The band started out in the 70s, under the name Ozone, with an illustrious line-up: Keith Donald on sax, Mike Nolan on Trumpet, Noel Kelehan on keyboards, double-bass Frank Hess and drums John Wadham. Their Sunday nights at the Killiney Court Hotel were unmissable, attracting a guest appearances from the likes of American saxophone legend Zoot Sims. They also recorded a well received album at this time, titled Ozone. The band-members went their seperate ways in the mid-eighties, bringing an end to the band.

The end would prove only a hiatus when Keith Donald, Mike Nolan and John Wadham reformed the band in the mid-nineties. Myles Drennan took over the keyboard from Noel Kelehan and Martin Curry's bass replaced Frank Hess.

The line-up would undergo more changes over the following years. Both Donald and Nolan eventually left, only to be replaced by tenor sax Richie Butler and Hugh Buckley on guitar. Mick Coady took over the bass from Curry, but is currently studying abroad; Dave Flemming covers the bass in his absence.

From its earliest days as Ozone, the band's material has been mostly Classic Jazz standards and it remains so today. Richie gives the material his own personal reading of course. His cousin Hugh is also a versatile and widely respected composer, adding a wealth of rich, melodic material to the band's repertoire.

If you spend even a single Thursday night in Dublin, make your way down to JJ Smyths to see these guys.


Doors: 9.30 pm
Admission: €7

JJ Smyths
12 Aungier Street,
Dublin 2.
Tel: 4752565