If all goes according to plan, the upcoming ESB Dublin Jazz Week will attract up to 8,000 people to its concerts. According to Gerry Godley, the festival's artistic director, "there's no secret code or masonic activity that inducts you to jazz".
"It's only a matter of time before jazz asserts itself on the Irish stage," he says. "After decades waiting in the wings, it's facing a bright, creative future here, with all the self belief that characterises modern Ireland."
Godley, in an ecru/beige/taupe suit and Christian Brother sandals, says "all the meat-eaters will be at the Elvin Jones concert in Vicar Street" on Monday September 18th, while the "girlie night out" will be on Friday 22nd featuring the beautiful music of the Chilean singer, Claudia Acuna, and the Irish saxophonist, Michael Buckley.
Marcos Dos Santos, from Sao Paulo in Brazil, is here to demonstrate capoeira, which, he explains, "is a Brazilian art form developed by the Africans 400 years ago. It combines dance, martial art and acrobatic movement, and music as well." Capoeira was banned in Brazil until 1920. Check out Santos and his partner Sylvia Bazzarelli who can be seen in the latest Nokia ad, dressed in white and performing capoeira on a beach. The two run a school in London now, with 120 students learning how to do the capoeira. They, too, are to perform and teach during the jazz week in Dublin.
Others at the launch of the ESB Dublin Jazz Week programme are cellist Aengus O'Connor, who says he has recently left the rock band Dara; Sean O'Reilly, the novelist from Derry; bass player Ronan Guilfoyle, with his wife, Maeve and their children Christopher (12), Laura (16) and Shane (15). Ronan's brother, drummer Conor Guilfoyle, is also here. Music lovers Sarah Jordan, Irma Grothuis and Cork-based Deirdre Enright are also prepared to be seduced by the "rugged and spicy music" that Godley has put together. Noel Kelehan and his wife, Mary have also come along to check out the programme. The ESB Dublin Jazz Week runs from Monday, September 18th to Sunday 24th.