Sultan Stevenson, Matt Carmichael and Mama Terra selected for Jazzahead! 2024 showcases

The names of the artists confirmed for next year’s Jazzahead! conference and music expo have been announced and see the return of several emerging UK-based artists when the event takes place at Messe Bremen, Germany from 11 to 13 April 2024.

British names include rising piano talent Sultan Stevenson, whose debut album Faithful One received favourable reviews on its release in March this year, while two artists from the burgeoning Scottish scene have also been selected: the Acid Jazz signed groove-led group Mama Terra and the folk-influenced saxophonist Matt Carmichael. They were among 800+ applications for the showcases, that were assessed by five international juries, who whittled this huge number down to the 40 acts who will be performing at the showcase concerts for Jazzahead! 2024.

The three British Isles artists will be among those performing at the European Showcase night alongside a vibrant range of new bands from France, Finland, Norway and Spain among others, while eight artists from this year’s partner country of the Netherlands will kick the event off with back-to-back performances as part of the Dutch Showcases on the first night. The live music programme is completed with artists on the European Showcases and German Jazz Expo line-ups.

A major focus of Jazzahead! 2024 will be on the sheer diversity of the jazz scene of the Netherlands. Commenting on this, Jazzahead!'s incoming artistic director Götz Bühler said: “As is typical for the Netherlands, the programme presents a combination of innovation and superb musicianship, a respect for the jazz tradition plus a uniquely Dutch sense of humour.” This is reflected in everything from wild duos to large ensembles, with the occasional nod to North Africa or Indonesia. Adding to this Jazzahead’s Project Manager Sybille Kornitschky said: “We want to represent the most exciting things on the European and international marketplace. And that is why we looked at various festivals to witness their programming and to understand their DNA. To put it simply, there’s a new emphasis for jazzahead! 2024.”

The 2024 event will see a special emphasis on African jazz, a topic "which we believe deserves much more attention," says Bühler. By working closely with a specially assembled jury of experts from the African continent, the organisers of jazzahead! have succeeded in selecting some of the best bands and musicians from Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal as part of the showcase programme. Bühler says: "What I note is the fact that whereas we didn't need to spend time on discussions about topics such as parity and diversity, the programme is both contemporary and forward-looking and has a balance in these respects. And that is a tribute to the work of our five international juries."

Registration for professional participants is now open and can be done through the Jazzahead! website jazzahead.de/en/ and accreditation is now open for all members of the press and can be done via messe-bremen.de/presse/akkreditierung/

The artist showcases are as follows:

Dutch Showcases
Alessandro Fongaro's Pietre (NL)
Ben van Gelder & Reinier Baas (NL)
BOI AKIH (NL)
Guy Salamon Group (NL)
Kika Sprangers Large Ensemble (NL)
Marmoucha Orchestra (NL)
Raw Fish (NL)
Tineke Postma Aria Group (NL) 

German Jazz Expo
Alexandra Ivanova Trio (DE)
GANNA (DE)
Julia Kadel Trio (DE)
MASAA (DE) 
METEORS (DE)
Phillip Dornbuschs Projektor (DE)
Rebecca Trescher Tentet (DE)
Shuteen Erdenebaatar Quartet (DE)

Overseas Showcases
Afro4Band (NG)
Alune Wade (SN)
Andy Milne and Unison (US) 
Antiánima (MX)
Ariel Bart (IL)
Christine Kamau (KE)
Oran Etkin Open Arms Project (BR/US/IL)
Yonglee & the DOLTANG (KR)

European Showcases 
Bálint Gyémánt (HU)
daoud (FR)
DZ’OB (UA)
Fil (FR)
Kaisa’s Machine (FI)
Linda Fredriksson Juniper (FI)
Liv Andrea Hauge Trio (NO)
Mama Terra (GB)
Matt Carmichael (GB)
O.N.E. (PL)
Sinfonia de Carnaval (AT) 
Sultan Stevenson (GB)
Trombone Ensemble Nabou Claerhout (BE)
Trondheim Jazz Orchestra & Marianna Sangita Røe "Spiti/Home" (NO) 
Xavi Torres Trio "Quarantena Songs" (ES)
Yumi Ito (CH)

For more information visit jazzahead.de/en/showcases/