So for the cats among you, here’s an all-too brief low-down on some of the acts you need to check out this weekend, starting with the aforementioned EST, or the Esbjorn Svensson Trio, to give them their full title. They kick off proceedings at the Everyman Palace Theatre on Friday night, along with the equally exciting Avashi Cohen Trio, in what will be the must-see double billing of the festival. EST are, as of this point in time, the biggest jazz group in Europe. Part of a new breed of jazz musicians who embody the old-school values and traditions, EST infuse their sound with more modern elements, such as drum & bass, electronica, rock and funk, thus endearing them to a wide-cross-section of fans. Avishai Cohen, much like EST, can be loosely categorised under the Nú-Jazz movement. A one-time understudy to the legendary Chick Corea (who handpicked the Israeli bassist himself), Cohen now heads up one of the most unique trios in jazz today, combining sparse beauty and explosive chops, that pulse, probe and pummel in equal measure.

If the nú-cool-jazz of EST and Cohen don’t float you boat, perhaps the rocksteady rhythms and rude-boy ska of the legendary Jamaican crew the Skatalites will. Taking to the Opera House on Friday night, the Kingston outfit are rightfully considered the godfathers of the now international sound of ska, having helped shape its distinctive characteristics in the early 60s before it went on to be adopted by legions of followers in the 70s, 80s and 90s.  They may not be jazz, but one suspects the opportunity to have these pioneers on the bill right here in Cork was simply to good an opportunity to pass up for the organisers. Good call!

Staying in the Opera House, many jazz regulars will be glad to see the return of Amp Fiddler to the Festivals line-up on Saturday. The Detroit musician served his time with Enchantment and George Clinton’s Parliament and Funkadelic groups during the 1970s and 80s, and Jamiroquai, the Brand New Heavies, Prince and Primal Scream in years that followed, before going his own way in 2004, with the release of his debut album. Amp Fiddler, while certainly taking some cues from jazz, is more funk and soul and as such is sure to provide one of the more livelier gigs over the course of the weekend.

Powerhouse bassist Miroslav Vitous, considered by many of his peers to be one of the great creative forces in jazz today, makes his Cork debut with his astonishing marriage of harmonies and acoustic sounds. Presented to captivate serious jazz fans following his enormously successful ‘Universal Syncopations’ album for ECM, it features a powerhouse group that takes his music into a new dimension. The fact that he is joined on the bill by acclaimed Don Byron and his trio, who will interpret compositions by Lester Young, Miles Davis and John Coltrane, makes this double bill at the Everyman on Sunday night a must-see event.

Getting off the beaten track, there’s also plenty on offer for those seeking something more ‘under the radar’. Dublin native Daniel Jacobson (aka ZoiD) is an immensely talented individual – the schooled guitarist and composer amalgamates his substantial and varied musical background to improvise with electronics, building spontaneous compositions from scratch, creating a mix of many genres from electronica through jazz and free improv to contemporary classical to form new electro-acoustic jazz. His show, ZoiD vs Karl Rooney, an accomplished musician in his own right, takes place at the Granary on Saturday, October 27.

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