The Cork Jazz Festival´s sterling reputation on the circuit ensures at least two things come the October Bank Holiday weekend – the first is that young, hungry musicians from across the globe will be present and correct, eager to add to their burgeoning reputation on what is one of the must-play events in jazz.

The second guarantee is that the presence of a bone-fide legend will be assured such is the stature of the long running event. Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Rich, Mel Torme, Sonny Rollins, John McLaughlin and Chick Corea to name but a few have all threaded the boards right here on our very own doorstep throughout the years. Quite simply put you can’t buy history like that  - or credibility for that matter. It´s testament to the enduring appeal and good-will that the festival has built up over the decades.

So it’s with little surprise to find that the 2008 Guinness Jazz Festival has that wonderful air of predictably about it. Once again, fans in their many thousands will flock on Cork where they will be entertained by living legends and the up and coming stars in a variety of styles from furious fusion to mellowed cool, hard bop to sassy swing via all points in between. Here’s a general overview of some of the stars on show this Bank Holiday Weekend:

John McLaughlin and Chick Corea! As the dynamic forces behind the explosive Return to Forever and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, these two would be assured of their status without ever setting foot on another stage or picking up another instrument again. Their music went far beyond the ordinary; fusing energy, spirituality and emotion with improvisation rock and jazz. All that without even mentioning their important roles in the untouchable Bitches Brew-era of Miles Davis stunning career. Now for the first time Chick and John join forces since they were both members of that legendary Miles Davis’ group over 40 years ago. Playing music from then and now, they are joined by superstars Kenny Garrett, Christian McBride and Vinnie Colaiuta in Cork - and are poised to inspire a new generation in what is sure to be an incredible show.

Martial Solal / Lee Konitz
French pianist and composer Martial Solal is considered to be one of Europe´s finest jazz musicians. While Solal is best known in France for his duo albums with saxophonists Sidney Bechet and Lee Konitz and violinist Stephane Grappelli, he has also composed more than thirty movie scores, including the original French version of Breathless, conducted by Jean-Luc Goddard and starring Jean Paul Belmondo as well as playing at one stage with jazz´s greatest guitarist Django Reinhardt.

Joining Martial is Lee Konitz, the legendary 'birth of the cool' jazz star. These giants of jazz have a long history of performing together, so don't miss this rare opportunity to catch two master musicians at the top of their game, along with one of Europe´s hottest rhythm sections.

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey
The Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey will be the weekends choice gig for those that like their jazz to veer on the wilder side of the idiom. Theirs is a brand of fusion that stretches beyond the parameters of traditional jazz, encompassing elements of the avant-garde and rock, subject to experimental arcs and tangents that are by turns atonal and entirely unpredictable. The young Tulsa band is as comfortable in the company of jazz royalty such as John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, and Thelonious Monk as they are the regal rockers such as Hendrix, Brian Wilson and Neil Young and pop minx Bjork. In the past they´ve shared stages with Primus’ bass-freak Les Claypool, free-jazz mover Marshall Allen and Grateful Dead associate Steve Kimock. The groups use of effects such as wah-wah and whammy pedals gives them an additional textural nuance rarely heard in jazz. Highly recommended.

Steve Turre´s Spirit of Jazz
Steve Turre is among the finest trombone players currently walking on Gods green earth – Down Beat magazine´s Readers Poll named him trombonist of the year on no less then five occasions, the last of which came in 2005. He could probably be described as an All-Star Trombonist having played with Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Horace Silver, Herbie Hancock and Art Blakey recorded with Carlos Santana, toured with Ray Charles and played in the Saturday Night Live band since 1984. For his Spirit of Jazz Turre has assembled a quartet of outstanding talent, a group with major league bop and latin backgrounds, for this, his Cork debut.