In recent years, we’ve seen a rise in global appreciation for Jazz to its former glory. Ezra Collective winning The Mercury Prize, Jazz festivals around the country being more popular than ever and now one of the world’s leading saxophonists will be touring around Ireland.

Jazz is arguably the most beautiful genre of music to be consumed by and truly appreciated. Music obsessives amongst us may appreciate the complexity of a scale or when “the lick” is inserted into a phrase. However, for most, we’re just scratching the surface of how special the jazz world is.

With such quality being produced, decades after the inception of the sound, now is the time to take the leap into the all-encompassing jazz sphere. One of the world’s leading jazz saxophonists, Linda Fredri ksson, will be touring around Ireland and displaying the pinnacle of brass, throughout June.

Dubbed a “flamboyant improviser” and a “versatile musician”, Linda’s work borders on the liminal. Taking elements of improvisation as well as classic and contemporary jazz, their creative process is actualised through a plethora of layers which leave a lasting impression.

The Finnish artist has already taken over Scandinavia, winning the Teosto award, the most prestigious domestic award for compositions which are “bold and innovative”. Their debut album Juniper, takes you down a path of discovery, delving into what jazz is in the modern day and how it differs from our preconceptions. Jazz can be synths, jazz can be reverb, jazz is ambient and jazz is quintessentially saxophone.

This is exemplified in the track ‘Nana – Tepalle’, a visceral and unwavering tribute to Linda’s late grandmother, which was written as she was passing away. “At the time when I was finishing the album, that was the last song – it was ready, but it was still lacking the outro and the final production. We knew that she would die in just a few days or weeks. She had been such an important person for me, really like a parent. I originally had the idea with the intro that it would be like scattering as if somebody is losing their memory, a feeling of letting go. Everything just came together that my own grandmother was dying and starting to forget everything around her. Suddenly I realised, okay, this is for her.” Linda said.

Linda will be embarking on an eight-show tour, joined by Tuomo Prättälä on keyboards, Mikael Saastamoinen on bass, Olavi Louhivuori on drums . Spanning from Mayo to Wicklow and showcasing where the evolution of the sound has brought jazz, you can catch Linda at:

Friday 7 Jun – 20:00 – Áras Inis Gluaire, Belmullet, Co. Mayo

Saturday 8 Jun – 20:00 – Sligo Jazz Project at Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo

Sunday 9 Jun – 20:00 – Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal

Tuesday 11 Jun – 19:30- Music Network at The Sugar Club, Dublin

Wednesday 12 Jun – 20:00 – Garter Lane Arts Centre, O’Connell Street, Waterford

Thursday 13 Jun – 20:00 – Courthouse Arts Centre Co. Wicklow

Friday 14 Jun – 20:00 – Triskel Arts Centre, Cork

Saturday 15 Jun – 20:00 – Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge, Co. Kildare

If you want to support jazz in Ireland and see one of the most prominent names in the sound click here to grab tickets.

Band are:

Linda Fredriksson saxophones

Tuomo Prättälä keyboards

Mikael Saastamoinen bass

Olavi Louhivuori drums