Van the Man on jazz fest line-up

Global star Van Morrison will make an appearance in Ireland next month after a local jazz committee secured its biggest coup ever.

Now in its third year, this year’s Limerick Jazz Festival will reach new levels to mark the city’s National City of Culture designation, with a line-up that also includes Grammy award-winner, David Sanborn.

The city will swing its way through the weekend of September 25-28. It has been organised by Limerick Jazz Society, which has been keeping the jazz flame burning in the city since its inception 32 years ago.

Top of the bill are Van Morrison and renowned US saxophonist, David Sanborn. “Having two, multi-Grammy award-winners in Limerick in one weekend is indeed a rare event in itself and Limerick Jazz is delighted with this,” said group chairman John Daly.

Rated as one of the world’s most influential saxophonists, Sanborn — who will play the Lime Tree Theatre on Saturday, September 27 — has recorded with artists as varied as Gil Evans, Stevie Wonder, and David Bowie.

Van Morrison has performed and recorded with some of the world’s best, including legendary blues man John Lee Hooker, guitarist Mark Knopfler, and The Chieftains. Securing Van the Man was a huge coup for the festival, with the Belfast-born inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame set for his first and, most likely, only live performance in the country this year in Limerick.

He will perform on Thursday, September 25, at the University Concert Hall.

Mr Daly said the festival has most definitely arrived. “It’s fair to say that we have assembled the best line-up of jazz artists ever in Limerick and, we believe, the best in Ireland this year.”

The Dublin City Jazz Orchestra, brings a Duke Ellington programme to 69 O’Connell St (formerly the Belltable Arts Centre) on Friday, September 26. It will be joined by Limerick’s Ancor Chamber Choir and three of Britain’s leading jazz musicians, Pete Churchill as conductor, and Tina May and Cleveland Watkiss as featured vocalists

Other highlights include late-night performances by Nigel Mooney, Richie Buckley, who has played with Van Morrison in the past, and outstanding British saxophonist Julian Siegel, who is also acting as the festival’s Musician in Residence.

They and other special guests will join the Crisis Point Big Band on the Sunday to close the festival

For more information, tickets, and full listings visit limerickjazzfestival.com.