50 edition 2015
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Assistance of over 124,000, more than one hundred performances scheduled, and an excellent artistic level, highlighted by the media
The 50th Heineken Jazz Festival, the Anniversary edition of the San Sebastian Jazz Festival, was a resounding success from the artistic point of view and the audience. Between July 22 and 26, more than 124,000 attended the 109 scheduled performances in 17 different stages, of which 80% were free. Despite a couple days of rain, you could find a huge crowd in the Festival, selling out of the Plaza de la Trinidad and giving a great atmosphere to the Kursaal and the Green Stage at the Zurriola Beach.
All the artists gave much more than what was expected from them. Special mention for Jamie Cullum and his trilogy of concerts: as a DJ on the Green Stage, playing solo and voice in the Kursaal Auditorium and leading a Big Band in Plaza de la Trinidad packed up to the slopes of Mount Urgull, everyone enjoyed the artistic genius and ability to communicate by the British artist.
All the singers that performed in the Plaza de la Trinidad were captivating, each in her own style. Sílvia Pérez Cruz with her exquisite Mediterranean sensibility, Zaz and her jazz manouche and the perennial appeal of the French chanson, Dee Dee Bridgewater with her mastery of the stage and her fantastic voice, Melody Gardot was sophistication with great band, Andrea Motis with her charming youth and her talent not only as a singer but also as a trumpet and sax player.
The program of the charming Plaza de la Trinidad, where it all started fifty years ago, the cradle of the fiftieth edition, was completed with two great jazz concerts: the quintet led by Andrzej Olejniczak and Iñaki Salvador, being one of the starters for San Sebastian European Capital of Culture 2016, and the New Standard Trio, three Musketeers in jazz today that are still to give many joys together and separately.
The Kursaal Auditorium as usual welcomed several concerts of the highest degree, besides Jamie Cullum solo. Benny Golson, the sax player who had the privilege to start rehearsing with John Coltrane when both were kids, was happy with the Donostiako Jazzaldia award and gave a concert that was a lesson in sobriety and action at the same time. The Bad Plus, known for seeking new ways of expression, together with Joshua Redman one of the most outstanding saxophonists of the past two decades, with a result that could only be, and was, a great concert. John Zorn returned to San Sebastian two years after his historic Masada Marathon, and he did it squashing the sonic wall that he built with bassist Bill Laswell and drummer Dave Lombardo.
The proposal for the Victoria Eugenia Theatre was very interesting, this year bringing the PUNKT festival held in the Norwegian city of Kristiansand to San Sebastian. Therefore the three performances were called PUNKT Donostian. The essence of PUNKT created by Jan Bang and Erik Honoré, is to play a concert with more or less usual instruments and then perform a remix on the same stage done by other artists. In this experiment, co-produced by the Heineken Jazz Festival and San Sebastian European Capital of Culture 2016, participated, along with Bang and Honoré, artists such as Eivind Aarset, Arve Henriksen, Nils Petter Molvaer, Sly & Robbie, Josetxo Silguero, Sidsel Endresen, Suso Saiz or Mungolian Jet Set leaving a great impression among fans.
The Victoria Eugenia also welcomed with a packed theatre the effective approach between Bach and jazz performed by the pianist Iñaki Salvador and Alexis Delgado.
The Green Stage fulfilled the purpose for which it was designed: to be a perpetual party. It started well: Jamie Cullum with a proposal never seen in public, as a DJ. Earth, Wind & Fire Experience was a success as well as the beloved reggae played by one of its creators, Jimmy Cliff. The remaining days of the Green offered good jazz (Gregory Porter), soul of the best kind (Lee Fields & The Expressions), and good examples of indie and power-pop by Neuman, Lonelady, KAKKMADDAFAKKA and the local Bullet Proof Lovers, who succeeded and will continue to develop an unstoppable international career.
