Performance
Thursday, 3 September 2026 at 7.30pm
Royal Irish Academy of Music
Livia Records in association with the James Joyce Centre presents JOYCE NOTES, performed by the Conor Guilfoyle Septet with Barry McGovern on Thursday, 3 September at 7.30pm in the Whyte Recital Hall, Royal Irish Academy of Music.
JOYCE NOTES, legendary Irish jazz guitarist Louis Stewart’s six-part suite based on scenes from James Joyce’s groundbreaking novel, Ulysses, will be performed for the first time since 1993, coinciding with the release of the original performance recording on Livia Records earlier this year.
JOYCE NOTES was first performed at the Cork Jazz Festival in 1982 by an Irish-American octet led by Louis Stewart with readings from actor Eamon Morrissey. Following its premiere in Cork, JOYCE NOTES was performed just twice more in the 1990s, once in Oslo with a local band and Norwegian text and once in Dublin in 1993.
For this performance, veteran Jazz and Latin drummer and band leader Conor Guilfoyle will lead his Septet with renowned actor Barry McGovern delivering the Joyce lines.
“It’s as if Louis Stewart and James Joyce were kindred spirits.” The Irish Times
“…a bold, adventurous work that’s fully the equal of Stan Tracey’s Under Milk Wood as an example of jazz meets modern literature…” Jazz Journal
“a triumph in every aspect – composition, arrangement and performance!” JazzViews
Tickets are €25.
The James Joyce Centre is supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.