The City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival is fast approaching, and music fans from far and wide are getting set for a non-stop five-day entertainment extravaganza.
The majority of the top-class live performances are free, giving everyone access to an eclectic range of musical experiences.
As well as putting on a fabulous showcase, the Jazz Festival also aims to create a lasting legacy, inspiring the next generation of musicians and providing a range of opportunities for young musicians to participate in the programme and showcase their talents.
One local musician who will be making his festival debut this year, is 18-year-old Edan Bradley, who was awarded a special Jazz Festival bursary in 2022.
The bursary programme was created to encourage young musicians to continue their musical journey, and since then, Edan has been doing just that.
He will take to the stage along with his dad Mark, a music teacher at Lumen Christi College, as well as his friend Oscar and Oscar’s dad Mike Nielson, an accomplished jazz musician from Dublin.
They will be performing as Jazz Lads and their Dads – pretty much summing up the entire ethos of the Derry Jazz Festival when it comes to celebrating music that spans the generations.
“Last week the ensemble played our inaugural gig in Sligo and it went really well,” Mark reveals.
“When Edan won the bursary he used the money to enrol in the Sligo Summer School to buy a digital piano. He met Oscar Nielson there who is an amazing young drummer, the son of highly renowned and internationally recognised guitarist Mike Nielson.
“Mike is a fabulous player with an astonishing range of styles, technically outstanding and so flamboyant and versatile. He’s originally from Denmark but moved to Strandhill, Sligo aged 7. He now lives in Wicklow but returns to Sligo regularly to visit his 90 year old mother.
“Edan was keen to team up with Oscar, whom he befriended at the Sligo Jazz Project so I approached Mike and Oscar about putting the father & son project together and so the foundations for the Jazz Lads were laid.
“Mike and I worked together when we both taught at Newpark Music school , Blackrock more than 20 years ago so I suggested that the Dads get involved as they needed a few additional players for the project.” Mark explains.
“The two boys are fantastic players in their own right but this gives them the chance to perform in a standard jazz ensemble together and perhaps can play together more often when the opportunities occur.
“Edan has always had a great ear for music, even from a very young age he was always picking up instruments and trying them out. He started music lessons early through Education Authority clarinet lessons at Nazareth House.
“Then after school he would wait for me in the Music dept. in Lumen Christi where he would always be playing pianos, keyboards and other classroom instruments and some of the older students here even gave him lessons! He was always curious and excited hanging around my classroom after school.
“As he got older I would drag him to the occasional jazz gig and he would watch closely and listen intensely, eventually getting up for a play with the older heads. I think this was where his interest in Jazz music emanated.
“But there’s no doubt that winning the Jazz festival bursary had a big impact on him. I think getting that outside endorsement meant a lot to him. We had supported him a lot from home, but this recognition of his talent really propelled him and gave him the confidence to take his music a step further.
“Now to have the chance to actually play a gig in the festival is a great opportunity for him and well deserved. It’s thrilling too for myself and Mike to take the stage with our sons, giving us a refreshed, energetic approach and renewed enthusiasm.
At the moment Edan is taking a gap year before deciding what pathway he will follow in terms of his career, and is currently working at the St Columb’s School of music as a piano teacher. Music will always be an important part of his life, and he can’t wait to make his debut at the Derry Jazz Festival next weekend.
“Winning the Jazz Bursary meant so much to me and it was instrumental in supporting my music studies,” he stresses. “Not only did it financially allow me to pursue the art further, it also encouraged me and helped me believe that I could become a Jazz musician – giving me opportunities to grow my talent and develop my interest.
“It opened doors for me to access great events such as the Sligo Jazz Project in 2022 and 2023, along with regular piano lessons from the talented Dr Scott Flanigan from Belfast. These experiences have significantly contributed to my musical development and understanding. Additionally, the bursary helped provide me with essential equipment, including a keyboard, allowing me to practice and play more frequently.”
The Jazz Lads will take to the stage on Sunday afternoon at 12noon in the Craft Village, just one of an exciting medley of al fresco performances taking place throughout the weekend.
“It feels amazing, I’ve always attended the Derry Jazz Festival as a listener, but through my practice and this opportunity I’m ecstatic to finally be a part of it all!” Edan enthuses.
“I’ve been practicing with my dad for quite a while now, and have been learning from him all my life – I think it will be very memorable playing at derry jazz festival with him, but I’ve always wanted to play with him at some point.
“I think people will enjoy the performance, I’m grateful to be surrounded by a group of great musicians who are very clued in to each other’s playing. There will be some classics, and some newer ones also.”
Edan hopes to continue his jazz journey long into the future, so watch this space!
“I’ve always been interested in music growing up so I would hate to let it go, and I hope that regardless of my career I will still play and be involved in music as much as possible.”
You can catch Edan and Mark as part of the Jazz Lads and their Dads gig in the Craft Village at 12noon on Sunday.
The City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival runs from Thursday May 2nd – Monday May 6th supported by Derry City and Strabane District Council, Diageo and Ulster University.
You can find out more about all the events and where to book shows at: cityofderryjazzfestival.com
Tags: