A Guide to Slang for the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival

The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival takes place this weekend with over 400 music sessions all over Cork city!  

Getting in the true spirit of things, our friends over at the River Lee Hotel have created this A-Z guide of slang from the old Jazz era so you can immerse yourself completely...

Axe: Any instrument, even the voice. Be sure to loudly comment on various bands’ prowess on their respective axes.

Bad: Good, à la Michael Jackson. 

Cat’s meow: Even better than bad. Which is good. Still with us?

Doll: An attractive woman. This one mightn’t go down so well.

Eight to the bar: A continuous eight-note rhythm, typical on boogie-woogie piano.

Fried: Stinking drunk – not advisable.

Goof: If your companion’s attention wanders this weekend, you’re within your rights to insist they “stop goofin’ and focus on the music”.  

Harp: An Irishman. Again, maybe gauge the situation before introducing this one to the conversation.

Icy mitt: Cold, hard rejection. Seedoll.

Java: Coffee. Jazz musicians need energy!

Kale: Nope, not for jazz smoothies. This weekend, kale = money.

Lick: A solo; and if it’s especially impressive, a ‘hot lick’.

Mind your potatoes: ‘Mind your own business’ but with a fittingly Irish twist.

Noodlin’: Playing random notes without direction. During band soundchecks this weekend, feel free to shout, “Quit noodlin’ and get to jammin’!”

Oliver Twist: A skilled dancer.

Popsicle stick: Another technical term that will impress the masses; this refers to a saxophonist’s reed.

Rusty gate: An unfortunate musician who can’t play very well.

Smokin’: Playing well; expect to use this a lot in Cork.

Tubs: A set of drums.

Up: When a piece of music has a fast tempo.

Voot: Another term for dolla’ bills.

Wax a disc: Lay down a record.

X: Times; 3x on a piece of music means to play it three times.

Zoot: Sharp clothes. Compliment strangers on their ‘zoot’ suits – they’ll love it. Maybe.

Corks Red FM are official radio partner with Guinness for the Jazz Festival and we will be live all weekend from Reardens with The Big Red Bus!
 
We’ll also be giving you the chance to win tickets to some of the events taking place over the weekend! Stay tuned!