Mingo Rajandi „Lady Sapiens“ (Estonia-Sweden-Austria-Belgium)

The Jazzkaar 2026 opening concert sets the stage for bold, thought-provoking music that dares to ask questions and take risks. Mingo Rajandi’s contemporary composition, written for the rare combination of three double basses and a serpent, delves into themes of womanhood and femininity in today’s world. Inspired by the provocative book Lady Sapiens by Thomas Cirotteau, Jennifer Kerner, and Eric Pincas, Rajandi reimagines women in roles from which history has often excluded them – as hunters, creators, leaders, bearers of knowledge, and innovators.

For the Estonian premiere of this new work, Rajandi will be joined on stage by Elsa Bergman from Sweden, Beate Wiesinger from Austria, and Berlinde Deman from Belgium. Lady Sapiens is a co-production between Jazzkaar, the Belgian concert organiser HA Concerts, and the UK’s festival of new and experimental music, hcmf. The world premiere will take place in Ghent on 15 November, followed by a performance in Huddersfield on 23 November this year.

Composer, double bassist, ensemble leader, and initiator of interdisciplinary projects, Mingo Rajandi boldly explores the intersection between refined composition and improvisation. Her work weaves together jazz and contemporary music, drawing inspiration from socially conscious texts and poetry by both classical and contemporary authors. In 2020, Rajandi was named “Jazz Composer of the Year”. She has written numerous commissioned works for various festivals, with Jazzkaar premieres including Erkki-Sven Tüür and Lepo Sumera Rewrite (2019, in collaboration with Kirke Karja), Beastesses (2023), and Werewolves (2024).

The creation of Mingo Rajandi’s Lady Sapiens and its performance are supported by Tallinn, a UNESCO City of Music.

Mingo Rajandi: Homepage / Instagram / Facebook
Berlinde Deman: Instagram / Facebook
Beate Wiesinger: Homepage / Instagram / Facebook
Elsa Bergman: Instagram / Facebook