the big band
The Paul Dunlea Bigband is a professional large jazz ensemble that provides a platform for Ireland’s finest jazz improvising talent, big band virtuosi and - most importantly - new composers and arrangers. The ensemble has evolved from a three- year series of highly successful collaborative projects conceived and directed by Paul Dunlea. The band has performed sell out shows across the country in venues including The Opera House, Cork, The Grand Opera House, Belfast & The Everyman Theatre - Cork along with headlining the 2015 Cork & Limerick Jazz Festivals. Entire concerts have also been broadcast nationally on both RTE and BBC radio. Althought the bulk of the band's material is written or arranged by Paul Dunlea, the band perform works by leading composers from home and abroad as well as classic big band repertoire. To date, the PDBB has collaborated/performed with Mick Flannery, Cathal Coughlan, Niall McCabe, Jack O' Rourke, John Spillane, Camille O Sullivan, Gareth Dunlop, Brian Houston, Dana Masters, Tony Micelli & Paul Jost.
Current Line-Up:
Sax/Woodwind:Mark Wilde, Ciarán Wilde, Karl Rooney, Michael Lynch, John O’Connor
Trumpet:Ryan Quigley, Eamon Nolan, Mark Adams, Linley Hamilton
Trombone:Michael Marshall, Paul Dunlea, Eoghan Kelly, Paul Frost
Rhythm Section:Cormac McCarthy (piano), Julian Colarossi (guitar), Dan Bodwell (bass), Paul Byrne (drums)
Vocalist: Laoise O’Hanlon