An estimated 50,000 visitors have filled the clubs, pubs, hotels and major venues of Cork over the weekend to enjoy some of the best jazz and jazz-related artists from around the world at the annual Guinness Jazz Festival. Among the big attractions are long-time James Brown collaborator and one of the inventors of funk Pee Wee Ellis, Grandmaster Flash, Clint’s son Kyle Eastwood, Grammy-winner Randy Brecker and his band and the king of the jazz violin Jean-Luc Ponti, as well as local stars like The Mary Stokes Band, Jape, Tupelo and Rob Strong.
However, one of the most anticipated gigs of this year’s festival was undoubtedly the first appearance in this country of the latest side-project of Blur/Gorillaz man, Damon Albarn, Another Honest Jon’s Chop Up. The multi-cultural collective ensemble (named after Albarn’s world-music label) which also featured the Red Hot Chilli Peppers bassist, Flea and Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen, had only performed twice before, back in 2008, in London.
Casually dressed in jeans and khaki jacket, Albarn bounced onstage to huge cheers from the sold-out crowd at the Savoy, while Flea elicited an equally rapturous response.
Despite his usual high profile, the Blur frontman took a backseat for the most part, remaining seated behind a piano, acting as a kind of a musical director/master of ceremonies while Flea, arguably the star of the show as far as the audience was concerned, dressed in fetching pink strides and red sneakers, manically plucking his familiar low-slung multi-coloured bass guitar. The Last Waltz-style presentation also featured The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Sun Ra Arkestra, trumpet-player Phil Cohran, Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara, house producer Theo Parrish, and South African hip hop crew M.Anifest.
One problem with a sprawling multi-artist show like this was the unfamiliarity of the material – the performance was used to preview songs from Albarn, Flea and Allen’s forthcoming collaborative album, Rocketjuice And The Moon. Another was the sheer number of musicians on stage, who at times seemed a little unsure of what exactly they were supposed to be doing, making for an occasionally disjointed performance. 
That said, it was impossible not to be moved by the exhilarating rhythms, and percussive textures, while the wall of brass was at times stunning. Meanwhile, Flea’s sinewy basslines allowed him to flourish well beyond the usual confines and strictures of a four-piece rock band. Fatoumata Diawara, who sang several solo numbers, was a revelation to most, while Theo Parrish egged on the crowds with some deft Afro-style hip hop.
Not surprisingly, there was nothing from the Blur or Chilli Peppers catalogues, but Albarn performed a well-received ballad in a style not a million miles away from his day job, while Flea demonstrated just why he is a key member of one of the biggest bands on the planet.