I am so cool. I am that cool I am almost horizontal with coolness. In the kingdom of the cool I am the crown prince; the epitome of the kool kat groover.

From last Thursday to very late Sunday night, the entire city rocked and bopped to the happening that is the City of Derry Jazz Festival. This festival has firmly established itself as the North's premier Jazz and Big Band festival and has quickly gained a highflying reputation throughout country with its innovative programming.

The four-day frenzy of hip-hop, doo-wah, swing, trad, ska, boogie-woogie, gospel, blues and every considered jazz genre featured in excess of 300 artists, playing 177 gigs in 58 venues around the city - and over 90% of the events absolutely free.

The 7th City of Derry Jazz and Big Band festival was another layer on the success cake. According to organisers, Gerry McColgan and Johnny Murray, up to thirty thousand people flocked to Derry to party, jive, jitterbug and laugh amidst a sea of musical frenzy.

Derry is a happening place and we are lucky to be here at this time watching us move up the charts as fast as a hit Girls Aloud song. Not a bed to be had legally, not a space to be found in bars and restaurants, standing room only in the bars and clubs and the Forum is sold out. This festival is snapping at the heels of the Cork Jazz Festival for premiere place.

Hardly room to tap your feet amid the sweltering masses swaying in unison to 'King Biscuit', "The Kings of Rhythm" and "Les Swinging Lovers' or to seasoned performers like Johnny Anderson, Tommy Halferty or what about the great showcase of local talent we had on stage here.
On Friday evening the Blind Boys of Alabama went down a storm in the Forum. What can I say? Jesus was definitely in the house as the evangelistic gospel singers from the USA brought their distinctive Halleluiah 'happy clappy' swing to the Forum.

It is important that we give local people a bandstand in the programme just to show just how good they are side by side with apparently bigger names. Then you remember that they are there because they are quality acts: like the Mindbenders, Pure Fresh, Johnny Quigley and others. And perhaps we should remember that there is no bigger name in Irish jazz than our own inimitable Gay McIntyre. And playing with Gay in the City Hotel was his son Paul; who is a magnificent artist in his own right.

Did I say magnificent? I actually meant brilliant.

I thought, from Italy, the Lucca Quinette, featuring Derry's own Fiona Stelfox, were fabulous when they played at the Collon Bar on Sunday afternoon to a rapturous audience. And what a great venue the Collon is for live music with excellent acoustics and even better food. At the Gweedore Bar every seed, breed and generation were enjoying the Swinging Lovers on Friday night. Young children captivated by the antics of the Jive Aces at the Strand Bar on Saturday afternoon, in Café Calm singing along with Terrence Morrison, or crooning with Dougie Breslin and others.

The Jazz festival finale on Sunday night at the City Hotel was also a great night and I heard that the entire programme at Da Vinci's was brilliant. I have yet to hear a negative word from people who by their very nature so good at being negative: good!

Over the four days I talked to French, Australians, English, Italians, Spanish, Scottish and even "wans from the Waterside", people all having a great time here at the Festival and praising the city no bounds. I even spoke to a couple of whinging Belfast 'moaners' who had to admit that this festival was of seriously high quality (and not a mention of the Titanic in the conversation).


I can't wait until next year but (and there's always a but isn't there) . . . but serious questions have to be asked before it fades into another great memory. Derry City Council has to be congratulated for their investment in the Festival as do the main sponsors. What Johnny Murray, Gerry McColgan and their team do with this minimal amount of funding is nothing sort of 'loaves and fishes' terrority.

Careful planning produces so many events and many for free. Promoters like Joe Gallagher are willing to invest in acts and bring big names to the city but they are limited to what they can do.

A four

This Festival can only grow from to strength to strength but it needs nurtured. We need investment to make it the premiere event on the island. We have done it with the Halloween Festival so this event must be next. We have to maximise every potential for this city.

Cultural tourism is screaming for development here. We must challenge for the title of Festival City. We'll have to fight Galway, Cork, Dublin and Titanic town for this title but fight we must. That requires investment and vision.

Derry urgently needs to have a large flexible space big to accommodate up to 5,000 people for big name concerts, conferences, exhibitions; everything from equestrian events to ideal homes exhibitions to pro-wrestling to boy bands.

Derry has proved over the last number of years that we are ready to go the next level of entertainment. Imagine what Johnny Murray, Gerry McColgan and Joe Gallagher could do with that size of space? Positively mouth watering! Well as the kool kats in the zoots would say, are the suits up for it? Are they serious about taking Derry forward? Did they witness the effect the last four days and previous festivals have had on this city? Are they up for it? Well are they? We're waiting?
If we really want Derry to be known as the Cultural City, we have to invest in those events and activities that give it a right to take that brand name. We have to invest in Johnny Murray's vision of a boogie-woogie Derry. How cool would that be? How cool would Derry be? How cool would we be?

But it is now Monday loads of deep sleep for this is one lazy, dozy, kool kat who needs his zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Hmmm Jazz; so cool.