Led by one of Ireland’s leading drummers and educators the octet’s music looks back to the 1950’s to a style associated with the west coast called “Cool Jazz”, beginning with the seminal “Birth of the Cool” recordings by Miles Davis.
With their latest project the Octet will be expanding by adding 3 extra horns to perform the iconic recording “Art Pepper +11” the first time the music has been performed in Ireland.
Art Pepper + 11 is regarded alongside “Kind of Blue” and “Birth of the Cool” as one the modern classic recordings in jazz. With the smooth sound of Pepper’s alto and the intricate ensemble writing by arranger Marty Paich it epitomises the west coast sound.
However, the material is from the east coast with classic tunes by Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk and Horace Silver among others, giving the members plenty of room to solo.
The Conor Guilfoyle Octet +3
Conor Guilfoyle - Drums
Bill Blackmore – Trumpet
Mark Bradley - Trumpet
Colm O’ Hara – Trombone
Paul Frost - Trombone
Yuzaha O’ Halloran – Alto Saxophone
Steve Welsh - Alto
Patrice Brun – Tenor Saxophone
Kelan Walsh – Baritone Saxophone
Luke Howard - Piano
Barry Rycraft - Bass
