Schedule

Highly acclaimed Italian clarinetist, saxophonist, and bandleader Paolo Tomelleri (1938) is a European master of traditional jazz and swing. With his Big Band, he performs updated recreations of classic swing-era charts made famous by the likes of Benny Goodman and Count Basie. In this concert recording from the Ascona New Orleans Jazz Festival, held in late June and early July 1998 at picturesque Lake Maggiore in Ascona, Switzerland, Tomelleri presents gems like "Esquire Bounce”, "Cute”, "Sing Sing Sing”, "Li’l Darlin’”, "In A Mellow Tone”, "Cotton Tail”, and "April In Paris”. The band also features trombonist Dan Barrett. Experience the Swing Era as never before with this concert by Paolo Tomelleri and his Big Band!

Well-known for his exuberant style and intimate familiarity with a vast range of jazz and Latin idioms, Michel Camilo has always had a sixth sense for musical adventure. Camilo was one of the most stimulating jazz pianists to emerge in the mid- to late '80s. His powerful two-handed attack (full of impressive technical skills), his knowledge of both jazz and Afro-Cuban music, and his willingness to constantly take chances turn each of his solos into an adventure. This broadcast was taped during the 1999 Münchner Klaviersommer, when Camilo made one of his rare solo appearances. Improvising on a Steinway D grand piano, he drew an astonishing palette of musical colours from his instrument: rich orchestral sounds as well as and a tender lyricism.

Having played in New York with jazz icons Dave Liebman, Eliot Zigmund, Ari Hoenig, and Chris Cheek, Catalan bass player Manel Fortià now returns to his roots to reinvent traditional Catalan repertoire. Manel Fortià teams up with Antonia Lizana (saxophones), Pere Martínez (vocals), Max Villavecchia (piano), and Raphael Pannier (drums) to form ‘Libérica’, reimagining Catalan music and Flamenco through the eyes of a New York jazz musician. Their 2021 album ‘Arrels’ explores Catalan hymns, including ‘El cant dels ocells’ and ‘Els tres tambors’, heard here during a live performance at Nova Jazz Cava in Barcelona.

Self-taught musician Les McCann became the international jazz superstar he is today after the release of his album “Swiss Movement” which he recorded in 1968 with the late Eddie Harris. Yet there is much more to this musician than that one record. McCann moves comfortably from one jazz style to the next, demonstrating impressive chops in all areas, from bop to fusion, and from vocals to the keys of the electric piano, clavinet, or synthesizer. His mix of church and swing music captures the spirit of the time perfectly, even when an illness prevented him from playing with more than one finger at a time in the early 1990s. In today’s broadcast, McCann takes gospel back to New Orleans, where he played this set in 1983. McCann’s vocals shine in the soulful performances of several of his hits, including “Just Like Magic”, backed by his wonderful “Magic Band” of saxophonist Bobby Bryant Jr., bassist Curtis Robertson Jr., and drummer Tony St. James.

‘Jazz a Vienne’ is one of the world's most prestigious jazz festivals. Ever since 1981 it has attracted leading jazz artists, with many of them playing return engagements. Unsurprisingly, the festival's 2012 edition did not fall short of expectations: the lineup was filled with the biggest names in music. Among them was vocalist Gregory Porter transcends the jazz bubble. His magnificent, burnished baritone can sink into a lyric with luxurious ease, the melody gently sculpted into new shapes at every turn, with the rhythm tugging subtly back and forth across the bar line.

Aki Rissanen's interest in jazz came after he started taking classical piano lessons. His deep interest in improvised music placed him among top jazz pianist in his home country - Finland. While composing and performing his own music, Rissanen has also collaborated with Verneri Pohjola and Dave Liebman, and today his name appears among the top European jazz musicians. Live from 'Jazzclub Unterfahrt' in Munich, Germany, together with Antti Lotjonen on bass and Teppo Makynen on drums, Rissanen showcases the best of Scandinavian jazz and its DNA - the Nordic Tone.

