts on this year’s Jazz Festival line-up, and any number of interviews with them floating about in the press in the lead-up to the weekend.
So at Tripe + Drisheen, we thought we’d take a moment to celebrate the unsung heroes of the Jazz weekend: the hard-working homegrown talent that keep the weekend afloat on the official Jazz trail, the Heritage Jazz trail, or on the street.
Who did we miss?
Massive disclaimer: the five musicians featured here are by no means meant to be a definitive list of the top brass you’ll see out and about in Cork this weekend. We know there are many, many more.
Dylan Howe
Multi-instrumentalist Dylan will play 16 gigs this Jazz weekend.
Q: How many gigs are you doing this Jazz weekend, and with what bands?
A: I'll be playing 16 gigs with 8 different bands or artists, including Toucan, Cal Pacino, 1,000 Beasts and my own band, Rowan.
Q: How many years have you been gigging at the Jazz Festival?
A: I have been gigging at the festival since I was 16.
Q: Describe the experience?
A: The weekend is kind of like running a marathon. You just keep going, and by the end you're exhausted, but you still feel great. I definitely prefer being on the playing side of it but love catching gigs during the weekend also. When I get the chance.
Q: Any particular memorable anecdote that sums up the Jazz Fest for you?
A: A few years ago, I got to organise a gig with internationally renowned artists Ariel Posen and Adam Neely. The three of us played in Coughlans. There are a lot of collaborations and jam sessions that happen as a result of the weekend and I love that aspect of it.
Q: Who would you go see, if you weren’t playing yourself for every minute of the weekend?
A: I would definitely have wanted to catch JarJarJr's gig up in St Luke’s on Thursday. Kassa Overall, Bricknasty and Sam Healy were also playing, all brilliant musicians.
Q: When is your last gig of the weekend and what will you be doing on Tuesday the 1st?
A: My last gig of the weekend will be with my good friends The Guilty Judges, playing until 2am in Clancy's.
Q: Do you enjoy it?
A: I really do love it. I get to play so many different styles with so many different people and that keeps me energised!
Q: what are the best venues to play?
A: I love playing in Coughlans, Cyprus Avenue, St Lukes, The Opera House, Dwyers, The Imperial Hotel and too many others to name.
Tom Pickles
It’s saxophone and flute player Tom’s first time playing the Cork Jazz Festival, because he only moved to Cork from Scotland this year, but he’s still putting in eight shows over the weekend.
Q: How many gigs are you doing this Jazz weekend, and with what bands?
A: I'm playing eight gigs across the four days with about three different acts, at least one of which won't exist until about two hours before the gig! l will be playing with newly formed nine-piece The Swing Bandits in the Metropole Ballroom and the Oliver Plunkett. The Elmo Perot Trio will play three times over the weekend. They’ve been put together especially for several gigs over the weekend at The Metropole. Hence the name.
Q: How many years have you been gigging at the Jazz Festival?
A: This is my first year! So I feel very fortunate to have this many gigs for my first year.
Q: Who would you go see, if you weren’t playing yourself for every minute of the weekend?
A: I am actually getting to see Hermeto Pascoal, but I would have also liked to see GoGo Penguin at the Everyman, and Síomha at Coughlans.
Q: When is your last gig of the weekend and what will you be doing on Tuesday the 1st?
A: My last gig is at a fairly sensible time on Monday night, but I'm definitely going to try and get a few days off.
Amy O’Callaghan
Cornet player Amy will play 13 gigs, night and day, having started her weekend with a 10.30am gig in a secondary school on Friday.
Q: How many gigs are you doing this Jazz weekend, and with what bands?
A: I will be playing with two bands over the weekend, Pontious Pilate and the Naildrivers and Rebel Brass. I have a total of 13 gigs. I started at 10:30am Friday morning in a secondary school, and will finish at 5pm on Monday. Rebel Brass is part of the Jazz trail so we will be performing all over Cork city: on the streets, on the open-top Jazz bus and on the Emmet place stage outside the Opera House.
With The Naildrivers, I get to experience the late night gigging side this year in The Crane Lane and The Bodega. I love having the contrast of the day and night time audiences and the bands play different genres of music, so it’s a real diverse weekend for me.
Q: How many years have you been gigging at the Jazz Festival?
A: I have been playing at it for six years as part of Rebel Brass, but my jazz festival playing started in 2014 when my music teacher had us meet up with New York Brass band while they were over for the jazz. That’s where my interest in jazz and soloing really began.
Q: Describe the experience?
A: I think if you are playing on the jazz you have to be ready for all plans to go out the window! As long as you have your instrument and your bandmates, you should be ready to play a song anywhere at anytime, and that is what I absolutely love. Being part of the jazz trail you have the freedom to walk around the streets blasting out tunes from all corners.
