The 10 best Irish albums of 2021 so far, including...

From compulsive debuts to assured collections from old hands, it’s been an impressive six months

Edel Meade – Brigids and Patricias album review: Distinctive and highly original

A moving second album that draws on everything from misogyny, #MeToo and the cervical cancer scandal

The best jazz gigs this week: ECM Weekend featuring Tim Berne & David Torn, Duo Gazzana and Cyminology

Swiss-born pianist Sylvie Courvoisier brings sonic explorations to the NCH and Hugh Buckley leads a Bowie tribute

Jazz singing workshops in Portobello

Marius Neset: when you’re a sax idol, it’s good to have a bit of ego

The Norwegian saxophonist, not yet 30, is up there with the best of them for sheer inventiveness. Ahead of his trip to Bray, to talks about living the dream and the expectations that come with success