Winter Jazz keeps your senses perky until the big spring festival Jazzkaar. Concert season takes place from February 12th to March 18th. This time the emphasis will be on Estonian music – two pianists-composers Tõnu Naissoo and Urmas Lattikas both will perform music from their new albums released in 2011. The concert of jazz singer Kadri Voorand will be broadcasted to music lovers all around Europe. There are also many interesting foreign projects in the program – Donkey Monkey (Fra-Jpn), Lucia Recio – Didier Petit (Fra), Rouge Madame (Est-Fra) and Sergio Bastos with Raivo Tafenau Quintet (Bra-Est).
Urmas Lattikas is known as a very versatile pianist, he also plays in many jazz-rock-pop bands. In his 80s fusion-jazz band Urmas was accompanied by many Estonian jazz stars like Raivo Tafenau and Raul Vaigla who will also perform as guests next to other jazz musicians in the CD „Aeg“ („Time“) presentation concert in Kumu auditorium on February20th.
Tõnu Naissoo, who on the day of his concert (March 18th) will celebrate his 60th birthday, is continually an active composer-pianist who writes music in different genres. He is highly valued interpreter of jazz standards and has released 7 albums in Japan. He continuously searches for new paths in his music from solo compositions to club music or jazz-rock. Next to the piano he has lately started using Hammond organ that gives totally different sound possibilities. At his birthday concert in Kumu auditorium he will use this rarely played instrument. Naissoo will share the stage with Danel Aljo on saxophone and Brian Melvin on percussion.
Young, talented and powerful jazz singer Kadri Voorand has already attracted attention around Europe, America and even Canada. Along with Virgo Sillamaa and Taavo Remmel she will present her already known songs and also band new creations to Estonian and European listeners. The concert on 11th of March will be broadcasted via Klassikaraadio.
Winter Jazz will start on February 12th with an interesting duo Donkey Monkey (France-Japan) that has become a big favourite among Europe festival organizers. Pianist-flutist-composer Eve Risser (France) and percussion virtuous Yuko Oshima (Japan) met each-other while studying in France. Duos’ flourishing journey started after their performance in the festival 12 Points. Their music is versatile and exciting, reaching from jazz to rock and boogie-woogie.
A night with live French music on March 16th at Von Krahl will be a true treat. Spanish singer Lucia Recio, who started her career as a Flamenco singer, is one of the most vivid personalities on the stages of impro-jazz. This time she will perform with a charismatic French cellist/vocalist/composer Didier Petit. Concert will be continued with a grotesque trio Rouge Madame – mixing of the Estonian-Russian-French-Polish roots and languages by Lembe Lokk, Jean-Christoph Onno and Gaël Uzereau.
In February at the upcoming Pärnu Jääfestival (Ice Festival in Pärnu) there is a great opportunity to hear the Brazilian singer-guitarist Sergio Bastos and the saxophone player/accordionist Raivo Tafenau with his Quintet. They will perform on February 19th with music from their hit album Ice On Ipanema. Raivo and Sergio`s artistic purpose is to draw together two distant countries. When February in Estonia is the time for snow and cold then on the beaches of Ipanema it is sunny and warm. In spite that the music still connects those two places.
The gold sponsor for Jazzkaar is Elion. Main sponsors are Eesti Päevaleht, ERGO and Sokos Hotel Viru, year sponsors Aktaprint, Estonian Air, Tallink and Info-Auto.
Winter Jazz tickets (prices from 6€ – 10€) are sold at Piletilevi retailers and an hour before the concert on location.
Look at the Winter Jazz programHERE
Enjoy the music! Jazzkaar