IRISH jazz celebrates an important milestone this month with the 25th anniversary of pioneering jazz promotion company Jazz on the Terrace (JOTT). Founded by Allen Smith - architect, jazz aficionado and one of the most important instigators of Ireland's jazz scene - JOTT was from the very beginning a standard bearer for contemporary jazz, setting high standards in artistic direction and presentation that led directly to the professional promoters of today like the Improvised Music Company and Note Productions.

JOTT emerged at a time when jazz in Ireland was generally of the 'trad' variety and regarded as an accompaniment to Sunday brunch. In this unpromising environment, Smith embarked on the quixotic mission of running festivals of contemporary jazz, and while they may not have made much (ie any) money, they enriched the musical life of the capital immeasurably, and many of today's musicians, including your correspondent, owe Smith a debt of gratitude for the artistic bravery of those early festivals.

The list of eminent musicians that featured still draws envious gasps from the younger generation and included legends like Tommy Flanagan, George Coleman, Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Dave Liebman, Sonny Fortune, and Pepper Adams. Moreover, it was always an important part of Smith's philosophy to match visiting musicians with players from the local scene, and many Irish musicians had cause to be grateful for it. Amongst the musical relationships that grew out of JOTT festivals were the superb duo of Ronan Guilfoyle and Russian pianist Simon Nabatov, who recorded JOTT's first record together in Dublin in 1987, and the inspired pairing of guitarist Tommy Halferty with English singer Norma Winstone which continues to bear fruit to this day.

It was the Dublin Jazz Festival of 1991, the last one organized by Smith, that led directly to the founding of the Improvised Music Company, so Smith's legacy is one that every music fan in Ireland today can appreciate - a professional, not-for-profit promotions company that organizes over a hundred concerts of jazz and world music every year around Ireland and attracts an ever increasing subsidy for creative music from the government coffers.

To mark JOTT's anniversary, Smith decided to organise one more jazz festival, featuring a mix of local and visiting musicians, just like the old days. As well as an impressive gathering of talent, this is an opportunity for those who have benefited from Smith's dedication over the years to show their appreciation, and attendance at one or more of next weekend's events is warmly encouraged. The mini festival runs for four nights in the Bleu Note on Capel Street, beginning on Thursday night with a programme that includes the Ivan Paduart trio from Brussels with guest Richie Buckley, Louis Stewart in his regular Thursday night slot, and the Dublin Jazz Collective with special guests. The weekend line-up also includes Italian singer Maria Pia de Vito with guitarist Mike Neilsen, vocalist Helena Jessie with the Justin Carroll trio and the Italian Alboran Trio featuring pianist Paolo Paliaga.