He bought a new suit for the occasion, but that's top secret. It was burnished gold and he was so co-o-o-o-ol but don't say a word. Gerry Godley, artistic director of the ESB Dublin Jazz Week, is a modest man - his only wish is that people enjoy the music later this month.
Another shy retiring type is co-organiser Enda Doyle, who says he works behind the scenes. "I've been famous - I've known what it is to be adored," laughs the self-effacing classical guitarist. The week of jazz runs for seven days from Monday, September 20th. It's intended to appeal "not only to the groovy people in their 20s and 30s" but to everybody, he explains.
And everybody came for the launch at Dublin's Irish Film Centre during the week including Tony O Dalaigh, Dublin Theatre Festival director; Laura Magahy of Temple Bar Properties; Janice McAdam, of the Project Arts Centre; and Fiach Mac Conghail, a director of the Project until this year and now cultural director of Expo 2000; and Carrie Crowley, broadcaster.
Tina Roche, head of development at the National Gallery, was there to enjoy the launch and the Wim Wenders's film, The Buena Vista Social Club, which was screened as part of it. She's the only jazz lover in her family, she says. "Ah, they wouldn't be interested unless it had a diddle-ee-aye in it," she laughs.
Colin Devlin, of the Devlins who play tomorrow at the Liss Ard Festival in west Cork, was there with his parents, Plunkett and Marie. So too was film maker Sinead O'Brien, who has just finished a documentary about Dubliner Luke Kelly.