Other very attractive proposals were the San Telmo Nights, all very different from each other. Zanmari Baré and the exotic enchantment of the songs of the island of Reunion. Julia Biel, singer and pianist, beware those who have not discovered her yet, its already late. The San Sebastian bass player Gonzalo Tejada, a true value for Basque jazz, in his unique tribute to Norma Jeane Baker, Marilyn Monroe. Trumpet player Arve Henriksen and the three female voices of Trio Mediaeval, a trip thru time and places of European music.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Festival could not forget to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Spanish jazz magazine Cuadernos de Jazz, essential in spreading jazz music thanks to efforts of its editors. To play tribute to the magazine we had a fantastic jam session at the Victoria Eugenia Theatre in which Azar Lawrence and Charles McPherson took part in with their quartets, reinforced for the occasion by Andrzej Olejniczak, Maciej Fortuna and Mikel Andueza.
The Kursaal (Frigo, Heineken, Coca-Cola stages) were a grand party during the five days of the Festival, with a permanent crowd who enjoyed the many proposals, some of international level, such as The Cookers, Ray Gelato & Claire Martin and Carla Cook, and others featuring more than twenty local groups who had the opportunity to show what they can do.
Txikijazz, the festival for children and families, reached its third edition with great success. A bet of the Festival to reach new generations endorsed by the enthusiasm of the children and parents. Along with several recreational and fun activities, the smaller ones first heard the sounds of jazz made for them by musicians such as Ray Gelato, Carla Cook, Andrea Motis and Joan Chamorro. A huge step forward in terms of public attendance (7,100), quantity and variety of scheduled activities and quality of the artists involved.
The fiftieth anniversary was also celebrated with an exhibition at the San Telmo Museum, titled Round Midnight. 50 Jazzaldia, and #jazzaldia50 the documentary, which had been issued by Spanish and Basque televisions.
It’s funny what happens with the San Sebastian Jazz Festival: Just when it turned 50, it was younger than ever and with enough strength to keep writing glorious pages in the history of contemporary jazz for a long time more. Polish jazz will certainly be present in the 51 edition of the Festival, because the European Capital of Culture 2016 will be shared by San Sebastian and the Polish city of Wroclaw. So, as the Poles say: “Sto lat! (May it live a hundred years!) “.
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22nd July (Wednesday)
JAZZ BAND BALL
KURSAAL TERRACE AND ZURRIOLA BEACH. FREE ENTRANCE.
GREEN STAGE
20:30 Jamie Cullum (DJ)
Jamie Cullum (DJ)
21:30 Earth, Wind & Fire Experience feat. Al McKay All Stars
Al McKay (guitar), Luis González Abreu (trumpet), Omar Peralta (trumpet), Justin Kirk (trombone), Ed Wynne (sax), Devere Duckett (voice), Tim Owens (voice), Claude Woods (voice), Ben Dowling (keyboards), Dean Gant (keyboards), Freddie Flewelen (bass), Aaron Haggerty (drums), David Leach (percussion)24:30 Jimmy Cliff