Pianist Kenny Barron’s June 27, 2019 appearance at the Alfa Jazz Festival in Ukraine’s Lviv was a celebration of sublime jazz virtuosity. The revered elder statesmen of jazz piano brought his regular working trio of Kiyoshi Kitagawa (bass) and Jonathan Blake (drums), augmented by stellar jazzman Marcus Strickland (tenor saxophone) and young lion Riley Mulherkar (trumpet). Their seamless blend of classic bebop and modern explorations spoke of a deep, emotive connection to each note, captivating the Ukrainian audience with lyrical improvisations during this unforgettable concert.

Vocalist Jazzmeia Horn’s 2019 Malta Jazz Festival appearance was a celebration of jazz’s future, infused with the soul of its past. Featuring Keith Brown (piano), Rashaan Carter (bass), Irwin Hall (flute and saxophone), and Anwar Marshall (drums), the young singer’s performance was a reminder of jazz’s enduring power to speak to the heart. Situated at the Valletta waterfront outside Our Lady of Liesse Church, Horn’s concert was a truly spellbinding experience.

The North Sea Jazz Festival is the largest indoor music festival in the world, known globally as the event where the past, present and future of jazz are featured within three days. Next to a firm base of jazz as the festival’s staple music genre, many others, such as blues, soul, funk, or hip hop, pass by. In 1980, American singer Betty Carter gave a powerful performance with her trio at the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague. Our two-song snippet of the concert contains the tribute to Billie Holiday "Don't Weep for the Lady", and "Swing, Brother, Swing".

The North Sea Jazz Festival is the largest indoor music festival in the world, known globally as the event where the past, present and future of jazz are featured within three days. Next to a firm base of jazz as the festival’s staple music genre, many others, such as blues, soul, funk, or hip hop, pass by. In 1980, American soul legend Ray Charles brought the Raelettes and the Ray Charles Orchestra to the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague. With the full force of these two groups behind him, Charles showed why throughout his storied career he has been viewed as one of the most recognizable voices in music.

In the second half of June 1965, during a prolonged European concert tour, American trumpeter Buck Clayton (1911–1991) played a residency at the Chikito, a club in Bern, Switzerland. With a local rhythm section of French pianist Henry Chaix, Swiss double bassist Théo Siegrist, and Swiss drummer Pierre Bouru, this stalwart of the Count Basie Orchestra gave a sparkling performance that was documented for posterity by Radio Télévision Suisse in the program ‘Variétés’. Opening with the George Gershwin favorite ‘’S Wonderful’, the program continues with two swing-era classics: ‘I Can't Get Started’ and ‘Honeysuckle Rose’. Revel at how easily Clayton finishes ‘Honeysuckle Rose’ on a high concert F! A spirited romp through Juan Tizol’s composition ‘Perdido’ closes this recording. The success of this booking ensured Clayton received repeated warm receptions in Bern in the following decades.

Lugano Estival Jazz is an annual open-air music festival that takes place over five days at the picturesque city of Lugano, Switzerland. Since 1979, this musical Mecca has been a must-attend event for all jazz and world music fans worldwide. On July 3, 1986, American pianist and composer Keith Jarrett is joined by bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Jack DeJohnette at Estival Jazz Lugano. Known as the Standards Trio, they put on an enthralling performance that shows these master musicians at their best.

Rotterdam’s ‘ BIRD’ is a club, café and restaurant with a live music programme that's deeply rooted in jazz, and also branches out towards soul, funk, hip-hop and electronic music as well. Its name ‘BIRD’ refers to the nickname of the legendary New York jazz saxophonist, bebop co-founder Charlie Parker (1920-1955). BIRD serves Neapolitan pizzas, good wines, no-nonsense beers and an all-round metropolitan rawness. Since 2014, this urban jazz club and DJAZZ.tv have been collaborating for a series of music programmes: ‘BIRD.tv’, allowing you to experience the best BIRD concerts and interviews as from a first row seat! In today’s episode Shayna Steele, who can do everything: from background singing with Rihanna via the big Broadway Show on to guest songstress on hit singles by Moby. In order to do so much at once, a versatile voice is a must. And it is exactly this versatility that the American songstress delivers at her concerts, without ever losing the musical direction. From swinging acoustic Samba to storming guitar funk, everything fits like a mould. Presented with a generous portion of charm and impressive dynamic.