The bus is an experience: eight musicians on an open-top bus is always interesting, especially when there’s a sousaphone on board. Personally, I wouldn’t change playing for partying cause you really get the best of both worlds from playing. You’re also guaranteed entry to a venue! I absolutely love the feeling after playing a great gig, the excitement and the feeling of pure joy.
Q: Any particular memorable anecdote that sums up the Jazz Fest for you?
A: My dad has been a bar manager for over 20 years and he books acts for the jazz weekend. In 2019 he was able to book my band to play in Forde’s Bar. The customers still talk about that gig and look forward to it every year, it was honestly like a mini-rave. Local legend Murty had his walking stick pumping the air and everyone just let loose. It was everything the jazz festival does for the community: the music connecting the young musicians with the crowd of people, some in their 70s. That’s the gig I am most looking forward to playing again this year.
Q: Who would you go see, if you weren’t playing yourself for every minute of the weekend?
A: I’d love to see Booka Brass in the Opera House. They gave Rebel Brass our first sousaphone, which really turned us into a true brass band.
Q: When is your last gig of the weekend and what will you be doing on Tuesday the 1st?
A: Thankfully I have the week off work so I will definitely be giving the chops a break. My jazz will finish in Forde’s Bar at 4pm and I’ll hopefully be able to see a band or two after !
Q: Do you enjoy it?
A: I don’t think anyone would be willing to play from 11am to 12am two days in a row if they didn’t love what they were doing. I love the chaos and the spontaneity of the jazz. The adrenaline really keeps you going.
Q: what are the best venues to play?
A: I love playing in The Crane Lane with The Naildrivers. The crowd are always amazing and it was the first venue I had a paid gig in so there’s always something comforting about it. You also can’t beat the streets of Cork city, no entry fee or age restrictions it’s always the best crowd to play to because they don’t expect the music!
Jorge Kachmari
Saxophone and clarinet player Jorge, a well-known face for his regular outdoor gigs at St Luke’s Cross, will play 12 gigs.
Q: How many gigs are you doing this Jazz weekend, and with what bands?
A: I’m doing 12 gigs with three different ensembles. I’ll be playing hot jazz with the Underscore Orkestra, Indian/Balkan fusion with Rasa Nua, and some solo sets.
Q: How many years have you been gigging at the Jazz Festival?
A: Six years.
Q: Describe the experience?
A: Yeah, I mean….it's hectic.
Q: Who would you go see, if you weren’t playing yourself for every minute of the weekend?
A: Maybe Seun Kuti. But I'm working so much, I've not looked at all the acts and don't really know all that's on offer.
Q: When is your last gig of the weekend and what will you be doing on Tuesday the 1st?
A: My last gig is on Monday at 10:30pm in The Metropole, and on Tuesday, I’ll be sleeping.
Q: Do you enjoy it?
A: Do you want the real answer? Probably not.
Q: what are the best venues to play?
A: All of them.
Gary Baus
A saxophonist and Jazz Festival fixture over the years with acts like the Art Crimes Band, Gary won’t put a number on the gigs he’s going to do….but it’s a lot.
Q: How many gigs are you doing this Jazz weekend, and with what bands?
A: I’m doing quite a few gigs this weekend, with two different bands. I'd prefer not to say the exact number of gigs I'm doing because I feel pressured to take on as much work as physically possible to help keep me afloat from January until March, when work dies down.
Q: How many years have you been gigging at the Jazz Festival?
A: 20 years.
Q: Describe the experience?
A: It is hectic. It can be quite difficult to get through the crowds with musical equipment, and to find time to eat when you're running from gig to gig. I've definitely felt faint on stage from hunger and exhaustion.
I think most of us are accustomed to pouring all our energy and passion into just one gig a night, so three or four gigs in one day for several days requires stamina. It's great to see the audiences enjoy the music, and that in itself gives us the drive to carry on. I particularly look forward to the last gig on Monday when I then get to catch a bit of music myself.
Q: Any particular memorable anecdote that sums up the Jazz Fest for you?
A: One year they had a jazz busking competition with a significant cash prize. We hit the streets, impressed the judges, and luckily won. A television crew enthusiastically asked, “Congratulations, what are you going to do with the money?” I replied with equal enthusiasm, “Pay rent!”
Q: Who would you go see, if you weren’t playing yourself for every minute of the weekend?
A: Hermeto Pascoal
Q: When is your last gig of the weekend and what will you be doing on Tuesday the 1st?
A: I should be done by 6pm on Monday. Tuesday, I'll definitely be in recovery.