Matt Jacobson is back in Dublin after a two year sabbatical that took him to Lucerne and Bangalore, experience he has put to good use in his satisfyingly original compositions. The formula at work is downtown grooves, quirky melodies and collective improv informed by such eclectic sources as Tim Berne, Charles Mingus, Vijay Iyer, Marc Ducret, Phil Ivey and Squarepusher. Joining one of Ireland’s promising young drummers in Redivider’s “two horns, no chords” set up are alto saxophonist Nick Roth, trombonist Colm O’Hara and bassist Derek Whyte.

www.myspace.com/mattjdrum

Doors 8pm   -   Adm €10

Frisk Verden translates from Danish as Fresh World, an acknowledgement both of Mike Nielsen’s Scandinavian routes and his eclectic approach, which come to the fore here in a musical travelogue with aspects of flamenco, Indian and Balkan music. Its also the latest chapter in his long and fruitful collaboration with adventurous US vocalist Ellen Demos, joining the band from Brussels, where she’s now based, in a quartet completed by Brendan Doyle focusing on clarinets and Shane O’Donovan taking a colouristic approach to the drums. Nielsen is in acoustic mode, and the signature dark tone is there, as is that unique harmonic concept and solos that are refreshingly free of cliché.

Doors 8pm   -   Adm €10

An impressive new cohort of singers are making their presence felt in Irish jazz, among them recent Newpark graduate Edel Meade, making her Pendulum debut. The voice is bright and expressive, and comfortable in different contexts from traditional jazz forms to open improv, and also songwriters like Joni Mitchell and Jill Scott. Swoo-Beh features other musicians you’ll hear a lot more from in the years ahead with guitarist Chris Guilfoyle, pianist Leopoldo Osio, bassist Andrew Csibi and drummer Tommy Gray.

www.myspace.com/edelmeade

Doors 8pm   -   Adm €10

Its not every day JJs hosts a Mercury nominee, but pianist Kit Downes, bassist Calum Gourlay and drummer James Maddren won’t be phased by their inclusion among the 2010 prospects for CD of the year. Since 2005, these three young players have been working as a trio, and individually as components of impressive London bands like Empirical and Acoustic Ladyland. The album in question is their debut Golden (Basho Records) and it brings us an exceptional talent in Downes, described by The Irish Times as “a remarkably distinctive player. Inside or outside, his lines are full of the original and unexpected, with a logic of their own; and his stunning technique is matched by a rhythmic flexibility given full scope by his rapport with Gourlay and, especially, Maddren.

www.myspace.com/kitsmusic

Doors 8pm   -   Adm €12