Nigel Mooney is widely regarded as Ireland’s leading jazz singer and guitarist. A charismatic figure on the Dublin jazz and blues scenes since the early 1980′s, his Gripewater Blues Band spearheaded the blues movement in Ireland and drew many fans of both jazz and the blues.
A self-taught musician, Mooney was influenced by the blues from an early age and his hard-bop style of guitar playing is expressive and melodic with a bluesy groove. He possesses a warm and rich tenor voice and has an almost flawless sense of pitch. Nigel Mooney currently lives in Wicklow, Ireland, and continues to perform in Ireland and greater Europe. His current quartet features Johnny Taylor on piano, Dan Bodwell on bass and Dominic Mullan on drums.
With his unique style and virtuoso technique, Richie Buckley, a self-taught saxophone player, is internationally recognised as one of Ireland’s leading jazz performers. He has been described as “extraordinary” (Irish Times, 2001), “something of a genius…[with] a world reputation amongst saxophonists” (Irish Times, 1999) and a musician whose “playing manages to be simultaneously passionate and gentle, romantic and elegiac.” (Sunday Independent, 2001)
Musicians with whom he has collaborated include Van Morrison, Freddie Hubbard, Dave McKenna, Harry Allen, Lew Soloff, Guy Barker, Jiggs Wigham, Bob Dylan, Georgie Fame, Jon Hendricks, Carlos Santana, Barry Manilow, and Elvis Costello. Recording credits include Van Morrison, James Williams, Barry Manilow, Riverdance, Lord of the Dance and Elmer Bernstein. Continue reading →