The 34th Cork Guinness festival has expanded from its core musical base, says Kieran Bohane

THE only answer to the recessionary blues is some rhythm and blues, with a bit of jazz thrown in for good measure.

ROARING ticket sales, record visitor numbers and a bigger-than-ever programme of events have conspired to make this year’s Guinness Jazz Festival in Cork the biggest in its 30-year-history.

FOR what seemed like the first time all weekend only the Guinness was pouring as die-hard revellers got ready for a fourth night of jiving at the Cork Jazz Festival.

MORE than 1,000 musicians helped drive the blues away as a rain-drenched Cork had another bumper weekend of jazz and razzmatazz.