Joseph Leighton is one of the finest young jazz guitarists to emerge on the Irish jazz scene. He has performed alongside established jazz musicians Meilana Gillard, John Leighton and MOBO nominee David Lyttle. As well as regular residencies performing in his hometown of Derry, Joseph has also played at the Derry City Jazz festival and Stendhal Festival of Art. In 2016 Joseph featured in the line-up for Brilliant Corners Festival in Belfast playing support to acclaimed duo Tommy Smith & Brian Kellock and the Vein Trio.

He has studied under David Lyttle, Mike Walker, Vijay Iyer and Jesse Van Ruller, was one of the youngest musicians to be awarded a place on the Jazz Course at the Banff Centre, Canada and was selected as one of Moving On Music’s ‘Emerging Artists’ 2016-17. With his recently established Joseph Leighton Trio, featuring James Anderson (drums) and Jack Kelly (bass), he is a talent to watch.

As a past participant in the Sligo Jazz Project, he hopes to share some of the invaluable information he has learnt from previous years attending the school.

“Leighton’s genre is assuredly jazz…one foot in the modernists’ camp. The other is firmly planted in a tradition that stretches from Jim Hall to Pat Metheny, his clean articulation and spacious phrasing accentuating an overtly melodic approach.” – All About Jazz

“Leighton’s genre is assuredly jazz…one foot in the modernists’ camp. The other is firmly planted in a tradition that stretches from Jim Hall to Pat Metheny, his clean articulation and spacious phrasing accentuating an overtly melodic approach.” – All About Jazz
“Joseph Leighton acquits himself superbly…a unique on stage presence through casual appearance and understated instrumental command.” – The Big List
“An impressive thirty-minute performance that pleasingly featured original compositions in Leighton’s “Planet Nine”…The rousing ovation that greeted their half-hour set from a packed Black Box was fully deserved.” – All About Jazz