Legendary Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés brought his band ‘Jazz Batá 2’ to the Malta Jazz Festival on July 19, 2019. The air was thick with anticipation as Valdés took to the stage, revisiting the small-group concept of his mythical 1972 Cuban album ‘Jazz Batá’. The batá repertoire – the deep classical music of West Africa – permeates Valdés’ piano solos throughout the concert. Valdés’s band consists of Dreiser Durruthy (Batas and vocals), Yaroldy Abreu (percussions and vocals), Abraham Mansfarroll (percussion), Ramón Vazquez Martirena-Bajo (bass guitar). They delivered a performance that reverberated through the historic island.

American jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader Dizzy Gillespie (1917-1993) was one of the seminal figures of the bebop movement. He fuses all musical forms rooted in African culture, such as music from Cuba, Latin America and the Caribbean, into his music. On November 4, 1970 he played a concert in Denmark with the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band, performing Con Alma, Brother K, Now Hear My Meanin’, Manteca, Let Me Outta Here, and Things Are Here.

Bassist Kyle Eastwood (1968) is an explorer, equally at ease with jazz melodies as with pop songs. In the late 1970s, his father Clint took him to see his first jazz concert - a Count Basie performance. Eastwood Jr. was in awe of the drummer and wanted to play an instrument himself. It so happened he wasn’t so much interested in jazz, preferring rhythm and blues, Motown and Stax records, funk groups, and North African and Indian music. Eastwood became a brilliant bassist and the composer of highly original soundtracks. His 2015 album "Time Pieces" is a collaboration with brilliant British musicians, such as trumpeter Quentin Collins and saxophonist Brandon Allen. In this broadcast, Eastwood and his fellow musicians revisit the hard bop legacy of Blue Note Records. Eastwood and his band perform original music, as well as songs made famous by Horace Silver and Herbie Hancock. Their contemporary take on Charles Mingus’ “Boogie Stop Shuffle” is not to be missed!

Since 1977, Estival is a summer jazz festival in Switzerland, Lugano. Estival offers a thrilling and particularly surprising line-up that explores the rich world of contemporary music whilst promoting the understanding of different cultures, tolerance, and co-existence. John Carl Hendricks is one of the instigators of "vocalese", an art form that aims to add lyrics to existing instrumental pieces and replace several instruments with singing. He flaunts this technique at Estival, where he "scat" while playing double bass. Hendricks is known for his mastery of scat, a form of vocal jazz that uses onomatopoeia rather than lyrics

Legendary African-American folk singer Odetta (1930-2008) sang her spirituals with immeasurable sorrow and anguish. Her spiritual music expresses the horrific impact of slavery on millions of African people stolen from their homeland. For Odetta, folk music—be it spirituals, blues or field songs—was a vehicle for expressing the racism and injustice experienced by black people dating back to the days of slavery. This 1964 episode of Face au Public shows the melancholy of the era.

Pianist Kenny Barron’s June 27, 2019 appearance at the Alfa Jazz Festival in Ukraine’s Lviv was a celebration of sublime jazz virtuosity. The revered elder statesmen of jazz piano brought his regular working trio of Kiyoshi Kitagawa (bass) and Jonathan Blake (drums), augmented by stellar jazzman Marcus Strickland (tenor saxophone) and young lion Riley Mulherkar (trumpet). Their seamless blend of classic bebop and modern explorations spoke of a deep, emotive connection to each note, captivating the Ukrainian audience with lyrical improvisations during this unforgettable concert.

Every year since 1970, the German city of Burghausen has been hosting one of the largest jazz festivals in the world. During Burghausen International Jazz Week, Burghausen becomes a 'Bavarian jazz mecca': guests from all over the world join the Burghausers to enjoy the most wonderful jazz performances as the colorful hustle and bustle of spectators and musicians shake up the city. One of the bands performing here in 2019 is the Walter Trout Band. Trout, who was born in New Jersey and is based in Los Angeles, is a world-famous contemporary blues rock guitarist and vocalist.

