Jährlich im April findet das jazzahead! Festival parallel zur jazzahead! Fachmesse in Bremen statt. Um den weltgrößten Branchentreff der Jazzszene herum gibt es mit zahlreichen Kooperationspartner:innen ein stadtweites Musik- und Kulturprogramm.
2024 steht mit den Niederlanden ein ganz besonderes Partnerland im Mittelpunkt des Festivals. Vom 11. April bis 13. April dürfen wir uns auf einen modernen und überraschenden Sound freuen!
Line up:
15:15: Ariel Bart (IL) Overseas Showcases
Ariel Bart brings a new sound to jazz, she ventures into unknown territory with her instrument. Ariel knows how to highlight unique feelings, evoked by her harmonica: a touch of nostalgia, punctuated by moments of pure joy. Her two albums as a leader were released in 2021 and 2022 on „Ropeadope Records“. London Jazz News wrote: “Her clear tone is beautiful and haunting, and the music is light and accessible.”
Line-Up: Ariel Bart (harm), Talia Erdal (clo), Arseny Rykov (p)
17:00: Liv Andrea Hauge Trio (NO) European Showcases
Originally from Northern Norway, Oslo-based pianist Liv Andrea Hauge leads a trio with two Swedes, bassist Georgia Wartel Collins and drummer August Glännestrand. They were selected for the Footprints Europe programme, and their second album “Ville Blomster” has just been released on Hubro Records. Liv’s compositions focus on groove, simple and singable motifs and exploratory interplay. The music contains playfulness and melancholy in songs that always have a lot of room for improvisation. Hauge has been commissioned to write a major work for trio, three vocalists and full symphony orchestra for the opening of Bodø24 - European capital of culture.
Line-Up: Liv Andrea Hauge (p), Kertu Are (b), August Glännestrand (dr)
18:45: Sultan Stevenson (GB) European Showcases
Pianist Sultan Stevenson is one of the fastest emerging young artists on the London jazz scene, and is considered one of the brightest stars of his generation. A summer 2023 conservatoire graduate, Sultan and his trio have already established a substantial following. He is widely tipped for success on national and international stages. His debut album ‘Faithful One’ (Whirlwind Recordings) earned him a Parliamentary Jazz Award as best newcomer of the year. Sultan launched the album at a sold-out headline Jazz Café show and the trio also performed live on BBC Radio 3 for the opening night of the 2023 EFG London Jazz Festival. “An incipient master.” (The Telegraph) Line-Up: Sultan Stevenson (p), Jacob Gryn (b), Joel Waters (dr)
20:15: Afro4Band (NG) Overseas Showcases
Afro4Band is a “Jazz-influenced African Groove Music Superband”. In 2017, Jazz Enthusiast/Impresario Geoffrey Kwale and Bassist Bright Gain got together to form a Quartet of top multi-instrumentalists from different regions of Africa, as an early recording project for their AFRODYSSEY label. And that is how AFRO4 was born. The leader is one of the great African bassists, Bright Gain. Drummer Wale Adeyemi is one of the most sought-after musicians in Nigeria. As is Victor Ademofe (trumpet/flugel, percussion & voice). They went further afield for the band’s Pianist; Luyanda Madope who is from Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Bright Gain says of him, „He’s one of the best we could have ever asked for”.
Line-Up: Bright Gain (b, voc), Wale Adeyemi (dr, voc), Luyanda Madope (p, keys, voc), Victor Ademofe (tpt, flh, perc, voc)
This showcase is supported and partially funded by The Goethe Institute and The Foreign Ministry of Germany
22:00: O.N.E (PL) European Showcases
O.N.E. is Poland’s first all-female instrumental jazz band. As an acoustic quartet, they mix lyricism and songfulness with their wild and uncompromising free jazz energy. Monia Muc, Kamila Drabek, Patrycja Wybrańczyk and Kateryna Ziabliuk are outstanding representatives of the young generation of musicians of the Polish improvised scene. They create in the spirit of democracy – they compose and arrange their songs together. One of our band’s ideas is to highlight the crucial role of female musicians in reshaping the music industry and advocating for gender diversity and inclusivity. The band was nominated for FRYDERYKI 2021 award in „Debut in Jazz“ category and awarded with JAZZ OSCAR Grand Prix Jazz Melomani 2020 in „New Hope“ category.
Line-Up: Monia Muc (as), Kateryna Ziabliuk (p), Kamila Drabek (db), Patrycja Wybrańczyk (dr)
23:30: Trombone Ensemble Nabou Claerhout (BE) European Showcases
“The horn players throw punches, the drummer goes berserk. This is a full hour of exciting jazz,” wrote Belgian magazine Humo of the new album by Trombone Ensemble Nabou Claerhout. Comprising five trombonists and a three-piece rhythm section, this long-time dream project became reality when, as artist in residence, Flemish trombonist Nabou Claerhout selected a handful of deeply inspiring European trombonists to join her at the 2023 Brussels Jazz Festival. With American trombone legend Robin Eubanks as special guest, Trombone Ensemble Nabou Claerhout was praised by i.e. Downbeat: “Claerhout knocks (this configuration) into a very contemporary, inventive place”.
Line-Up: Nabou Claerhout (tb), Rory Ingham (tb), Peter Delannoye (tb), Nathan Surquin (tb), Tobias Herzog (bass tb, tba), Gijs Idema (g), Cyrille Obermüller (db), Daniel Jonkers (dr)
