The arrivals, just a day apart, of singer Mark Murphy (right) and pianist Joanne Brackeen, both from the US, signal a notable week for jazz fans. At 67, Murphy is on his first visit to Ireland. Although he may have lost some of his vocal bloom, Murphy who is the epitome of hip, has interpretative abilities honed from years of jazz-influenced experience. The support is equally hip - Alan Broadbent, the brilliant New Zealand-born pianist and Louis Stewart's Trio.
Before that, Joanne Brackeen takes her quartet, with the celebrated, cutting edge alto of Greg Osby sharing front line duties, into Temple Bar Music Centre tomorrow for what could be one of the more adventurous concerts heard in Dublin this year.