Double Bill: Francesco Turrisi & Shannon Barnett at Sligo Jazz Project at Hawk's Well Theatre

Francesco Turrisi: A genre-defying multi-instrumentalist, Turrisi reimagines ancient melodies through jazz, early music, and global traditions. Hailed as "one of the most striking voices in European jazz " (All About Jazz), the Italian-born, Ireland-based artist has collaborated with icons like Bobby McFerrin, Rhiannon Giddens (winning a 2022 Grammy for their duo album), The Silk Road Ensemble, and Bill Frisell. From Baroque opera to Irish sean-nós, tarantella to flamenco, his work transcends borders. Leader of five acclaimed albums—including the "delicate, wistful" Northern Migrations—he blends Mediterranean, Arabic, and African diasporic sounds with fearless innovation. A true "polyglot" of music....

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Francesco Turrisi: A genre-defying multi-instrumentalist, Turrisi reimagines ancient melodies through jazz, early music, and global traditions. Hailed as "one of the most striking voices in European jazz " (All About Jazz), the Italian-born, Ireland-based artist has collaborated with icons like Bobby McFerrin, Rhiannon Giddens (winning a 2022 Grammy for their duo album), The Silk Road Ensemble, and Bill Frisell. From Baroque opera to Irish sean-nós, tarantella to flamenco, his work transcends borders. Leader of five acclaimed albums—including the "delicate, wistful" Northern Migrations—he blends Mediterranean, Arabic, and African diasporic sounds with fearless innovation. A true "polyglot" of music.

Shannon Barnett: Australian trombonist, composer and vocalist, now based in Cologne, brings her dynamic versatility to the festival. From early work with Australia's jazz elite (The Bamboos, Andrea Keller Quartet) to New York collaborations (Darcy James Argue, Jon Faddis), she's forged a unique path. As a longtime member of Cologne's WDR Big Band, she's performed with jazz greats like Ron Carter and Maria Schneider. Her acclaimed quartet has released three albums (Hype, Bad Lover, Alive at Loft), blending sharp compositions with fiery improvisation. A 2020 WDR Jazz Prize and 2022 German Jazz Prize winner, Barnett also pushes boundaries with interdisciplinary projects (Dead Weight for musicians and Fitness Studio) and prepares her 2025 singer- songwriter debut. As Professor of Jazz Trombone at Cologne's Hochschule für Musik und Tanz, she shapes the next generation of jazz innovators.

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