10 Year’s On
A Decade of Success – City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival 2011
When festival organisers Johnny Murray and Gerry McColgan were asked by Derry City Council to check out the feasibility of a new festival for the city they could hardly have imagined that a decade later the City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival would be one of Ireland’s most popular cultural events. A major international draw hosting world-class acts, the festival attracted over 35,000 music fans last year.
In the beginning Johnny and Gerry took inspiration from the Cork International Jazz Festival and its founder, Jack McGouran, who assured them that Derry~Londonderry was an ideal location for a big jazz fest. Advice and support also came from local jazz musicians like Gay McIntyre, Johnny Quigley, Jim McDermott, John Trotter, George Hassan, Frankie Robinson and Jack Molloy. Derry City Council continued to play a leading role and Guinness/Diageo were on board from the outset, their crucial sponsorship enabling the fabulous free Guinness Music Trail to become a vital staple of the festival.
Even so, before the inaugural festival in 2002, local publicans and hotel owners were dubious that it would succeed. “Afterwards”, Johnny recalls, “they asked us to make sure we brought it back the next year!” Over 7,000 people attended that first festival, which was headlined by Courtney Pine and featured jazz cruises on the Foyle, as well as spectacular Zulu dances from Zimbabwe's Black Umfolosi.
Today, the festival - NITB ‘Event of the Year’ in 2009 - is part of the fabric of one of Ireland’s most culturally vibrant cities. “People want to know the dates in advance,” Johnny says, “ so they can plan holidays around it. Last year two jazz aficionados from County Meath even decided to get married at the festival!” The secret of its success, Gerry and Johnny agree, is the broad spectrum of top class music it offers, from sublime jazz and exhilarating big band to the best of blues, funk and even reggae.
Being largely based in the atmospheric walled city helps too, with a host of welcoming venues buzzing with great music all within easy reach. It’s fitting that one of the great festival favourites is returning for this special tenth celebration. Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra typify the talent, energy and sheer fun that have made the Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival one of the truly great musical celebrations. Here’s to another ten years!
