City to celebrate 25 years of jazz and jubilation

CORK’s emporia of swig and swing are about to go into warp speed as the Guinness Jazz Festival prepares to celebrate its 25th birthday by boldly going where it has gone before The event, running on October 25-28, has been hailed as the biggest jazz party in the world, with thousands descending on the southern city every year.

Few places can produce the infectious mardi gras atmosphere that is felt at the festival.

The list of international artists who have graced the event over the years reads like a Who’s Who of Jazz, including legends such as Ella Fitzgerald and Stephan Grappelli. This year, the organisers have gathered some of the relatively new kids on the jazz block, such as pianist Brad Mehldau and guitarist John Scofield.