Dr. Linley Hamilton
Dr. Linley Hamilton has been the foremost Trumpeter in Ireland for the last 20 years. He is one of the most prolific figures in the jazz scene on these islands between his role as a radio broadcaster for the BBC, his position as Professor of music at The Ulster University Magee and of course meeting the demands of his musical performances.
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Linley newest record, realised in May 2023 is Ginger’s Hollow. The album places Linley back in the spotlight where he belongs, at the helm of a transatlantic team to present an album of pure musical good vibes. Under his leadership, Dublin-based pianist/composer Cian Boylan and saxophonist Derek ‘Doc’ O’Connor are reunited with US legends Adam Nussbaum on drums and Pat Metheny/Gil Evans sideman Mark Egan on bass, and the mutual respect and sheer good fellowship that they share comes through loud and clear in this set of original tunes with the emphasis on openness, accessibility, and positivity.
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These recordings capture the warmth and empathy the band feel for each other, for their listeners, and for the music that unites them: "For me music isn’t about what you play so much as how you make people feel - we’re playing with them and for them, not to them or at them! That’s the same on the bandstand as it is for the audience. If you come to see us on tour, you’ll see us carrying on like we’ve won the Lotto!" - Linley​
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He has released several albums as a leader as well as appearing on several albums by Paul Brady and Eleanor McEvoy. Linley has also performed on several occasions with Van Morrison. In 2018 Linley released his most ambitious project to date, Making Other Arrangements. It was performed at the 2018 Festival to an over sold house at The Cork School of Music. It received tremendous critical and public acclaim. The project, an album of re-arranged musical hits recorded with a full string ensemble performed at 4 of the biggest festivals in Ireland that year.
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A superb recording that highlights Linley’s sensational ability as a virtuoso horn player. Supported with a star studded touring line-up including Darren Beckett (Madeleine Peyroux) this album will secure Linley’s credentials as an international star. 2019 was an impressive year for Linley with appearances in Moscow and a headline gig at The Cork Jazz Festival, which went some way to make it for a gig that was due to take place in Yokohama but was cancelled due to the Typhoon.
Over a week in May 2019, a lifetime ambition was fulfilled. Two of Linley’s all-time musical heroes (Adam Nussbaum and Mark Egan), who he got to meet through Radio Interviews and the incredible Sligo Jazz Project, joined his two best friends in a four-gig Northern Irish tour and recording project. Dates were organised and music written in advance, charts sent out and Camden Recording Studios in Dublin came on board, engineer Conor Brady was booked and a plan that was one year in the making came together. The band was formed...
The compositions are almost entirely original and were generated with the specific musicians in mind. Right from the start there was a commitment to each other
and a camaraderie that I hope will continue into the future. "The gigs gave us a chance to bond and the music came first at all times, everybody wanting each other to reach
their potential, a spirit that transferred over into the recording studio where we were pampered by our incredible engineer Conor Brady".
PROJECTS
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BBC Radio Show
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The Dr. Linley Hamilton Quintet featuring Derek 'DOC' O'Connor, Cian Boylan, Mark Egan and Adam Nussbaum