Cork should consider creating a Cork jazz walk of fame akin to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, featuring some of the greats of the genre who have played the city at the jazz festival.
These include Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea and Oscar Peterson.
Con Dennehy, Cork county chairman of the Vintners Federation, was at the launch last night of this year’s Guinness Jazz Festival, which is expected to attract upwards of 40,000 fans to the city and give the local economy a €20 million boost.
He said the festival was started in 1978 by a small handful of dedicated jazz enthusiasts, adding that this year marked the 30th anniversary of Guinness’s involvement. It has attracted over a million jazz fans since.
Over the years, Mr Dennehy added, some of the greats of jazz had played Cork. He suggested that Cork Tourism, Cork City Council and the Jazz Festival Committee might examine the feasibility of installing a Cork jazz walk of fame.
This year’s event takes place from October 26th-October 28th. More than 1,000 musicians from 22 countries will be in Cork to perform at more than 50 venues.
Further information at guinnessjazzfestival.com
