Jazz breaking news: Trichotomy, Partisans and Elifantree get Jazzahead! buzzing
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Jazzahead!, the three day jazz showcase, exhibition and conference held in Bremen, Germany from 28 April to 1 May, got under way with a record number of exhibitors, an extra exhibition hall and more showcase gigs than any previous year.
A sure sign that jazz remains in surprisingly robust form during difficult financial times across Europe.
The opening morning saw Claude Nobs, the founder of the Montreux Jazz Festival, presented with The Jazzahead! Skoda Award by Siggi Loch of ACT Records, while pianist Michael Wollny and nay player Kudsi Erguner performed a special collaboration in tribute to Nobs.
With its plethora of record companies, festival promoters, clubs and concert halls, agents and media, the exhibition area was buzzing with jazz industry attendees making the most of the networking opportunities and checking the new band showcases. The Australian piano trio Trichotomy were the talk of Overseas Night on 27 April while the UK's Partisans ripped it up on the afternoon showcase series alongside strong performances from Elifantree, Stian Westerhus, Franz Von Chossy Trio and the Jef Neve/Pascal Schumacher Duo.
Tonight at the beautifully restored former abattoir, Schlachthof, it's Turkish jazz night with Ayse Tutuncu Quartet, Imer Demirer Quartet and the brain frying sonics of Korhan Futaci & Kara Orkestra, who mix experimental jazz, psychedelic rock and traditional Turkish folk and classical themes. Music to get slaughtered to indeed!
- Jon Newey