2024
The 59th edition of the San Sebastian Jazz Festival was a huge success; on the one hand thanks to the excellent artistic and musical quality, and on the other to the fantastic response of the audiences who packed out almost all concerts, coming to a total of 185,600 attendees.
59th Jazzaldia: a perfect year
The free concerts racked up 165,000 people and their paying counterparts 20,064 spectators, marking a record in the history of the Festival. Ticket purchases were made in 32 different countries, selling out for 13 concerts with sales standing at 88.8% of all available numbered tickets. Three of the 4 concerts in the Trinitate Plaza, 3 of the 6 in the Kutxabank Kursaal Auditorioa, 3 of the 4 in the Škoda San Telmo Museoa, 2 at Chillida Leku, one in the FCC Victoria Eugenia Antzokia and the one taking place in the María Cristina Hotel were all sold out.
The standard of the music at this year’s edition was excellent, with fabulous artists, local and international stars, up-and-coming artists, different musical styles... Concerts and snapshots that will remain forever engraved on our minds: the 3 terrific performances by the colossal and mind-boggling John Zorn, the avant-garde approach and creative freedom of William Parker, recipient of the Donostiako Jazzaldia Award, Sílvia Cruz with her peerless voice, the tour de force of Lakecia Benjamin, the savoir-faire of Potter-Mehldau-Patitucci-Blake, the sagacity of the Scofield Holland Duo, the profound and intoxicating voice of Gregory Porter, the southern rock of Larkin Poe and the North Mississippi Allstars, the expressive approach of IZARO, the Latin sensuality of Poland’s Marcin Masecki, the elegance of Júlio Resende...
The Festival thanks and appreciates the response of an audience who not only packed out all of the venues but who, yet another year, did so with exemplary behaviour and zero incidents. The Jazzaldia saw the city fill with music in a festive and celebratory atmosphere.
On 25 July, with all tickets sold out, a quartet of great Jazz stars fired the starting pistol for concerts in the Plaza de la Trinidad. Chris Potter, Brad Mehldau, John Patitucci and Johnathan Blake brought a smooth running machine featuring Jazz of the very highest quality. Later, Youn Sun Nah, with her moving voice and its many hues and colours, gave a concert to present her album Elles (2024) along with other numbers.
On Friday 26 July, also playing to a sold-out Trini, were two marvellous concerts. Marco Mezquida, in excellent form, took us through his latest project, Tornado (2023), with the odd surprise including his fantastic take on Xabier Lete’s “Xalbadorren Heriotza”. Next up was Gregory Porter, grand in all senses, who delighted those present with his matchless voice.
On 27 July, the first show was brought to us by the dream duo John Scofield and Dave Holland with a magnificent concert highlighting the intelligence of their approach to Jazz. The two were followed by William Parker and his quartet, with the fantastic improviser and legendary double bassist even daring to play the alboka at different moments.
On 28 July, the last day, the absolute star of the show was John Zorn. Repeating the experience of his previous two participations in the Jazzaldia, the North American musician once again left a profound mark on this 59th edition. Unique, defying description, breathtakingly prolific, loud, creative and wackily brilliant, he treated those of us lucky enough to be there to a concert that left us dumbstruck, blown away by his music and energy.
This year the Kursaal played one of the leading roles in the Jazzaldia with 6 concerts of the very highest level. On the first day, Silvia Pérez Cruz had the audience in the palm of her hand with her marvellous voice, presenting her latest album Toda la vida, un día (2023). The Canadian Rufus Wainwright delighted the audience with his expressive voice and fine piano. On the 25th, the Brazilian Marisa Monte didn’t disappoint her fans. The brilliant John Zorn, with two concerts in the Kursaal on 26 and 27 July, showed us yet again that he is an absolute genius, a living Jazz legend. Closing the edition, on 28 July, Diana Krall sold out all tickets for a Kursaal devoted to the vocal and piano performance delivered by the Canadian artist.
The FCC Victoria Eugenia Antzokia hosted the 10th edition of JazzEñe. All concerts were watched by an average of 570 spectators who were treated to 8 musical proposals of the finest quality: Trinidad Jiménez, Roberto Nieva 4tet, Mariola Membrives Dúo, R.S. Basque Faktor, David Sancho, Juan Saiz, Marcelo Escrich Silent Quartet and Martín Leiton Quartet.
