Jazz Festival Barcelona – 43rd edition

Events and Music on May 20, 2011 8:31 am

On October 20th, 2011 the 43rd edition of the Voll-Damm International Jazz Festival will be held in Barcelona. The Barcelona Jazz Festival was the first festival of its kind in Spain when it took place in 1966; it even outlived the Franco dictatorship and has survived until the present day. This event has become a major annual event in Barcelona and a very important one for the jazz culture. It is a festival with a seemingly infinite amount of national and international artists in many locations in Barcelona. A great way to see another side of town is to experience the jazz scene in Barcelona.

As well as great artists coming to Barcelona to perform, there are also free concerts that are just too good to miss! Despite the fact that the Barcelona Jazz Festival officially begins on October 20th, on October 16th and 19th there will be two free opening concerts at the Parc Central del Poble Nou and at Pianos Plug (Calle Progrés 22). The ‘Liceu Conservatory’s Big Band’ will be amongst the many acts participating in the free concerts.

Besides the free concerts, there are also other fantastic concerts that you have to pay for. As a jazz lover myself, I can definitely recommend a few of these artists. Here are a few of my favourites:

Maria Schneider Orchestra Named by the renowned music and jazz magazine ‘DownBeat’ as the best band on the planet, the American musician has been recognized as a top composer of contemporary jazz. Her composition Cerulean Skies, from ‘Sky Blue’ won a Grammy Award for ‘Best Instrumental Composition’ in 2008. Schneider was one of the first artists to use ‘ArtistShare’ to produce an album.
Stefano Bollani Stefano Bollani is an Italian composer and jazz pianist. Playing professionally since the age of 15, Bollani’s unique style incorporates avant-garde jazz with classical music. He often improvises during live concerts, which makes each performance a truly unique experience for his spectators. In 2007 he won the Hans Koller Prize for ‘the best European Jazz Musician of the year’.
Pat Metheny Group The Pat Metheny Group has been inspiring us with their upbeat tunes for over 35 years. They are one of the rare groups which always strive to keep an intimate atmosphere with their audience, despite their great success and commercial temptations. Since their first album in 1973 (Bright Size Life, featuring Pastorius), they have enjoyed increasing popularity both from the critics and the public. They are now experimenting with new sounds, and exploring the realms of free jazz with Ornette Coleman.
B. Mehldau & J. Redman Mehldau is widely considered as a child prodigy of jazz. He was educated in classical music, however he made his debut playing the piano alongside some major names in jazz such as Jimmy Cobb and Joshua Redman. The talented pianist has a small but important part in Redman’s infamous piece – the ‘Joshua Redman Quartet’. The combination of piano and saxophone in their concerts always guarantees a vibrant and memorable experience.

Let us know what you thought of the night of the Barcelona Jazz Festival, share your experiences or ask your questions about the festival! Have fun!

About the author Oh-Barcelona

We are a leading holiday accommodation provider, with a fantastic choice of affordable rental apartments, hotels and hostels in the Catalan capital.

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