Jimmy Cliff (voice, guitar), Basil Shirley (drums), Stephen Depass (bass), Locksley Dixon (guitar), Ottey Lewis (keyboards), Christopher McDonald (keyboards), Marcus Boothe (sax), Dwight Richards (trumpet, voice), Tammi T (voice)FRIGO SPACE
19:00 Euskadiko Ikasleen Jazz Orkestra (EIJO)
Josetxo Silguero, Iñigo Ibaibarriaga (artistic and musical direction), Ángel Ugarteburu (technical coordination), Eolo Andino, Martin Gabiria, Xabier Oruesagasti, Beñat Álvarez, Julen Oruesagasti, Aitor Otegi (sax), Jon Viejo, Iñigo Ocón, Nicolás Andino, Jone Erzilla, Xabier Rodríguez (trumpet), Eneko Urrestarazu, Beñat Etxabe, Alaitz Almorza, Iker Figueroa (trombone), David Cid, David Juárez (piano), Ramón García de la Mata, Ander Solabarrieta (guitar), Aitor Moreno (bass), Dámaso Escauriaza, Aitor Bravo (drums)23:00 The Cookers (Billy Harper, Eddie Henderson, Donald Harrison, David Weiss, Danny Grissett, Cecil McBee, Billy Hart)
Billy Harper (saxophone), Eddie Henderson (trumpet), Donald Harrison (alto sax), David Weiss (trumpet), Danny Grissett (piano), Cecil McBee (bass), Billy Hart (drums)HEINEKEN TERRACE
19:00 Carla Cook
Carla Cook (voice), Albert Bover (piano), Ignasi González (bass), Jo Krause (drums)23:00 Ray Gelato & Claire Martin: A Swinging Affair
Ray Gelato (sax, voice), Claire Martin (voice), Seb De Krom (drums), Dave Newton (piano), Dave Whitford (bass)COCA-COLA SPACE
19:00 Zanmari Baré
Zanmari Baré (voice, kayanm), Mikaël Talpot (bob, sati), Willy Paitre (roulèr), Serge Parbatia (piker), Laurent Dalleau (congas), Stéphane Gaze (kayanm)23:00 The Soul Messengers
Santiago Fernández (trumpet), Josu Salegui (sax), Antonio Tercero (trombone), Carla Sevilla (voice), Kassandra Charalampi (voice), Aarón Castrillo (drums), David Ruiz (bass), Víctor Antón (guitar), Javier Bello (piano, keyboards)23rd July (Thursday)
KURSAAL AUDITORIUM – KUTXABANK. 18:30. 30€
Jamie Cullum (solo)
Jamie Cullum (piano, voice)
TRINITY SQUARE. 21:00. 30€Sílvia Pérez Cruz
Sílvia Pérez Cruz (voice), Elena Rey (violin), Carlos Montfort (violin), Anna Aldomà (viola), Joan Antoni Pich (cello), Miquel Àngel Cordero (bass)Zaz
Isabelle Geffroy (voice), Guillaume Juhel (guitar), Edouard Algayon (guitar, voice), Yoann Schmidt (drums), Thierry Faure (piano, accordion, musical direction), Ilan Abou (bass, musical direction), Claude Egea (trumpet), Guillaume Poncelet (trumpet, keyboard), Denis Leloup (trombone), Eric Seva (sax, voice), Frederic Couderc (sax, clarinet, flute), Jean Marc Reyno (choir leader), Manu Vince (choir), Greg (choir), Fabrice (choir)
VICTORIA EUGENIA THEATRE – SKODA. 24:00. 10€In co-production with San Sebastian European Capital of Culture 2016
PUNKT Donostian 1
Concert: Erik Honoré “Heliographs” (featruting Nils Petter Molvaer, Eivind Aarset, Ingar Zach)Erik Honoré (live sampling), Nils Petter Molvaer (trumpet), Eivind Aarset (guitar), Sidsel Endresen (voice), Ingar Zach (drums)
Live Remix: Arve Henriksen, Jan Bang, Suso Saiz
Arve Henriksen (trumpet), Jan Bang (live sampling), Suso Saiz (guitar)SAN TELMO MUSEUM – SKODA. 24:00. FREE ENTRANCE
San Telmo Nights: Zanmari Baré
Zanmari Baré (voice, kayanm), Mikaël Talpot (bob, sati), Willy Paitre (roulèr), Serge Parbatia (piker), Laurent Dalleau (congas), Stéphane Gaze (kayanm)GREEN STAGE. FREE ENTRANCE
21:30 Neuman
