Taking place for the 28th time this year, Christmas Jazz has today announced its programme, which will feature international jazz stars, tribute concerts and local artists performing in Jazzkaar’s programme for the first time, as well as the Estonian premiere of Erkki-Sven Tüür’s Mare Lacrimarum. Today and tomorrow, a limited number of tickets are available at 50 percent discount!
“From 20 November to 15 December, Christmas Jazz will present several international concerts. For the first time the festival’s programme includes performances by two of the top vocalists in the jazz world, Gregory Porter and Cécile McLorin Salvant, alongside young talents worth discovering, Ingrid Rabi and Britta Virves, who will also perform at Christmas Jazz for the first time. There are as many as four special projects in this year’s programme, which means that alongside what is well-known and safe, we will highlight Estonian musicians’ cooperation not only with their own groups, but also with foreign artists, which diversifies the work of our musicians and offers new experiences to music lovers,” Anne Erm introduces the programme of this year’s Christmas Jazz.
On 10 December, composer Erkki-Sven Tüür’s masterpiece Mare Lacrimarum will be performed in Estonia for the first time, echoing the heartache caused by the ongoing war. Also premiered will be Solar Wind by Meelis Vind, who has drawn inspiration from Tüür’s musical heritage, as well as his new arrangement for Tüür’s Päikesevene (The Sun Boat). The music will be performed by the New Wind Jazz Orchestra, YXUS Ensemble and Tallinn Chamber Orchestra conducted by Risto Joost.
Soft-voiced pop and jazz singer Ingrid Rabi will present her new original programme Ootad at Christmas Jazz, inspired by winter, Christmas, love and dreams. The first American musician Estonians consider as “our own”, the versatile percussionist Brian Melvin will hit two birds with one stone, celebrating his 65th birthday with a concert dedicated to the legendary saxophonist John Coltrane. Performing at Christmas Jazz for the first time, the Sweden-based pianist originally from Saaremaa, Britta Virves will play music from her most recent LP, Juniper with her trio. See Pole See Trio has committed to reviving to the most beautiful tunes from Estonian earlier popular music. Upcycled ‘60s will present timeless melodies by popular classics Arne Oit, Valter Ojakäär, Uno Naissoo and others.
Norwegian multi-instrumentalist, composer and tuba wizard Daniel Herskedal will present his solo programme Call for Winter. Two outstanding musician friends, Finnish trumpeter Jukka Eskola and Estonian pianist Joel Remmel will give an improvisational concert with a trio, performing works by prominent Estonian and Finnish classical and popular composers. Tribute to Prince combines a concert with a dance party, led by the eleven-time Grammy winner, trumpeter and arranger Philip Lassiter, who will be supported by Jazz Musician of the Year 2023 Janno Trump with his band JT Conception and soloists Uku Suviste and Alika.
Singer and poetess Maian Kärmas released her debut album Tuigutuled 20 years ago, which she also presented at Christmas Jazz that same year. This year, soloists Liisi Koikson, Mari Jürjens and Karmen Rõivassepp together with Ain Agan, Mihkel Mälgand, Paul Daniel and the VHK String Orchestra conducted by Rasmus Puur will bring the music from the album to the audience in fresh arrangements.
Guitarist and composer Jaak Sooäär will extend the list of his spectacular cooperation projects, performing with well-known ECM artists, percussionist Marylin Mazur, bassist Anders Jormin and singer Josefine Cronholm. The Butterfly Elegies programme features new pieces by Sooäär and Jormin as well as thematic improvisations.
The already announced headliner of Christmas Jazz is the American singer-songwriter Gregory Porter, who belongs to the absolute top of the world’s jazz singers and has won the hearts of audiences worldwide. A star of the new generation and the three-time Grammy winner Cécile McLorin Salvant will give an enchanting concert on 29 November at the Alexela Concert Hall. She is deservedly considered one of the most brilliant contemporary jazz vocalists, praised for her masterful vocal technique, wide vocal range, individual style of presentation and searchingness.
Christmas Jazz 2023 will take place from 29 November to 15 December. In addition to Tallinn, the concerts also reach the jazz audience of Tartu and Pärnu. Keep an eye on Jazzkaar’s activities on our website, Facebook page and Instagram. Tickets are on sale on the Jazzkaar website. On 4 and 5 October, a limited number of tickets are available at 50 percent discount (except for previously announced artists Gregory Porter and Cécile McLorin Salvant).
Press photographs can be found HERE.
The main sponsors of the festival are JURA, Jazz Pesulad and Eesti Päevaleht. Annual sponsors are BMW Inchcape, Tallink, Aktaprint and Nordic Hotel Forum. The concert of Gregory Porter is presented by NOBE. We are also supported by Reval Café, Noblessner Seafront Quarter, Haage Vesi, Estonian Public Broadcasting, Ministry of Culture, Cultural Endowment of Estonia and Tallinn – UNESCO City of Music.