Debut album out now:
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Galway guitarist and composer Aengus Hackett has honed his creative voice for many years in collaborations with the cream of Ireland’s jazz scene. This is brought to the fore in his debut trio album featuring two of the country’s finest improvisers, Derek Whyte and Matthew Jacobson. Between them these seasoned performers have worked with leading international artists such as Kit Downes (UK), Ralph Alessi (US), Sanem Kalfa (TUR), and Irish stalwarts such as Mike Nielsen, Ronan Guilfoyle and Dirty Jazz Club.
Combining elements of jazz, rock and electronica, the eleven tracks of the album display Hackett’s diversity as a composer. The groovy opening track ‘Ximenyr’ nods the head to Hackett’s rock background, while ‘Nintendo Wars’ features infectiously playful guitar chords and angular rhythms. ‘See the Children Play’ has a bouncy swing feel, while ’Jasper’ features an uncanny groove in 13/16 time.
Produced at The Meadow studio in Co. Wicklow, the album’s sound benefits enormously by the expertise of leading engineer Rian Trench. Central to this sound is Hackett’s irreverent combination of straight-ahead jazz guitar tones with wonky effects pedal sounds to create a tapestry of futuristic textures.
Longterm collaborators, the rhythm section of double bassist Derek Whyte and drummer Matthew Jacobson think like one organism. The trio’s interplay in free improvisation reaches telepathic levels, such as on ‘Gerrymandering’, where bass harmonics collide with bowed cymbals, runaway electronic stutters and twangy overdriven guitar.
Created with the support of the MISP Award, Aengus Hackett Trio’s eponymous debut album was released on 24 April 2024.
* This recording was supported through funding from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media as administered via the Music Industry Stimulus Package 2020 *
Press:
“The performances from all three musicians are superb, suggesting they could have many fruitful years ahead together as they fine-tune their collective skills as a trio…The opening piece, “Ximenyr” nods the head to Hackett’s rock background, its Jimmy Page-like chordal beginning leading the way for some excellent bass and drums interplay, before taking off with its spiralling guitar solo…“Requiem for the Natural World” is ambient, awash with an eery atmosphere that could cut through a blade of knotted grass with a sharp knife… “Gerrymandering” is an interesting tune. I like this a lot, the cool, woody double bass and textural drums more than the sum of its parts as Hackett experiments with his outlandish pedal board. The gentler “Cephalopod” is perhaps the closest thing to a ballad on the album, no effects as such, just fabulous playing from the trio, with Hackett now sounding more akin to his jazz contemporaries Lage Lund or Rotem Sivan than the rock gods of the universe..“The Ineffable” luxuriates in its sound of a bygone era – almost like Pat Metheny and Jaco Pastorius together in the 70’s.” UK Vibe (Apr 2024, full article here)
” The work of an experienced, at times, experimental Irish jazz trio led by guitarist Aengus Hackett..Hackett’s sound makes us think of the style of long time doyen of the Sligo jazz scene Mike Nielsen who is certainly a kindred spirit and with whom Hackett has worked. Tunes make you stick around. Best track is the electronics shrouded ‘Gerrymandering’ that has firm bass developmental scene setting from Whyte reminiscent of the John Edwards manner in freeness situations and some detunery from Hackett that Mary Halvorson has done so much to bring the practice of which to the fore. Whyte’s arco passages on ‘The Ineffable’ are also a firm favourite of ours. And ‘Requiem for the Natural World’ even sounds a little Nordic so much so that fans of Eivind Aarset might even be drawn to its brightening air..“ Marlbank Jazz Blog, UK (Apr 2024, full article here)
“Aengus Hackett is, quite simply, one of Ireland’s premier jazz guitarists.” Connacht Tribune (Apr 2024, full interview here)