The 1997 Guinness Jazz Festival opened in Cork last night with confident predictions that some 35,000 visitors would visit the city over the holiday weekend, boosting its coffers by an estimated £6 million. Wide-ranging in its taste, the festival this year promises to cater for jazz lovers of all shades, including those who like acid jazz, groove and soul music.
According to Mr Shaun Holliday, managing director of Guinness Ireland, the festival is the largest event in the company's sponsorship calendar, with more than 1,000 musicians from 25 countries playing in some 40 venues.
For two decades, the Guinness Jazz Festival has featured some of the greatest names in jazz, and this year will be no exception. The big names include the US tenor sax player Johnny Griffin, the alto saxophonist Jackie McLean and the great jazz pianist Kenny Barron.