Great craic but where is all that jazz?

BEAUTIFUL young things boogie-woogied.

The bands belted out their bluesy beats.

The party was in full swing.

Across the city, over the course of the weekend, music sessions exhilarated eager crowds in the many pubs, clubs, bars and venues taking part in this year’s Cork Guinness Jazz Festival.

While serious jazz fans headed for the Opera House, the Everyman Palace and the Half Moon, the masses took to venues like the Clarion, the Imperial and, of course, the Metropole Hotel — the festival’s spiritual home.

Tickets for this particular venue were scarce come Saturday evening with many punters straggling outside, peering in, hoping to get a glimpse of the action, while they waited hopefully for a chance to join in.

Inside, young and old alike were united by the brilliant sounds of jazz group Lamarrote, who played a blinding session in the foyer, which saw the crowds dance, sing clap and generally go wild for the Washboard Wiggle.

William Derks from Holland — and part of Lamarrote group which played a mix of pure dixieland and old style jazz, said the festival gets better every year.

“We have been playing here for five years and we love it. There is such passion in the crowd.”

However, many seasoned jazz fans questioned where, exactly, all that jazz had gone?

Fintan Jordan from Dublin said he felt the music side of the festival had gone downhill in recent years. “I have been coming here for years. We’d all travel down from Dublin but, lately, there seems to be a lot of other music besides jazz.

“There is more and more American-style rock creeping in,” he said. “I think the purists will still go to places like the Opera House and that’s where you’ll find the real fans. I think a lot of people just come for the craic and not the music.”

British stand-up comedian Stanley Boardman was in town with Gerry Keohane, owner of the Lee Valley Golf and Country Club. Mr Boardman was particularly impressed with Irish hospitality. But Mr Keohane said he thought the festival had changed a lot. “I think it is still very good, and great for the city, but it is much different now. There is a younger crowd and, perhaps, the different styles of music are reflecting that. I would question if it really is worth €25m to the local economy.”

Taxi drivers too were sceptical.

“We are very slow this year,” said one veteran driver. “It’s definitely not as busy as other years.”

Metropole-goers, anecdotally, felt the crowds were thinner.

“It seems much more low key than usual,” said Sara Garvey from Dublin. “I haven’t seen much jazz.”

But Cork hurler Sean Óg Ó hAilpín said it was ‘massive’ for Cork. “I usually come out for the festival but wouldn’t always have gone to listen to jazz. This year, I am really enjoying it though — maybe it’s a sign I am getting older,” he laughed.