Back to school blues may be in the air for some, but not for saxophonist Matt Halpin. Halpin is currently packing his bags in preparation for a move to Boston to take up a scholarship at the city's prestigious Berklee College of Music for the next four years. The Presidential Scholarship at Berklee is one of only two scholarships awarded to Europeans this year which covers not only tuition – at a staggering cost of $12,000-$14,000 per semester – but also the not inconsiderable cost of living and eating in central Boston.

Though a number of Irish musicians have attended Berklee on part scholarships, this is the first time a jazz musician from these shores has received tuition and board and is a tribute not only to Halpin's talent, but also to the strong links that have been built up over the years between Berklee and Dublin's Newpark Music Centre, where the young saxophonist was a student. A faculty from Berklee has been visiting Newpark every year for the last 10 years, teaching and holding auditions, and last Easter, the demand for places was such that the improvisation workshop had to be transferred to the DIT in Rathmines.

Berklee's connections with Ireland are growing all the time. In March 2007, Riverdance composer Bill Whelan was appointed to the college's board of trustees, and for the last two years, the Grammy-winning producer has been bringing his colleagues from Riverdance to the college to give masterclasses in Irish music. He joins a distinguished list of trustees, including producer Phil Ramone and singer Paul Simon.

The Pendulum Club on Sunday nights at JJ Smyth's in Dublin's Aungier Street remains pretty much the only genuine jazz club in Ireland. There are other venues in the city and country which may flirt with jazz from time to time, but only the Pendulum has a coherent artistic policy which provides a regular platform for new music.

Coming up are performances from guitarist Tommy Halferty and his trio with Ronan and Conor Guilfoyle (6 September), Lebanese guitarist Sami Moukadem and his group which includes saxophonist Brendan Doyle (13 September), Edinburgh-based Irish singer Claire Daly and her quartet (20 September) and a special visit from Brazilian jazz stars Trio Corrente (27 September).

JJ's is also the place to catch what is easily Ireland's longest running residency, Isotope.

Proprietor Brian Smyth's enlightened attitude also means that occasional one-off gigs happen midweek, like the gig scheduled for Wednesday 9 September with fusion masters Spectrum, featuring the considerable talents of saxophonist Derek O'Connor and guitarist Jimmy Smyth.

Keep an eye on www.jjsmyths.com for upcoming gigs, and for full details of the Pendulum club, go to www.improvisedmusic.com.