Tallinn International Festival Jazzkaar celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, paying homage to the very first festival in 1990 with new albums from the cream of Estonian jazz as well as concerts of the current top jazz musicians in the USA. The main performers of this year’s Jazzkaar are Bobby McFerrin, John Scofield, Joshua Redman and Judith Hill.
The programme of Jazzkaar 2019 includes over 60 concerts. The festival welcomes to Estonia the current stars of the international jazz scene who can be also heard at the main European jazz festivals such as EFG London Jazz Festival and North Sea Jazz.
There are two very special concerts opening and closing this year’s jubilee festival. The opening concert, Jazzkaar 30: Erkki-Sven Tüür & Lepo Sumera rewrite confirms the statement that music knows no limits. Estonian contemporary classical music has inspired the present-day jazz stars Kirke Karja (piano) and Mingo Rajandi (double bass) who will perform the music composed by Tüür and Sumera in the key of jazz with Prezioso string quartet and a band formed specially for the concert. At the concert Jazzkaar 1990 rewrite on the final day of the festival, Raivo Tafenau recalls the very first Jazzkaar festival, performing with musicians who have meanwhile become legends, as well as with young soloists.
The day of experimental jazz curated by Maria Faust will bring strong contrasts to the festival programme with the German saxophone legend Peter Brötzmann and improvisation stars from the USA and Sweden. Estonian artists Kadri Voorand, Kirke Karja, Joel Remmel, Mai Leisz, Liina Saar, Sofia Rubina, Liisi Koikson and The Swingin’ Sisters will perform music from their new albums. Children of all ages will be entertained this year by Jarek Kasar, Jaan Pehk and Kirke Karja.
Representing the cream of contemporary American jazz, the festival programme includes eight groups and several soloists from the USA. Besides this year’s main performer Bobby McFerrin, the fireworks of virtuosos from the homeland of jazz will include wonderful original vocalists Judith Hill and Somi. Instrumentalists performing at the festival include stars like John Scofield (guitar), Joshua Redman (saxophone), Mark Guiliana (drums), as well as Greg Leisz (guitar) playing with MaiGroup. The band of multi-instrumentalists, paris_monster and the group of melodic hip-hop, Oddisee & Good Company will help keep up the party vibes.
The diversity of European jazz will unfold in the performances of top Norwegian, Italian, German, French, Hungarian, Dutch and Swedish musicians. The festival once again welcomes performers the audience has most wished to see again: singer Jarle Bernhoft from Norway with The Fashion Bruises, and the Israeli pianist Shai Maestro with his trio.
Main programme of the Jazzkaar 2019 jubilee festival:
Bernhoft & The Fashion Bruises, Bobby McFerrin Gimme 5, Captain Kirke and the Klingons, Disco Tallinn, Eyolf Dale Wolf Valley, Félix Lajkó Trio, Jarek Kasar, Jaan Pehk & Kirke Karja, Joel Remmel Trio, John Scofield Trio, Joshua Redman Trio, Judith Hill, Kadri Voorand & Mihkel Mälgand, Kaili Kinnon, Kids Can #noorjazz, Kirke Karja & Mingo Rajandi Ensemble, Lenna Kuurmaa & Mick Pedaja, Liina Saar, Liisi Koikson, Madis Muul Hextet, MaiGroup feat. Greg Leisz, Maria Faust-Tim Dahl-Weasel Walter, Mark Guiliana’s Beat Music, Martin Kohlstedt, Oddisee & Good Compny, paris_monster, Peep Kallas Trio, Peter Brötzmann & Heather Leigh, Raivo Tafenau Festival Group, Raul Ukareda Band, Rosario Giuliani & Luciano Biondini, Shai Maestro Trio, Sofia Jernberg, Sofia Rubina, Somi, Spring Roll, Swingin’ Sisters.
From April 19th to 28th Tallinn International Festival Jazzkaar will celebrate its 30th anniversary, filling Estonia with the best of jazz music. The main hub of the jubilee festival will be once again Telliskivi Creative City (Telliskivi Loomelinnak) in Tallinn, however, jazz will be brought further away from the capital city as well. On the second weekend of the festival we will also celebrate the 10th birthday of the Telliskivi Creative City.
The main sponsors of Jazzkaar are KAFO, Jazz Pesulad and Eesti Päevaleht; annual sponsors are My City Hotel, BMW, Tallink and Aktaprint. Bobby McFerrin’s Gimme 5 concert is presented by Viru Keskus. The festival hub is set up by Prike and Telliskivi Creative City; our café partner is Reval Café and our supporters are Overall, MyFitness, Kodupaber and ERR. Embassy of Israel, Embassy of Sweden, Goethe Institute in Estonia, French Institute and Hungarian Institute have helped us bring the musicians of their countries to Estonia. We are also thankful to the Ministry of Culture, Cultural Endowment of Estonia and the City of Tallinn for their support.
Tickets are available in Piletilevi sales points and the internet www.piletilevi.ee and https://www.festicket.com/festivals/jazzkaar/2019/. Jazzkaar info +372 666 00030 and piletid@jazzkaar.ee.