Giving their first Estonian performance at the Jazzkaar Festival in spring will be two of the top artists of Latin American rhythms, Flora Purim and Airto Moreira. The festival is also happy to host the world-class group of fiercest improvisers, FORQ. Tickets for the two freshly announced concerts are now on sale. Until the end of this year, tickets to the Jazzkaar concerts are offered at special prices.
The 31st Tallinn International Festival Jazzkaar will take place from 17 to 26 April 2020 in various places around Estonia. The springtime jazz celebration will host Grammy-awarded American stars, vocal jazz legend Dee Dee Bridgewater, next-generation trendsetter Cécile McLorin Salvant, guitar genius Marc Ribot with his Ceramic Dog, the magical Scandinavian trio Rymden as well as Cyrille Aimée, French singer who has secured her status among the biggest stars of vocal jazz. Added today to this impressive list of performers were the legends of Brazilian jazz, Flora Purim and Airto Moreira, and, to the great joy of all fans of Snarky Puppy, FORQ.
Undoubtedly among the top drummers of the world, Airto Moreira was one of the founding members of the fusion jazz band Weather Report in the 1970s. His pristine rhythmic talent can be also heard on Miles Davis’ “Bitches Brew” and Chick Corea’s “Return to Forever” and “Light as a Feather”. Flora Purim’s extraordinary 6-octave vocal range has brought her many Grammy nominations. Since the early 1960s, her creative journey has brought her into contact with true jazz legends such as Gil Evans or George Duke. With her husband Airto Moreira, the Brazilian singer has recorded over 30 albums. After a pause of 14 years she is now back on stage with her fresh album. With an accompanying band led by bassist Thiago Espirito Santo, the touring legends will perform their unique programme at Jazzkaar on 26 April at 5pm. The concert is sponsored by the Embassy of Brazil.
FORQ is an instrumental group with a dynamic sound and a penchant for sonic exploration, founded by keyboard player Henry Hey (David Bowie, Empire of the Sun, Jeff “Tain” Watts) and bassist Michael League (founder and leader of Snarky Puppy). These days, Henry Hey plays in FORQ with guitarist Chris McQueen and drummer Jason “JT” Thomas, both known from Snarky Puppy, as well as bassist Kevin Scott. This impressive line-up makes FORQ somewhat of a supergroup. They will give their first Estonian performance on 24 April at 10pm at Vaba Lava.
The full festival programme will be announced on the Jazzkaar website in early 2020. The 31st Tallinn International Festival Jazzkaar will take place from 17 to 26 April 2020 in various places around Estonia. Until the end of this year, tickets to the Jazzkaar concerts are offered at special prices. Tickets are available at Piletilevi sales points and on the website www.piletilevi.ee.
The main sponsors of Jazzkaar 2020 are JURA, Jazz Pesulad and Eesti Päevaleht; annual sponsors are My City Hotel, BMW, Tallink and Aktaprint. The festival hub will be set up with the help of Telliskivi Creative City, Prike and Nobe. Dee Dee Bridgewater’s concert will be brought to Estonia by Viru Keskus and Cécile McLorin Salvant’s concert will be presented by Seesam Insurance. The festival is also supported by the Ministry of Culture, the Estonian Cultural Endowment, City of Tallinn, Enterprise Estonia and the Embassy of Brazil.