Jazzkaar festival lightened the last 10 days in April, bringing joy to young and big alike with more than a 100 events in Tallinn and 10 other towns.
The two-hour concert of legendary musician and composer, main performer of the festival, Charles Lloyd, was one of the most memorable and emotional through years. Head of Tallinn City Council Toomas Vitsut gave the maestro the city’s Badge of Merit, honouring Lloyd’s introduction of Tallinn to the world jazz map already in 1967.
Valter Ojakäär, the 90-year old jazz legend, composer and Estonian jazz documenter, as greeted with standing ovations when he received his Jazz Developer award.
Holger Marjamaa received the Young Jazz Talent award and Danske Jazz Award went to double bass player Taavo Remmel.
Festival’s centre, the Marina Pavilion got very good feedback from audience and performers. It was erected in collaboration with Prike, RGB and Tallinn Port.
All festival concerts were special and found their audience. The most listeners were at Emmy-nominee Gregory Porter’s concert. Concerts of Hiromi and Zara McFarlane were also sold out. Both solo pianist Nils Frahm and Kerikmäe-Echampard duo gave special moments and Naturally 7 and Dwele made the club nights hot and steaming with jazz!
The children’s program offered sweet moments, where kids could try African drums and OMACircus invited everybody to try out circus acts. Estonian performers Hedvig Hanson and Mai Agan presented their new albums at the festival.
Jazzkaar was visited by more than 10 000 music friends. Together with free concert day „Poetry and Jazz“in the Old Town, with Lunch concerts and Urban City Project, more than 17 000 listeners took part of Jazzkaar. So, in the end, 24th Jazzkaar was successful!
Many concerts were broadcasted via Estonian National Broadcast, there were joint concerts with Estonian Jazz Union, Estonian Concert, concert managers from other towns and with festivals Riga’s Ritmi, Kaunas Jazz and April Jazz.
Among professional journalists and photographers, the festival was reflected by volunteering reporters and photographers. Jazzkaar’s website and Facebook is brimming with videos, galleries, reviews and audience polls.
Jazzkaar says a sincere thank you to all volunteers, partners and supporters. All of it was possible only together. A big thank you goes also to the fantastic audience – it was all made just for you!
Jazzkaar’s golden sponsor is Danske Bank whose clients can have tickets with -20% discount. Other main sponsors are Eesti Päevaleht, ERGO and Kafo, yearly sponsors are My City Hotel, Tallink, Aktaprint, United Motors. Marina Pavilion’s partners are Prike, RGB and Tallinn Port. Also helping are flight partner Lufthansa, cafe partner Reval Cafe, EMT, Hansabuss, Eesti Loots, Hennessy and Kodupaber. The Festival is supported by Tallinn City Government, Estonian Endowment Fund, The Culture Ministry, Embassy of the United States of America, Embassy of Austria, L’Institut français d’Estonie and many towns.
Organisers of Jazzkaar:
Anne Erm, Eva Saar, Anu Luik, Ingrid Põldoja, Marju Kask, Merli Antsmaa, Madis Aija, Heiti Kruusmaa, Rein Kutsar, Erik Teemägi and more than 100 voluneers.
Until next time!
www.jazzkaar.ee