Inspired initially by the Aka people of the Central African Republic, where the group's members all studied, Aka Moon are musical alchemists, fusing a bewildering range of musical influences into their fluid, instensely rhythmic sound, including . . . according to their website . . . "African, Indian, Maghrebian, Cuban, Arab, AfroAmerican and, of course, European traditions."

Saxophonist and composer Fabrizio Cassol, electric bassist Michel Hatzigeorgiou and drummer Stephane Galland are in town to play Cassol's music for VSPRS, which opens the International Dance Festival at the Abbey Theatre on 21 April, but the IMC has snapped them up for a Pendulum gig at JJ Smyths on the 24th.

>> Cortisol, a new group made up of some of the best of the younger generation of Irish jazz musicians, embark on a three-date tour this month, before hitting the studio to record their debut album.

Individually, the members of the group have amassed a range of experience that belies their years, and it will be well worth checking out what sort of a noise they make together.

Pianist and organist Justin Carroll has been missed since he relocated to Paris last year. Before he left Ireland he had already worked with a wide range of musicians here, from Louis Stewart to Van Morrison, as well as taking a leading role, as player and composer, with several original ensembles, notably the organ trio Organics. The band's front line features two of the most promising musicians on the scene.

Trombonist Colm O'Hara has been studying for the past few years in the Hague, where, among other things, he has found himself playing in Michael Brecker's big band. Joining him at the front of the stage is alto saxophonist and clarinetist Matt Berril who attracted a lot of praise when he emerged onto the scene, apparently fully formed, playing with Ronan Guilfoyle's Brazilian group, Tudo Bem. Rhythm team Andrew Csibi on bass and Phil McMullan on drums are more than capable of driving the Cortisol bus, with credits that include the Fuzzy Logic ensemble and Afro-Cuban band Havan Che.

Cortisol's tour starts next Sunday 16 April at JJ Smyths in Aungier Street, Dublin and continues at Richardsons, Galway (18) and Dolans, Limerick (19).

>> Lebanese-born, Irish resident, guitarist Sami Moukadem has produced two fine albums over the past few years with a group that features the considerable talents of Brendan Doyle on tenor saxophone.

Moukadem has created a hybrid of jazz and Arabic music which provides a very fresh setting for Doyle's inventive playing. Now, the guitarist has added percussionist Rob Harris, bringing Irish traditional percussion to the mix.

Well worth checking out when they play JJ Smyths on Wednesday, 19 April.

>> The Boom Boom Room continues to be a standard bearer for good music and creative programming north of the Liffey, and two upcoming gigs are more than worthy of an expedition to Parnell Street. Guitarist Phil McDermott has been based in Norway for some time now, and his return for a concert in his home city is well overdue. He plays the BBR on 14 April. Cyclic Episode are less of a jazz group, and more of an anarchosyndicalist commune, and they will be exploring the relationship between the American post-bop tradition and the more European sound of ECM at the BBR on 20 April.