Paco Román (voice, guitar), David Manzullo (bass), Pablo Pérez (guitar), Sergio Bernal (drums)24:30 Gregory Porter
Gregory Porter (voice), Chip Crawford (piano), Emanuel Harrold (drums), Jahnal Nichols (bass), Yohsuke Satoh (sax)FRIGO SPACE. FREE ENTRANCE
19:00 Ray Gelato & Claire Martin: A Swinging Affair
Ray Gelato (sax, voice), Claire Martin (voice), Seb De Krom (drums), Dave Newton (piano), Dave Whitford (bass)23:00 Carla Cook
Carla Cook (voice), Albert Bover (piano), Ignasi González (bass), Jo Krause (drums)HEINEKEN TERRACE. FREE ENTRANCE
19:00 Onna Marun
Arturo Valero (bass), Aarón Castrillo (drums), Juan Sebastián Vázquez (piano), Bruno Valle (trombone), Laurent Robino (alto sax, soprano sax)
23:00 Paul San Martín & Romain Gratalon
Paul San Martín (piano, voice), Romain Gratalon (drums)COCA-COLA SPACE. FREE ENTRANCE
19:00 Maldataskull
Jorge Castañeda (piano), Darío Guibert (bass), César de Frías (drums)23:00 Totem Trio
Kike Lafuente (bass), Aritza Castro (drums), Juan Sebastián Vázquez (piano)NAUTICOOL. FREE ENTRANCE
17:00 Makala, Bidaurreta & Barzaga
18:30 Joseba Martín “La Jungla Sonora”
20:00 The Cisco Kids
21:30 DJ Vaga
23:00 + 24:30 Enric Domenech
24th July (Friday)KURSAAL AUDITORIUM – KUTXABANK 18:30. 18€
Benny Golson Quartet
Benny Golson (tenor sax), Joan Monne (piano), Ignasi González (bass), Jo Krause (drums)TRINITY SQUARE. 21:00. 35€
Andrzej Olejniczak–Iñaki Salvador Quartet feat. Maciej Fortuna (In co-production with San Sebastian European Capital of Culture 2016)
Andrzej Olejniczak (sax), Iñaki Salvador (piano, musical direction), Maciej Fortuna (trumpet, flugelhorn), Gonzalo Tejada (bass), Borja Barrueta (drums)Jamie Cullum (Big Band)
Jamie Cullum (piano, voice, guitar, harmonica), Barnaby Dickinson (trombone), Benjamin Castle (sax), Loz Garratt (bass, voice), Brad Webb (drums, voice), Nichol Thomson (trombone), Thomas Rees Roberts (trumpet), Thomas Walsh (trumpet), George Hogg (trumpet), James Allsopp (sax), Michael Lesirge (sax)VICTORIA EUGENIA THEATRE – SKODA. 24:00. 10€
In co-production with San Sebastian European Capital of Culture 2016
PUNKT Donostian 2
Concert: Josetxo Silguero & Pierre Jodlowsky: Rayuela Jazz Project
Josetxo Silguero (sax), Pierre Jodlowsky (laptops, electronics, bass), Javier Larreina (storyteller), César Barrio (action painting)Punkt Live Remix: Sidsel Endresen, Jan Bang, Erik Honoré
Sidsel Endresen (voice), Jan Bang (live sampling), Erik Honoré (live sampling)SAN TELMO MUSEUM – SKODA. 24:00. FREE ENTRANCE
San Telmo Nights: Julia Biel
Julia Biel (voice, piano, guitar), Idris Rahman (bass), Saleem Raman (drums)GREEN STAGE. FREE ENTRANCE
21:30 LoneLady
Julie Campbell (voice), Gareth Smith (guitar), Tom Long (bass, keyboards), Liam Stewart (drums)24:30 KAKKMADDAFAKKA
Axel Vindenes (voice, guitar), Stian Saevig (voice, bass), Pal Vindenes (voice, guitar), Kristoffer Van Der Pas (drums), Lars Helmik Raaheim-Olsen (percussion, voice), Sebastian Emin (keyboards)FRIGO SPACE. FREE ENTRANCE.
19:00 Charles McPherson Quartet
Charles McPherson (alto sax), Bruce Barth (piano), Jeremy Brown (bass), Stephen Keogh (drums)23:00 Azar Lawrence Quartet
Azar Lawrence (tenor sax, soprano sax), Benito González (piano), Essiet Essiet (bass), Brandon Lewis (drums)HEINEKEN TERRACE. FREE ENTRANCE.
