Trumpet star Maite Hontelé for Jazzahead! 2024 Gala Concert

The huge Jazzahead! music expo and trade fair gets into the mambo spirit when it returns from 11 to 13 April 2024 at Messe Bremen with Dutch trumpet star Maite Hontelé and the internationally renowned Dutch Youth Jazz Orchestra NJJO (Nationaal Jeugd Jazz Orkest) set to perform at the Gala Concert, which will take place on Saturday 13 April 2024 at 8pm in the Hansesaal of Congress Centrum, Bremen.

One of the most sought-after jazz musicians of her generation, Maite Hontelé lived in Colombia between 2009 and 2018, but is now back in her native Netherlands. She returns to Bremen for the first time since her widely praised showcase in 2016, when she performed as part of the ‘Overseas Night’ for Colombia. She has toured with her Colombian band several times all around the world. Her album Déjame Asi with singer Oscar D'Léon was also nominated for a Latin Grammy Award, as was her 2019 album Cuba Linda.

The trumpeter is among the first names to be confirmed for the 18th Jazzahead! trade fair and festival will take place on earlier dates than usual, from 11 to 13 April 2024, with next year’s edition taking place with the motto of ‘New Horizons’, with the partner country set to be the Netherlands.

"We have a clear objective to do things differently next year, and to appeal more to a younger audience" affirms Sybille Kornitschky, CEO of Jazzahead!. She also speaks of an "absolutely danceable highlight". For the first time, the Gala Concert will not be a fully seated event. Newly appointed Artistic Advisor Götz Bühler adds: "Maite Hontelé is one of the most compelling and best-known trumpet players on the scene today. She manages to appeal wonderfully to young people with her music – which is something that the jazz scene in the Netherlands does brilliantly anyway."

In keeping with the ‘New Horizons’ motto registration for next year’s edition of jazzahead! has begun – those wishing to attend should visit jazzahead.de/en/tradefair/#register

Commenting on the ambitions for 2024 Bühler said: “Our wish is to present a cutting-edge, positively “unheard of” programme from a wide range of European countries as well as from overseas at jazzahead! 2024, of course. We are looking forward to the submissions from a host of improvising and innovative musicians and bands from all over the world. This does not mean we are primarily looking for newcomers – quality and individuality are our main objectives. Already with the composition of the jury members, all of whom are “gate openers” for new and thrilling projects and concepts, we want to contribute to presenting the headliners of tomorrow at jazzahead! next year as well.”

Next year Jazzahead! will also highlight for the first time a central theme to initiate a more sustainable cultural exchange with the Global South. This aims to present some of the most interesting jazz discoveries from the African continent live at the trade fair – at least for the next three years. “jazzahead! has always aimed to provide a live stage in Bremen for the most interesting artists and new projects from the national and international jazz world”, says Bühler, who wants to build on this in his new position as Artistic Advisor for the trade fair and festival. “The head of jazzahead!, Sybille Kornitschky, and I consider it coherent to create an even stronger impetus for this in order to shine a light on the creative power and originality of the musicians of the Global South – and support their music in order to be heard more internationally.”

For more information visit jazzahead.de/en/