IMC and Ballina Arts Centre announced musician and composer Neil Ó Lochlainn as the first artist in residence for the 2023 NAVIGATOR programme.
The 10-day Navigator Jazz Residency programme, established in 2021, offered jazz and improvising musicians time and space to develop and perform work, while building creative and professional relationships in new locations.
Neil Ó Lochlainn, described by The Irish Times as “a musical seeker” from Co. Clare, dedicated his work to exploring the contemporary and the universal in the local. He began learning Irish traditional music on the flute and tin whistle at a young age, and studied double bass with David Whitla at the Cork School of Music. He co-founded and served as artistic director of Ensemble Ériu, whose third album Stargazer was listed in Songlines’ 10 essential Irish albums. His chamber ensemble Cuar, which explored composition and improvisation within the framework of Irish traditional music, released their second album Umhaill in 2022 to glowing reviews, with The Irish Times praising its “beguiling blend of Irish traditional music, jazz and contemporary improv” and citing Ó Lochlainn as “a post-genre trailblazer.”
Reflecting on the residency, Neil Ó Lochlainn said:
“I was delighted to receive this residency. The opportunity to have the time and space to work on my music in a new environment was inspiring, and I enjoyed interacting with the music and artistic community of Ballina.”
The NAVIGATOR residency programme formed part of IMC’s commitment to further develop the national scene for jazz and improvised music, improve artist touring mobility, grow audiences nationwide, and create new opportunities and relationships for musicians.
Paul Cunningham, Director at Ballina Arts Centre, reflected:
“As a multidisciplinary venue we strive constantly to connect the broad community of Ballina in meaningful ways to our artistic programme. Our association with IMC, and Neil’s residency in particular, gave us a great opportunity to do this through a combination of mediated workshops and performative elements. Our intention was to create opportunities for Neil to continue the development of his new work, and to meet and connect with the wide artistic community of Ballina and north Mayo in a way that inspired both him and those he interacted with over his stay.”
Aoife Concannon, Creative Producer with Improvised Music Company, added:
“It was always exciting connecting musicians from the jazz and improvised music community with multidisciplinary venues in different parts of the country. We looked forward to seeing what would come from a highly versatile creative artist like Neil having the time and space to explore his practice, and how the space, place, and people he met in Mayo might inform his work.”