19:00 Lara Vizuete
Lara Vizuete (voice), Mikel Núñez (piano), Víctor Antón (guitar), Arturo Valero (bass), Unai Olabarri (drums)23:00 Orbital
Daniel Pozo (bass), César de Frías (drums), Mikel Núñez (piano), Víctor Antón (guitar), Laurent Robino (alto sax)COCA-COLA SPACE. FREE ENTRANCE
19:00 Elkano Browning Cream: Uh Eh
Franck Mantegari (drums, percussion), Dave Wilkinson (guitar, voice), Mikel Azpiroz (Hammond B3 organ, synthesizer)23:00 Sky Beats
Lidia Insausti (voice), Sergio Villar (guitar), Manu Gestido (bass), Gustavo González (drums)NAUTICOOL. FREE ENTRANCE
17:00 + 18:30 El Especialista
20:00 Miguel A. Sutil “Enlace Funk”
21:30 DJ Vaga
23:00 + 24:30 Reimy & Oleaktiff
25th July (Saturday)
CLUB VICTORIA EUGENIA. 12:00. FREE ENTRANCE
Jam Session “25 Years of Cuadernos de Jazz”
Azar Lawrence, Charles McPherson, Mikel Andueza, Andrzej Olejniczak (sax), Maciej Fortuna (trumpet), Benito González, Bruce Barth (piano), Essiet Essiet, Jeremy Brown (bass), Brandon Lewis, Stephen Keogh (drums)KURSAAL AUDITORIUM – KUTXABANK. 18:30. 18€
The Bad Plus Joshua Redman
Reid Anderson (bass), Ethan Iverson (piano), David King (drums), Joshua Redman (sax)TRINITY SQUARE. 21:00. 25€
The New Standard Trio (Jamie Saft, Steve Swallow, Bobby Previte)
Jamie Saft (piano, keyboards), Steve Swallow (bass), Bobby Previte (drums)Dee Dee Bridgewater / Irvin Mayfield with The New Orleans 7
Dee Dee Bridgewater (voice), Irvin Mayfield (trumpet, voice), Michael Watson (trombone, voice), Ricardo Pascal (tenor sax), Jasen Weaver (bass), Victor Atkins (piano), Adonis Rose (drums)VICTORIA EUGENIA THEATRE – SKODA. 24:00. 20€
In co-production with San Sebastian European Capital of Culture 2016
PUNKT Donostian 3
Concert: Sly & Robbie meets Nils Petter Molvaer feat. Eivind Aarset, Vladislav Delay
Sly Dunbar (drums), Robbie Shakespeare (bass), Nils Petter Molvaer (trumpet), Eivind Aarset (guitar), Vladislav Delay (live sampling, keyboards)Punkt Live Remix: Mungolian Jet Set (Knut Sævik, Pål Nyhus) featuring Erland Dahlen, Jan Bang
Pål Nyhus (plates), Knut Sævik (electronics), Erland Dahlen (percussion), Jan Bang (live sampling)
San Telmo Museum – Skoda. 24:00. Free entranceSAN TELMO NIGHTS:
Gonzalo Tejada Quartet: Norma Jeane Baker
Gonzalo Tejada (arrangement, bass), Mikel Andueza (clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax), Roger Mas (piano), Carlos Falanga (drums)GREEN STAGE. FREE ENTRANCE
21:30 Bullet Proof Lovers
Kurt Baker (voice), Gonzalo Ibáñez (bass), Luiyi Costa (guitar, voice), Juan Irazu (guitar, voice), Joseba Arza (drums)24:30 Lee Fields & The Expressions
Lee Fields (voice), Toby Pazner (keyboards), Vincent John (guitar), Evan Pazner (drums), Benjamin Trokan (bass), Jason Colby (trumpet), Michael Buckley (sax)FRIGO SPACE. FREE ENTRANCE.
19:00 Didier Datcharry Trio
Didier Datcharry (piano), Marie-Hélène Gastinel (drums), Jean-Xavier Herman (bass)23:00 Iguana
Daniel Juárez (tenor sax), Víctor Vega (trumpet), Arturo Valero (bass), Daniel Pozo (bass), Mikel Núñez (piano), César De Frías (drums), Félix Oviedo (drums, percussion)
HEINEKEN TERRACE. FREE ENTRANCE.
