Guinness taps into jazz for two more years

THE Cork Jazz Festival ended on a high note last night, when Guinness confirmed it will sponsor the event for at least another two years.

The drinks company is committed to sponsoring the jazz weekend up to 2005, when Cork becomes the European Capital of Culture but funding will then be reviewed.

It is estimated the deal will be worth in excess of €3.5m to the festival, the biggest event sponsored by Guinness outside of the GAA hurling championship.

Guinness festival manager Rory Sheridan said this year's festival was one of the most successful ever, and numbers were up on previous years.

"The feedback we're getting from businesses is that this was one of the best ever numbers wise," Mr Sheridan said. "It would take a fundamental change in mindset for us to cease sponsoring this event."

An estimated €20m was spent in the city during the four-day festival, which saw 120 bands and 1,000 musicians from 26 countries descend on Cork.

Mr Sheridan said the quality of music at the festival was very high, and it has already received rich praise from international music critics.

"The purity of the music was exceptionally good, and it was a big improvement on other years. This will help ensure that Cork is the top jazz festival in Europe next year," he said.

During the weekend, more than 80 pubs in the city offered free rhythm, blues, and roots music, with well- known musicians such as Don Baker performing in bars.

Sharon Shannon and The Waterboys played in the Opera House, and dozens of street performers entertained record crowds on Patrick Street. Some of the musicians who performed on the festival's 14 stages included Europe's number one jazz maestro Jan Garbarek, and African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim.

Two new venues the Granary Theatre on the Mardyke, and the Firkin Crane Theatre in Shandon both hosted sell out crowds.

"We were delighted with the ticket sales, and most performances were a sell out," Mr Sheridan said.