Jazz Messengers Europe

Jazz Messengers Europe

About the show

‘Jazz Messengers Europe’ is a unique Ireland/European collaboration of leading players who will bring to life the music of one of pivotal groups in the history of jazz.

The eight-piece ensemble will present new interpretations of the work of drummer Art Blakey’s celebrated ‘Jazz Messengers’, a collective that existed across more than 35 years, and counted in its ransk some of the most important figures in jazz – Keith Jarrett, Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan and Wynton Marsalis included.

Jazz Messengers Europe are drawn from the Irish ensemble ‘Aren’t Blakey’ – featuring some of Ireland’s best known players from Dublin, Cork and Belfast - together with guest soloists, French bandleader and vibraphonist Franck Tortiller, and award-winning French saxophonist Geraldine Laurent.

They will perform new interpretations from the repertoire of Blakey’s Jazz Messengers at this special show, which is being presented by Bray International Jazz Festival and Mermaid County Wicklow Arts Centre.

‘Aren’t Blakey’ is an Irish ensemble formed over five years ago to perform original arrangements of many of the most iconic works from the Jazz Messengers repertoire. The members are Cormac O’Brien, head of jazz music at Dublin City University, Linley Hamilton, trumpeter and Lecturer of Music at Ulster University, Belfast-based pianist Scott Flanigan, Cork trombonist Paul Dunlea and Dublin-based saxophonist Cathal Roche and drummer Kevin Brady.

Franck Tortiller regularly collaborates with artists in France and abroad. A one-time director of the legendary Orchestra National du Jazz in Paris, he has been a guest of renowned orchestras including the Basel Sinfonietta, the Ulm Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre Pas de Loup, and others. Geraldine Laurent is a band leader, composer and alto saxophonist who won France’s prestigious Victoire du Jazz Artist of the Year award in 2023, and its Best Album of the Year award in 2020.

This event is presented with support from Wicklow County Council, as a part of ‘Cultúr 2026: Sharing Ireland’s Culture’, Ireland’s culture programme for the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The members are Cormac O’Brien, head of jazz music at Dublin City University, Linley Hamilton, trumpeter and Lecturer of Music at Ulster University, Belfast-based pianist Scott Flanigan, Cork trombonist Paul Dunlea and Dublin-based saxophonist Cathal Roche and drummer Kevin Brady. Franck Tortiller regularly collaborates with artists in France and abroad. A one-time director of the legendary Orchestra National du Jazz in Paris, he has been a guest of renowned orchestras including the Basel Sinfonietta, the Ulm Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre Pas de Loup, and others. Geraldine Laurent is a band leader, composer and alto saxophonist who won France’s prestigious Victoire du Jazz Artist of the Year award in 2023, and its Best Album of the Year award in 2020. This event is presented with support from Wicklow County Council, as a part of ‘Cultúr 2026: Sharing Ireland’s Culture’, Ireland’s culture programme for the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

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