19:00 O Meu Prazol
Naomi Higuchi (voice), Teresa Serrano (bass), Roberto Gómez (trumpet), Milton Rodríguez (guitar), Félix Oviedo (drums), Mariano Hurtado (bass)23:00 Elkano Browning Cream: Uh Eh
Franck Mantegari (drums, percussion), Dave Wilkinson (guitar, voice), Mikel Azpiroz (Hammond B3 organ, synthesizer)COCA-COLA SPACE. FREE ENTRANCE
19:00 Vineyard Birds
Lara Vizuete (voice), Ennio Pinillos (alto sax), Juan Sebastián Vázquez (piano), Jorge Torres (guitar), Jesús Caparrós (bass), Manuel García Romero (bass), César De Frías (drums)23:00 Sky Beats
Lidia Insausti (voice), Sergio Villar (guitar), Manu Gestido (bass), Gustavo González (drums)NAUTICOOL. FREE ENTRANCE
17:00 + 18:30 + 20:00 Pushin Wood Soundsystem
21:30 Miguel A. Sutil “Enlace Funk”
23:00 + 24:30 Miguelito Superstar “Nación Funk”
26th July (Sunday)KURSAAL AUDITORIUM – KUTXABANK. 17:30. 45€
John Zorn, Bill Laswell, Dave Lombardo: Bladerunner Trio
John Zorn (sax), Bill Laswell (bass), Dave Lombardo (drums)VICTORIA EUGENIA THEATRE – SKODA. 17:30. 5€
Iñaki Salvador-Alexis Delgado: Johann Sebastian Jazz
Iñaki Salvador (piano), Alexis Delgado (piano)TRINITY SQUARE. 20:00. 30€
Andrea Motis & Joan Chamorro Group
Andrea Motis (voice, trumpet, sax), Joan Chamorro (bass, sax, voice), Ignasi Terraza (piano, keyboard), Josep Traver (guitar), Esteve Pi (drums)Melody Gardot
Melody Gardot (vocal, piano, guitar), Charles Staab (drums, vocals), Mitchell Long (guitar, vocals), Irwin Hall (sax), Edwin Livingstone (bass), Devin Greenwood (keyboards), James Casey (baritone sax), Shareef Clayton (trumpet)SAN TELMO MUSEUM– SKODA. 23:00. FREE ENTRANCE
San Telmo Nights: Arve Henriksen / Trio Mediaeval
Arve Henriksen (trumpet, voice), Anna Maria Friman (voice), Linn Andrea Fuglseth (voice), Berit Opheim (voice)BOULEVARD KIOSK. 18:00. FREE ENTRANCE
Orkest Eigen Hulp
FRIGO SPACE. FREE ENTRANCE
18:00 Charles McPherson Quartet
Charles McPherson (alto sax), Bruce Barth (piano), Jeremy Brown (bass), Stephen Keogh (drums)22:30 Azar Lawrence Quartet
Azar Lawrence (tenor sax, soprano sax), Benito González (piano), Essiet Essiet (bass), Brandon Lewis (drums)HEINEKEN TERRACE. FREE ENTRANCE
18:00 Bengalifère Trio
Matthieu Lebrun (sopranino sax, alto sax, tenor sax), Jordi Cassagne (bass), Julen Achiary (drums, percussion, voice)22:30 Reunion Big Band
Diego Aragón (trumpet), Santiago Fernández (trumpet), Víctor Vega (trumpet), Pedro Núñez (trumpet), Bruno Valle (trombone), Antonio Tercero (trombone), Jordi Arcusa (trombone), Immanol Iribarren (trombone), Laurent Robino (alto sax), Daniel Juárez (alto sax), Víctor Moreno (tenor sax), Noel Sacristán (tenor sax), Pau Torres (baritone sax), Arturo Valero (bass), Daniel Pozo (bass), Mikel Núñez (piano), César de Frías (drums), Milton Rodríguez (guitar), Nerea Quincoces (percussion), Alejandro Fernández (percussion), Kassandra Charalampi (voice), Lara Vizuete (voice), Naomi Higuchi (voice)COCA-COLA SPACE. FREE ENTRANCE
18:00 Dynamic Trio
Alfredo“Fredi” Peláez (Hammond organ, synthesizer), Mikel Romero (guitar, theremin), Juan Manuel Urriza “Boli” (drums)21:00 Unity
Juan Luis Castaño (drums), Gorka Iraundegui (organ), Miguel Salvador (guitar), Roberto Nieva (sax)NAUTICOOL. FREE ENTRANCE
Soul Sunday
17:00 Alex Subinas18:30 Zigor Akixo
20:00 Luis Beltza
21:30 Igu Allnighter
23:00 Alex Subinas & Luis Beltza
24:30 Igu Allnighter & Zigor Akixo
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