The International Jazz Week Burghausen: danceable, versatile and with a younger audience in mind

Some had been doing it for a while. But most of them needed Alex Wilson's invitation to dance before they got up from their seats in the packed Wackerhalle. Strange, really, because the music of the "Routes" project by Swiss trombonist Samuel Blaser virtually invites you to move. With his instrumental sextet, which was occasionally joined by guest vocalist Caroll Thompson, he looks from jazz towards reggae and ska. And these rhythms are known to be good for dancing to. Keyboardist Wilson holds the band together, a fine rhythm duo with bassist Ira Coleman and drummer Edwin Sanz provides the typical beats, while saxophonist Soweto Kinch and bandleader Blaser can really let off steam and express themselves when they are not providing the foundation for rock-ish solos by guitarist Alan Weekes. A wonderfully light, upbeat pleasure that turned the hall into a dance floor, at least at the end of the concert, and even magically transported Gershwin's 'Summertime' to the Caribbean.

Keziah Jones also has the whole room dancing at the end. And the Nigerian himself too. Something that could not be guessed at the beginning of the concert. The singer and guitarist from Lagos sits alone on a stool on the stage to captivate the audience with just his voice and guitar and his intense singing and percussive guitar playing. Then he is joined by his trio. It becomes more electrified, bluesier, funkier. His 'Blufunk' gets going, the pulse of the music hammers, the riffs are sharp. Ecstatic Afrofunk. With a funky, swinging version of Bob Marley's 'War', he sends his dancing audience home in the encore with a message that was once aimed at Africa, but is currently sadly topical in many corners of the world.

Above: Ana Carla Maza Photo  by Rainer Ortag

The next day Ana Carla Maza shows why she is currently so hyped. The distinctive cellist and singer is a real showgirl, an artist full of energy, sometimes even a little over-excited, who also likes to energetically pluck and twirl her cello while playing. She spreads a sunny, Caribbean flair and lightness with her trio in the large Wackerhalle, although she also fulfils a few Cuban clichés. In the end, everyone dances again and is happy. That doesn't really fit in with the Black Lives - From Generation To Generation project. A renowned collective of artists including a DJ, spoken word artist, two singers and musicians such as bassist Reggie Washington, drummers Marque Gilmore and Gene Lake, keyboardist Grégory Privat and guitarists Adam Falcon and David Gilmore want to use this project to draw attention to the racism that still prevails in society. With hot saxophone solos, thrashed drum beats, hip-hop samples and soulful, ballad-like vocals and the odd urgent message. A stark contrast to Ana Carla Maza just before, but an important statement, also on the part of the organisers of the International Jazz Week Burghausen.

The audience in the old ducal town in Upper Bavaria has always been older. An evening organised for the first time this year in the town's youth centre with two young, pop bands was therefore intended to attract more young people - and it worked. The "Jazz Night", which takes place every Saturday night during the festival in various venues in the old town with a varied programme, also attracted a diverse and younger audience. The festival has already been providing a platform for young jazz musicians for 14 years with the Young Talent Jazz Prize, which was won this time by Italian solo pianist Simone Locarni. And the long Sunday afternoon in the Stadtsaal, which closes the festival under the motto 'Next In Jazz' with three young bands, is also an event that will hopefully attract more young people in the future. To be treated to beautiful compositions and melodies by the already incredibly mature saxophonist Emma Rawicz from London and her first-class band. Or to enjoy the Munich female combo SiEA (only the drummer of the septet is a man), which is looking for new musical paths in which jazz is just one part of the whole alongside indie, pop and visual glamour.