Barcelona International Jazz Festival
40 VOLL-DAMM BARCELONA
INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL
CELEBRATES ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY
OCTOBER 19-NOVEMBER 29
Spain saw its first professional jazz festival in 1966. It started with a concert at the amazing Palau de la Música in Barcelona, featuring pianist Dave Brubeck. Despite surviving the hostile times of the Franco dictatorship, the festival ceased operations between the years of 1977 and 1980, which were surprisingly in the first years of democracy. Since the late '80s, the festival has been organized by The Project, event organizers whose projects reach upwards of 500,000 people annually. In 2008, the festival celebrates its 40th anniversary with a diverse program that, once again, places it among the pre-eminent fall European jazz festivals alongside Berlin, London, and Istanbul.
Concerts taking place at the festival include the debut performance of Bebo and Chucho Valdés "Juntos Para Siempre" (Together Forever) on October 23rd, Al Green's debut in Barcelona on October 24th, pianist Brad Mehldau and saxophonist Joshua Redman's duo set on November 9th, the presentation of Matthew Herbert's new indescribable big band project November 13th, and Chick Corea and John McLaughlin Five Peace Band featuring Kenny Garrett, Christian McBride, and Vinnie Colaiuta on November 18th.
This year's festival also includes a dedication to the trumpet (Till Brönner, Tom Harrell, Ingrid Jensen, Nicholas Payton, and Tomasz Stanko), a special attention to Catalan authors, a classical family concert, and lectures from prominent jazz authorities in the business (Nat Chediak, Ned Sublette, Gary Giddins and Stanley Crouch); comprising a program that celebrates the vibrant current state of the festival as well as its perseverance through a sometimes tumultuous past.
This year the festival will also present a commemorative book that chronicles this unique story throughout its many stages. Written by the festival's Artistic Director, Joan Anton Cararach, in collaboration with journalist Guillem Vidal, the book features contributions from writers such as Nate Chinen, Ashley Kahn, Bill Milkowski, and Michael Ricci, as well as passionate fans like Italians Enzo Ansalone and Gianluigi Bozzi (who have attended, as spectators, 317 Keith Jarrett concerts). The book also contains contributions from legendary jazz promoter George Wein, founder of the Newport Jazz Festival.
This year, the section Finestres (Windows), which was created with the intention of presenting fresh sounds to a new audience, will include the accomplished voices of Brazilian Adriana Calcanhotto (November 7th), and Portuguese fado singer Mariza (November 19th). Lambchop, led by the charismatic Kurt Wagner, will also be one of the festival Windows (November 24th). Singer Katie Melua (November 26th) and poet Horacio Ferrer, close collaborator to Astor Piazzolla (November 4th), are two more featured Windows performers in this unique festival that is presenting nearly 60 concerts and different artists during five weeks of Barcelona's mild autumn season.
INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL
CELEBRATES ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY
OCTOBER 19-NOVEMBER 29
Spain saw its first professional jazz festival in 1966. It started with a concert at the amazing Palau de la Música in Barcelona, featuring pianist Dave Brubeck. Despite surviving the hostile times of the Franco dictatorship, the festival ceased operations between the years of 1977 and 1980, which were surprisingly in the first years of democracy. Since the late '80s, the festival has been organized by The Project, event organizers whose projects reach upwards of 500,000 people annually. In 2008, the festival celebrates its 40th anniversary with a diverse program that, once again, places it among the pre-eminent fall European jazz festivals alongside Berlin, London, and Istanbul.
Concerts taking place at the festival include the debut performance of Bebo and Chucho Valdés "Juntos Para Siempre" (Together Forever) on October 23rd, Al Green's debut in Barcelona on October 24th, pianist Brad Mehldau and saxophonist Joshua Redman's duo set on November 9th, the presentation of Matthew Herbert's new indescribable big band project November 13th, and Chick Corea and John McLaughlin Five Peace Band featuring Kenny Garrett, Christian McBride, and Vinnie Colaiuta on November 18th.
This year's festival also includes a dedication to the trumpet (Till Brönner, Tom Harrell, Ingrid Jensen, Nicholas Payton, and Tomasz Stanko), a special attention to Catalan authors, a classical family concert, and lectures from prominent jazz authorities in the business (Nat Chediak, Ned Sublette, Gary Giddins and Stanley Crouch); comprising a program that celebrates the vibrant current state of the festival as well as its perseverance through a sometimes tumultuous past.
This year the festival will also present a commemorative book that chronicles this unique story throughout its many stages. Written by the festival's Artistic Director, Joan Anton Cararach, in collaboration with journalist Guillem Vidal, the book features contributions from writers such as Nate Chinen, Ashley Kahn, Bill Milkowski, and Michael Ricci, as well as passionate fans like Italians Enzo Ansalone and Gianluigi Bozzi (who have attended, as spectators, 317 Keith Jarrett concerts). The book also contains contributions from legendary jazz promoter George Wein, founder of the Newport Jazz Festival.
This year, the section Finestres (Windows), which was created with the intention of presenting fresh sounds to a new audience, will include the accomplished voices of Brazilian Adriana Calcanhotto (November 7th), and Portuguese fado singer Mariza (November 19th). Lambchop, led by the charismatic Kurt Wagner, will also be one of the festival Windows (November 24th). Singer Katie Melua (November 26th) and poet Horacio Ferrer, close collaborator to Astor Piazzolla (November 4th), are two more featured Windows performers in this unique festival that is presenting nearly 60 concerts and different artists during five weeks of Barcelona's mild autumn season.
For a complete schedule of events, please click here!!
DL Media
DL Media
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