The festival has played host to the true greats down through the years, some of whom leave fonder memories then others. “Dizzy Gillespie was a definite highlight. He was a really lovely guy. We had been warned about what to expect prior to his arrival but it proved to be a great experience. We’ve been very fortunate to have had some of the giants of jazz play at the festival over the years.

These disappointments aside, Jack has little regrets when it comes to the Cork Jazz Festival. It has, afterall, continued to grow at an astonishing rate drawing increasing numbers (this year sold a record number of tickets), whilst maintaining its considerable standing among the international jazz festivals. But significant changes await, as the festival looks ahead to a hopefully brighter future.

“We’re looking at the musical content, specifically new strains of jazz. The Blue Note legends are dying out and this will be the last year they will be appearing at the festival. We’re taking a quantum leap with the music next year. We’ve tipped on it already, but next year expect to see more Nordic and ethnic jazz, from Polish and Arabic regions specifically. We’ll still have the big names, but we’ll be targeting a new demographic. There are a lot more young, well travelled people in Munster now and we’re building for those new markets over the next five years so as to sustain the lifespan of the Cork Jazz Festival.”