Joseph Leighton: guitar
Conor Murray: bass
Paul Clarvis: drums
Micheal Murray: saxophone
One of Ireland’s brightest jazz talents, guitarist Joseph Leighton evolved from teenage rock
prodigy in Derry to a dynamic jazz voice, mentored by greats like Jesse van Ruller, Mike
Walker and Peter Bernstein. A sought-after sideman, he’s toured from Vietnam to Jamaica
(the latter reflecting his roots) and shared stages with UK sax legend Julian Siegel. Don’t miss
this quartet with the Murray twins, Conor & Micheál and first call drummer Paul Clarvis — a thrilling
blend of energy and finesse.
5pm – 7pm Hawk’s Well Theatre Lobby
Catch some spontaneous performances featuring the 150 or so summer school participants who flock to Sligo each year for the love of jazz! You’d never know who might show up to join in.
5.30pm Thomas Connolly
One of Sligo’s most popular sessions featuring a merry troupe led by a legend of the Sligo music scene Gerry Grennan, playing good time western swing and gypsy jazz
Rufus Reid: bass
Kush Abadey: drums
Freddie Hendrix: trumpet
Pablo Held: piano
and special guests
Rufus Reid will appear in two special sets for this concert.
Set 1 features the legendary
bassist in intimate collaborations with faculty members in small ensemble configurations.
Set 2 expands the scope with larger ensemble pieces, culminating in a rousing finale with the
SJP Little Big Band.
One of jazz's true renaissance figures, Rufus Reid has shaped the music's evolution since the
1970s through his virtuosic bass playing, innovative compositions, and dedicated pedagogy.
With over 500 recordings to his credit - including 25 as a leader and recent vinyl releases on
Newvelle Records - his collaborators read like a who's who of jazz: Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz,
Thad Jones, and Kenny Barron among them. His compositional reach extends from solo bass
works to symphony orchestras, with his Grammy-nominated Quiet Pride project showcasing
his large ensemble mastery.
Reid's educational impact matches his musical achievements. His seminal book The Evolving
Bassist remains the gold standard for bass instruction, while his co-creation of William
Paterson University's Jazz Studies program established one of the first accredited BM
degrees in jazz. The recipient of prestigious honors including a Guggenheim Fellowship,
Reid continues to push boundaries - truly living up to his moniker "The Evolving Bassist.
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Book Tickets
10pm (After Show) Hawk’s Well Theatre Lobby
Catch some spontaneous performances featuring the 150 or so summer school participants who flock to Sligo each year for the love of jazz! You’d never know who might show up to join in.