The Ballydehob Jazz Festival has been around for five years now and each time it comes along in leaps and bounds. A strictly not-for-profit event taking place over the May bank holiday weekend, it relies on voluntary contributions from members of the local West Cork community and it’s a credit to its’ creators.
This year, the festival goers have a tasty artisan market, street busking and youth music workshops to sample, not to mention a generous schedule of live music in eight venues in and around the picturesque small town of Ballydehob over three nights, most of which come free of charge. Despite the recessionary conditions nipping at everyone’s heels, this really is an example of the old-fashioned ‘where there’s a will there’s a way’ attitude holding sway.
There again, perseverance is a quality Crosshaven-based fusion quartet COALTRAAN (pronounced ‘Coltrane’ as in John) are no strangers to either. They are here toting their just-released debut album ‘Greatest Surprise’ after three years of hard graft with recording sessions slotted in around various other necessary commitments and they seem to be struggling to comprehend the fact they have finally got something tangible out there for the public to hear.
However, the plus side is that the protracted sessions have allowed the band to work these songs inside out. They have a large pool of material to choose from and tonight treat us to a generous two hour plus set at their show in the relaxed and intimate surroundings of Rosie’s Bar.
Coaltraan clearly don’t come up short in the proficiency stakes. John Jermyn provides lyrics, vocals and lead guitar but they are an entirely consummate unit with rhythm section Alan Dowdall (bass) and drummer George Duggan locking into a groove within seconds of counting off and multi-instrumentalist Jack Doherty weaving spells full of sax, flute and additional guitar on top of the unfolding melodies.
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There’s an eclectic melting point being stirred here. Tracks like ‘Hope You Don’t Change’ and ‘Greatest Surprise’ ride monster grooves and fleetingly bring memories of bands as disparate as Jah Wobble’s Invaders of the Heart and the dappled psychedelia of Caravan to mind, while slow-burning numbers like ‘All Because of You’ and the aching ‘What Fire’ are fine showcases for Jermyn’s likeably world-weary, JJ Cale-style vocals and mellow guitar colouring.
It’s a credit to them that they keep the crowd onside for the entire set and two well-chosen covers – the Stones’ ‘Miss You’ and an impressive ten-minute stretch out on the Rev Al Green’s ‘Take Me to the River’ – do more than enough to win them new friends aplenty. They also take the gutsy decision to follow them with the ultra-hypnotic groove of their own ‘Greatest Surprise’ and manage to keep the audience sitting in the palm of their hand to the death.
Coaltraan, then, are well worth listening out for. They have experience and virtuosity on their side, but they never allow it to swamp the heart and soul inherent in their music. They are not only an excellent festival band, but very impressive in their own right.
Coaltraan on MySpace
Ballydehob Jazz Festival website
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