In the well-known format of a main and midnight program, the festival will present planetary jazz stars Avishai Cohen Trio, a flamenco spectacle by Antonio Serrano quintet, avant-garde jazz by Sao Paolo Underground and many others
Under the moniker of Planet Jazz, the Belgrade Youth Centre will present the 32nd Belgrade Jazz Festival, from 26 to 30 October 2016. In the well-known format of a main and midnight program held in the Belgrade Youth Centre, this year two concerts of great jazz stars will even take place in Sava Center.
Dragan Ambrozić, Programme Manager of the festival and managing director of Belgrade Youth Centre and Milica Ševarlić, Public Relations Manager of Belgrade Youth Centre and the festival, took time out to speak to CorD about this event that Belgrade’s audience love. Besides its loyal audience, many foreign journalists and critics love the Belgrade Jazz Festival, and the same applies to foreign cultural centres and embassies (primarily the American embassy since jazz is a vital part of American culture) which constantly support the festival as a unique cultural brand.
From Israel to Brazil
This year, the audience will have the opportunity to bring a new jazz planet to light from Israel to Brazil. Ambrozić explains: “Special emphasis is on a new generation of musicians from Latin countries. They bring fresh spirit, strongly rooted in tradition. We are already familiar with jazz from Italy and France, and for several years now we are discovering jazz from Portugal and Spain, but also from Cuba and Brazil. And from Cuba and Brazil, we will have avant-garde artists this year.”
Ševarlić adds that the “new life of the festival” began in 2005, and the concept established then is still in force but is constantly being brought up to date. The stars of the main program will be the Avishai Cohen Trio, who performed in Belgrade in 2007 on their way to become world stars, and Aziza Project. The midnight program is reserved for new tendencies and young artists, such as Tord Gustavsen. “The festival is being developed with a great sense of responsibility towards tradition, with a strong idea of what jazz represents in the 21st century.” According to Ambrozić, as in the 1970s or 1980s, the festival today brings together the best of contemporary jazz.
Jazz innovations are very important for the program. Ambrozić calls these innovations “postmodern jazz”. This line is best presented in the music of the Avishai Cohen Trio and Sao Paolo Underground, but these avant-garde sensations are not this year’s only performers who will represent postmodern aesthetics.
The unique relationship with the audience
The relationship between this festival and the audience is unique. As Šavarlić told us, most of the tickets are sold in April, when only a few performers have been announced. “One of the main tasks after reviving the festival was to build its audience and constantly develop its taste. Education is very important. We organize concerts to present young musicians, while world jazz stars give master classes and workshops for students of jazz.” There were lectures about jazz history in the Belgrade Youth Centre and also lectures in schools. Our audience is the youngest in Europe, Ambrozić adds.
“We are satisfied with the place the festival has on the jazz map. The fact that we present strictly jazz, promoting quality and never accepting commercialization, is crucial for the recognition of the Belgrade Jazz Festival. We are proud of the fact that the festival is now a part of the European Jazz Network,” says Ambrozić. Also, the festival strongly supports the Serbian jazz scene.
In that sense, it’s no wonder that both musicians and journalists recommend the festival and are willing to come to Belgrade. They are ready for new jazz tendencies.
One of the main tasks after reviving the festival was to build the audience and constantly develop its taste. Education is very important.
Dave Holland, jazz legend: The power of inspiration
Jazz lovers will have the chance to hear Aziza on October 28 at the Sava Center. Aziza is made up of some of today’s most prominent jazz musicians – Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Lionel Loueke, and Eric Harland.
Dave Holland, legendary bassist, composer and bandleader talks to CorD.
“The upcoming concert with Aziza in Belgrade will feature some music from the new CD, Aziza, along with some new compositions. I’ve known the other musicians in Aziza for quite a long time. Although the four of us have never worked together in the same group at the same time, each has worked with the others in different projects.
Holland also recalls his performance at the Belgrade Jazz Festival in 2005, when he played with his quintet. “I have good memories of that experience,” Holland says.
When asked about the most inspiring tendencies in modern jazz, the renowned musician who has been performing and recording for five decades says: “I think what I like about the scene today is that there are so much variety and originality in the creative work being done.”
Recognized for his lifetime achievement and exceptional contribution to the advancement of jazz, Holland mentioned his musical approach. “If I have a musical philosophy it’s just to play music that’s creative and inspiring and to find new experiences that will allow me to keep learning and growing as a musician.”
As a young musician, Holland cooperated with Miles Davis. “What was inspiring about playing with Miles Davis was not just hearing how he played, how he interacted with the group and how he put the music together but also his constant search to keep the music developing.”
Now, Dave Holland’s rich career represents true inspiration for young musicians.
“My advice to young musicians is learning and practice the traditions of the music, play as much as possible and with a wide variety of players and become a good listener,” says Holland in the end.
by Maja Vukadinović for CorD