Ninety Degrees by Tom Caraher

"One of the most scintillating debuts emanating from the Irish scene in years” | "90 Degrees is a storming jazz-rock, at times even, without using the word too strictly, spiritedly funky, epic of some velocity.” - Stephen Graham (JazzWise) for Marlbank

Music has a way of absorbing the places, people, and moments that shape it. Ninety Degrees is an exploration of heat and transformation, a product of movement—across cities, countries, and musical ideas—but also of stillness, the time spent letting those ideas take root. Written while living on the Atlantic coast in Kerry, Ireland, this album reflects a period of change, drawing on the fiery energy of 1970s electric jazz—think Weather Report—while incorporating the modern jazz-rock/funk/soul influences of Chris Potter Underground, Joshua Redman, Aaron Parks and Brad Mehldau.

At the heart of the record is the band. Paul Dunlea, Darragh O’Kelly, Shane O’Donovan, and Barry Donohue each bring something distinct—shaping the music with deep, infectious grooves, beautifully lyrical moments, and raw, unfiltered energy. Their playing is equal parts tight and expressive, balancing intricate detail with an effortless feel. The compositions and Caraher’s playing set the foundation, but it’s their instincts, their ears, and their collective sound that define this music.

Saxophonist Tom Caraher has taken an unconventional path to this debut. Born in Bangkok, he spent his early years in Cambodia and Pakistan before moving to Monaghan, Ireland, for primary school. He later attended high school in North Carolina—birthplace of Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane—before studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston. That mix of places, cultures, and experiences has shaped how he hears and writes music, and it runs through every note on this album.

At its core, Ninety Degrees is about capturing a certain intensity—not just in tempo or volume, but in how the music shifts and reshapes itself in real time. It’s about leaning into the heat of the moment, embracing change, and seeing where the music can go next.