On 28 July, William Parker received the Donostiako Jazzaldia Award, with the legendary bassist proceeding to join his trio for his third and last concert of the event, clearly confirming his position as an unquestionable leading light in the field of avant garde music.
Keler Gunea, on the Zurriola Beach, was once again the most popular stage (123,000 people), hosting two evening concerts every day from 24 to 27 July.
On 24 July IZARO kicked off the Keler Gunea stage before an audience of 45,000 people who had come along to watch her perform. Later, at 23:30, it was the turn of Larkin Poe, where the Lovell sisters demonstrated that they are one of today’s biggest southern rock bands.
On 25 July, the band from San Sebastián, Merina Gris, opened the day with a mind-blowing live set. Next up were Bizkaia’s Shinova, who attracted thousands of followers.
On 26 July, Les Amazones d’Afrique had the audience dancing to their lively African beats. Following them, Navarra’s El Columpio Asesino bid farewell to the fans who had followed them over a career spanning more than two years, and in the very best way, by getting everyone singing and dancing to their music.
The 27 July was the last day of the Keler Gunea stage. The Dickinson brothers with their North Mississippi Allstars delighted all present with their southern rock blues of the highest standard. Finally, Chill Mafia brought the curtain down on the stage, and they did it in great style, with 12,000 people dancing to their irreverent and entertaining music.
Once again this year, the four morning concerts in the cloister of the San Telmo Museum offered a very special opportunity to see and enjoy superb musicians in a space conveying peace and quiet while flooding the venue with the pure, unplugged sound of the piano and other acoustic instruments.
In the first concert, on 25 July, William Parker, who, as well as playing the double bass surprised us with a turn on the txistu, performed with Eri Yamamoto on the piano. On the second day, Friday 26, Júlio Resende treated us to a memorable concert accompanied by the Portuguese guitar played by Bruno Chaveiro. On 27 July, Resende once again delighted us with his music, this time solo on the piano. The last concert in the Museum was given by Marta Sánchez, who set about showing us why she is one of today’s rising Jazz pianists.
Thousands of people (37,250 to be exact) flocked to the free concerts on the Frigo Gunea and Fnac Gunea terraces. With a varied programme to suit all tastes, a series of local groups took to the stage, such as: Elkano Browning Cream, Musika eta Dantza Eskola Big Band, Iñar Sastre, Nacho Sotso Trio, Oscar Garrido Quintet, Femm & Band, Gregario de Luxe, Les 4 Saxes & Co, Nhil, Alex Haro’s Freedom, Euskal Hot Club, Fran Serrano Quartet 0202 and Motelas.
Big names from the international panorama also took to the same stages: Lakecia Benjamin, Eddie Henderson & Steve Davis Quintet, Carolina Katun, Bigyuki Band with Tomoaki Baba, Pere Bujosa Trio, Marcin Masecki and North Mississippi Allstars.
Joining in with the events to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of Eduardo Chillida’s birth, the Jazzaldia ran 5 concerts in the gardens of the Chillida Leku museum: Iñaki Salvador on 21 July, Noa & The Hell Drinkers on the 25th, Federica Michisanti Quartet on the 26th, Carole Alston on the 27th and the MAC Saxophone Quartet-Rosario Giuliani on the 28th.
The Nautical Club decking, a privileged spot in which to enjoy a Jazz concert, was also full to the hilt during this year’s Jazzaldia for the concerts given by Carolina Katún and The Fake Cousins. Paul San Martin and his kindred were the stars of the Nauticool with their performances running over 4 days.
Some information
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Poster
Poster 59 Jazzaldia (author: Detritus).
Txikijazz
Txikijazz featured 5 marvellous concerts for this 12th edition where the highlights were the atmosphere created, the respect for the music shown by the parents and, above all, the way the little ones enjoyed themselves. These were 5 concerts of very different styles, but with the common denominator of their high quality. Noa & The Hell Drinkers filled Chillida Leku with the blues aficionados of the future, while Itziar Yagüe and Carole Alston charmed the families with their splendid voices. Swingtronics and Elkano Browning Cream had the audience up dancing, the former in Tabakalera’s jam-packed Kutxa Fundazioa Plaza and Elkano in the bright sunshine on the FNAC Terrace. A very special edition.