1990

The beginnings of jazz in Estonia go back to the 1930s. Nobody knew then that the jazz-experience here was destined to be influenced by all the following political and ideological changes that were forced on Estonia at large. 1967 was the year of the legendary Tallinn Jazz Festival and the appearance here of Charles Lloyd Quartet. After that, most of the jazz-activities were heavy-handedly silenced.
1990: The beginnings of the present Jazzkaar (The Days of Jazz & Blues in Tallinn). The internationaly-acclaimed American trombone player Ray Anderson headlined; Sherr-Cecil-Martucci Trio, the English improv-guitarist John Russell and many more musicians from Finland, Russia, Germany, Poland, Switzerland and Lithuania performed.

1991

Estonia had become independent again. The festival took on its present name, «Jazzkaar» – jazz-arc, i. e. The highlights: piano-players Igor Bril (Russia) and John Wolf Brennan (Ireland); British Summertime Ends and trombone-improv-virtuoso Alan Tomlinson (England); American ensembles John King Electric World, Jeff Lorber’s Fusion, and duo Evan Ziporyn-John Halle; Fahrt Art Trio from Switzerland, Bram Wijands Trio (Holland), Tartarian guitar-magician Enver Izmailov.

1992

Soprano saxophone player Steve Lacy’s & violinist Leroy Jenkins’s brilliant solo sets. The wonderful duos and trios – Sayankho Namchilak-Ned Rothenberg, Horace Parlan-Red Mitchell, Myra Melford trio; Finland’s RinneRadio with urban shamanism, Masqualero from Norway, vocalists Bernard Mixon and Joan Collaso with pianist Jodie Christian.

1993

The cutting-edge sound-explorations of Roscoe Mitchell Quartet (USA); the excellent entertainer Georgie Fame (England) with Finland’s top-orchestra, UMO; Japanese Altered States let fly with electronic fury coupled with Otomo’s turntable-mastery... the Swedish blues-veteran Claes Janson, Tome XX from Germany... the Senegalese Galaxy Trio... Kyaka Sun from Australia... American drummer Brian Melvin and sax player Danny Walsh...

1994

The keyboard wizardry of Joe Zawinul, the international cast Doran-Studer-Minton-Ali-Cora playing Jimi Hendrix’s music, the impro-innovations of Myra Melford, Han Bennink, Dave Douglas, the vocal pyrotechnics of the Real Group (Sweden) and the brilliant Armenian singer Datevik Hovanesjan, the acoustic fire of Thomas Chapin Trio (USA)

1995

New beginnings for the festival. Jazzkaar, by now undoubtedly the central jazz event in Estonia, said «goodbye» to its initial autumnal aura, and sprightly stepped into the spring sunlight. Gathered under the arc: the venerable harmonica-virtuoso Toots Thielemans (Belgium), the funk of Ray Anderson Alligatory Band (USA), Dave DoranJazzRap (Switzerland), the rocking hip-hop-blues of NY’s Lost Tribe, the glorious voice of the American singer Judy Niemack, and heady’n’jazzy mix of dance-grooves by the British DJ Gilles Peterson.

1996

Brought a breeze of Icelandic pop jazz from Mezzoforte and a hot shot of bass-ballistics from the Gerald Veasley Fusion (USA). The legendary trumpeter Ted Curson (USA) put in a memorable appearance. Other highlights: the gentle guitar-craft of Leni Stern (USA), a blast of raw Texas blues from U.P. Wilson, the brassy techno jazz of the Shuffle Demons (Canada), the vocal acrobatics of the New York Voices (USA).

1997

Jan Garbarek Group’s peerless poetry of sound: Charles Lloyd’s memorable return to, as well as Zbigniew Namyslowski’s come-back on these shores (first time after 1967); the Sami singer Mari Boine’s ethnic enticements; the subtleties of Jobim-Morelenbaum Quartet’s gossamer-bossa (from Brazil); Keith Waithe’s rhythmic exotica (via UK); funky grooves from Sweden by Nils Landgren’s Unit; Orpheon Celesta’s French humour; RinneRadio’s Northern techno-cool.

1998

Courtney Pine's hip jazz-jungle; Bela Fleck & Flecktones's banjo-fury; Frank Foster-led Estonian Dream Big Band's big-time debut; Dennis Rowland's vocal swing; Debora Seffer's discreet violin propaganda; Michael Schiefel's electro-voice virtuosity; the inimitable jazz-finesse of Copland-Wheeler-Abercrombie. And: JųrnOleTone Trio (Norway), Cęcile Norby (Denmark), Igor Butman (Russia).