Ballydehob jazz festival REVIEW

Subject: RE: Ballydehob jazz festival REVIEW
From: The Sandman
Date: 29 Jan 11 - 05:26 PM

GUEST BOOKED so far for 2011, Lianne Carroll, Andreas Varady Trio, Blue Velvet, Norman Collins and Molly O Mahony,updates to follow.
out Andreas...

Slovakia-born, Hungarian gypsy Andreas Varady has been playing the guitar since the age of four. Taught by his father, Bandi, Andreas plays mainly by ear and was inspired at an early age by Django Reinhardt, and later Wes Montgomery, George Benson and Bireli Lagrene. Now thirteen years old, he has lived in Ireland since 2008, and gained his first experiences from busking, and attending the Limerick Jazz Workshop.

Andreas first reached a national audience on RTE's 'The Guitar' competition in 2009, and has since been featured on BBC and RTE television and radio. He has also performed at many international festivals, including headlining spots at Belfast's Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, Sligo Jazz Festival, Derry Jazz Festival and Cork Jazz Festival. This summer, he attended New York's Skidmore Jazz Institute, under scholarship from the combined Arts Councils of Ireland.

Irish drumming star David Lyttle regularly features Andreas in his group, often alongside international guests such as Soweto Kinch, Terell Stafford and Michael Janisch, and performs in Andreas own quartet. Andreas has also appeared with international guitar heroes Louis Stewart, Andreas Oberg, Frank Vingola, Tommy Emmanuel and Martin Taylor, who recently featured him as a guest on his 'Spirit of Django' show at the Edinburgh Jazz Festival.

Andreas' first studio recording, 'Questions', co-leading with David Lyttle, featuring Michael Janisch on bass and Bandi on rhythm guitar, was released in September. The CD includes two of Andreas' originals, in addition to a solo version of 'The Shadow of Your Smile'.

Tokai Guitars recently built Andreas a limited edition 'Andreas Varady' signature model, which will be available to the public soon. Andreas is also a D'Addario endorsee, and plays their 'Chromes' strings.

The Press on Andreas...

"...confidence, skill, obvious enjoyment and a genuine connection to the music." – All About Jazz (USA)

"The main talking point was a young guitarist 'discovered' by that fine Belfast-based drummer David Lyttle. This wunderkind Andreas Varady plays much more in the vein of Wes or George Benson and, on top of that, is highly musical and responsive."
– Jazzwise (GB) on Sligo Jazz Festival

"...phenomenal technique and some impressive originals."
– Record Collector (GB)

"Questions is a delight: fun, accessible, unpretentious and positive. The quartet of musicians is outstanding. Lyttle and Varady are already accomplished players and represent an emerging Irish jazz scene of tremendous potential."
– All About Jazz (USA)

"Andreas Varady, like Django Reinhardt and Ferenc Snétberger, is a brilliant jazz guitarist of European gypsy stock and, at 13, may yet be the best of them all. A debut CD, Questions, is out, and a stunning appearance in Dublin earlier this year proved the hype to be justified."
– Irish Times

"Commanding the stage, the boy who's not much bigger than his guitar has become something of a sensation."
– Belfast Telegraph
here is a video of Andreas Varady having funhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPYg9CHudEg

Subject: Ballydehob jazz festival REVIEW
From: The Sandman
Date: 29 Jan 11 - 05:18 PM

A Very Special Jazz Festival in the
South West of Ireland
Ballydehob 2010 - Memories of the Dawn & Dusk Jazz Quartet
It took place for the fourth time, the small but fine and musically remarkable Jazz Festival just a few
kilometres west of Skibbereen in the beautiful Southwest of Ireland. And Dawn & Dusk took part in this
festival for the first time.
They returned to Germany impressed and enthusiastic. Impressed by the Irish people and by the weather
that presented itself in the best light. Impressed by a small village which is home to 7 bars! 2 churches, a
busy community hall, and a number of committed volunteers who also organise an annual traditional
music festival as well as a Festival of the Sea. Impressed by the the audience who gave their best attention
to the programme which included 17 mostly Irish bands and 30 concerts.
The kick-off concert took part in a small jam-packed bar that is also a little corner shop, and was
performed by 12 year old guitar player Andreas Varady and his father (also on the electric guitar) from
Limerick. With their Wes Montgomery style Jazz they absolutely wowed their audience. The name of this
young musician is certainly worth remembering – we will surely hear more of him in the future.
The main concert took place in the community hall and included the Irish saxophonist Michael Buckley
(in Germany the name might be only familiar to Jazz lovers) with his band "Dublin Standard Time".
Michael Buckley made a name for himself playing with the likes of Donovan, The Cranberries, Jerry Lee
Lewis and Johnny Mathis.
The special atmosphere of Ballydehob Jazz Festival can be best described as 'small is beautiful'. This
festival will certainly gain more and more friends and fans in the coming years. Those who dislike the
cult of celebrity and the greed of gain at big festivals will especially appreciate this small festival.
Admission to most of the concerts is free, and free street entertainment with street theatre, busking for
children and adults, stalls, a fun fair and lots more really make this a family festival.
In the evenings from around 10 pm onwards the local bars are the places to be. Except that besides the
usual chattinness over a Guinness or a Murphy there is also the Jazz music. Dawn & Dusk was the only
German band at the 2010 Ballydehob Jazz Festival and the members of the band are really proud of that.
A local 70 year old woman mentioned after a charity concert specifically organised for the senior citizens
(the idea was initiated by Dawn & Dusk), that this was exactly the music she used to dance to when she
was young. And she therewith referred to well-known Jazz standards like 'Night and Day, 'Autumn
Leaves' and 'These foolish Things' from the years 1925/35, which are performed by Dawn & Dusk with
heart and soul. These Swing/Jazz standards are also proving hugely popular with younger people which
was reflected in rapturous applause at the street and pub concerts.
"If possible, we would like to come again" the musicians (and their accompanying wifes) from Dawn &
Dusk agree.
A special thanks goes to Dick Miles and the village committee, without whom the Jazz Festival this year
would not have been possible.
Achim Eich (Dawn & Dusk)