Da Pá Virada sessions bring the best musicians of contemporary Brazilian jazz, and beyond. Filmed in São Paulo, each session offers a unique experience by giving a fresh look into Brazil's music scene. The artists for each session are selected in consultation with Stingray DJAZZ's music editor. One of the artists taking part in this series is accordionist Mestrinho, seen in performance with Cainã Cavalcante on guitar, Alex Buck on drums, and Carlinhos Noronha on bass. They combine the subtle rhythms of Brazilian music with the leader's instrumental virtuosity.

'Münchner Klaviersommer' was an annual concerts series that took place from 1981 to 1998 in Munich, Germany. Although the festival's name suggests a strong focus on piano music, it featured countless famous musicians from jazz and classical music – not just pianists. The concerts were usually held in July at The Gasteig, home of the Munich Philharmonic. In 1985, jazz quartet Phalanx appeared at the festival. The quartet featured guitarist James 'Blood' Ulmer, drummer Rashied Ali, tenor saxophonist George Adams, and bassist Sirone. This short-lived group, which was described as "an ad-hoc supergroup that thrived and disappeared", produced three albums in the period 1986-1988.

The North Sea Jazz Festival is the largest indoor music festival in the world, known globally as the event where the past, present and future of jazz are featured within three days. Next to a firm base of jazz as the festival’s staple music genre, many others, such as blues, soul, funk, or hip hop, pass by. In 1986, famed Icelandic jazz fusion band Mezzoforte performed for over an hour at the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague. Led by founders Fridrik Karlsson on guitar, Eythor Gunnarsson on keyboard, Jóhann Ásmundsson on bass, and newcomer Dave O'Higgins on saxophone, they play a variety of pieces, including their 1982 hit single "Garden Party".

Since 1985, the Dutch city of Nijmegen has been welcoming the International Music Meeting Festival every Pentecost. Ranging from jazz and improvisational music to traditional music and unique crossovers, this adventurous festival is all about musical encounters and international collaborations. In 2019, Tel Aviv-born bass player, producer and composer Liran Donin appeared here. Donin has collaborated with high-profile, cutting-edge artists, bands and projects. With his distinctive powerhouse groove and virtuoso approach to both the electric and double bass, Liran pushes the bass well beyond its boundaries.

For 20 years, Sly Johnson, author, composer and performer of the Saïan Supa Crew, has been touring the French music scene with his soul, hip-hop and beat-box vocals. He leaves his machines in the studio for a tribute concert to one of the leading voices of the famous Motown label, Marvin Gaye. The singer was killed by his father, a pastor, the day before his 45th birthday. In 1971, Marvin Gaye released a major record in the history of soul music "What's Going On". Sly Johnson, accompanied by Nicholas Vella's keyboard, makes the hot music of this album groove, a monument of soul and rhythm'n'blues. A true message of love delivered by MarvinGaye, through the story of a Vietnam war veteran who returns home and sees only injustice, suffering and hatred. The abrasive groove of Sly Johnson and Nicholas Vella is a rich music at the crossroads of hip-hop, funk and jazz. Sly Johnson, a great regular of the stage, embarks with extreme generosity the audience in his musical universe, an irresistible performance.

Five promising musicians get together in Rotterdam jazz club BIRD’s artists-in-residence project “The Nest”. Over the course of seven sessions, these talents exchange ideas, work on their projects, and play music together. Following this period, during which record producer Jameszoo and music manager Jochem Tromp offer their coaching experience, BIRD and North Sea Jazz Festival’s fringe festival DownTown organize a tryout performance. In this short documentary, the artists share their impressions from the project. They introduce themselves, reveal why they joined The Nest and formulate what they hope to learn from the experience. Naturally, we get a glimpse of the songs they wrote during the sessions, as performed during the tryout show. Featuring Lisette Ma Neza (slam poet), Peter Somuah (trumpet), Michelle Samba (drums), Huy Le (bass), and Brenn Luiten (piano).