Belgrade Youth Center presents, from 25th to 29th October 2018, 34th Belgrade Jazz Festival with the slogan NO LIMITS
Last year’s edition of the Belgrade Jazz Festival under the slogan Jazz Visions has been the most artistically daring since its re-establishing in 2005 with a line up that included not just the most established, but the most innovative world jazz scene names. This year we set the bar higher, because jazz itself went much further up – in 21st century, it goes beyond genre or territory boundaries: we present to you no limits jazz!
The global jazz scene today is more daring, entertaining and diverse than ever! You can find diligent new jazz names virtually all across the planet wherever there is music and the artists feel more than ever the liberty to combine existing, create new genres, push the boundaries. Your physical location doesn’t matter anymore as long as you create new music: if you are truly creative and have what to say, you will find the way to your audience – today, someone always listens to you! Welcome to the no limits jazz era!
This is why the latest edition of the Belgrade Jazz Festival offers the most intriguing artists of international and local jazz scene. This year’s Festival will also be a five-day event with traditional double bill program every night. More than 20 ensembles from all over the world will perform and we will present the first three names that best embody the 21st century jazz, one from America, one from Europe and one from Serbia.
For more than twenty years Kurt Elling has been one of the most notable jazz vocalists in the world. His memorable 2009 concert at the closing of the 25th Belgrade Jazz festival in the great hall of the Ilija Kolarac Endowment is one of the event’s best in recent years. Elling is not only a top singer, he also is a modern jazz global star and one of the most dedicated promoters of this music genre. He will arrive to Belgrade after a series of top performances in London promoting his new album The Questions. Following the winning formula, this new set-list will present a mix of jazz, Broadway music and surprising renditions of rock’n’roll anthems – by Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Peter Gabriel.
The true sensation of Europe jazz scene this year is a supergroup of two undisputed jazz legends: Enrico Rava Quintet with special guest Joe Lovano. In Italy, Rava established modern jazz aesthetics and through various projects he boosted the careers of many exceptional talents we’ve seen on our Festival during the past years (Gianluca Petrella, Giovanni Guidi, Stefano Bollani), while Lovano managed to set three generations of American jazz musicians on their way to stardom. The collaboration between these two great names of jazz is a true example of a “match made in heaven” between visionaries, a trademark of great festivals and Belgrade Jazz Festival is in that range.
Serbian ensemble Fish in Oil is among the leaders of the modern sound in the country with furious club performances that has everyone up on their feet. Their blend of expressive jazz, rock, funk and ethno elements is one of the best original acts in recent years. They will present a tailor-made program for the Belgrade Jazz Festival based on their fourth album scheduled for release just before their performance – with a special international guest!
Continuing the good practice, the 34th Belgrade Jazz Festival will issue a limited number of vouchers for all-in tickets, available at Eventim outlets, starting from 22 May at a special promotion price, granting access to all main program concerts.
The City of Belgrade, the founder of the Belgrade Jazz Festival, included it in 2007 on the list of events of special cultural interest.
Patrons of the 34th Belgrade Jazz Festival: City of Belgrade – City Authority – Secretariat for Culture; the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia.
Friends of the 34th Belgrade Jazz Festival: Erste Banka, Staropramen, Hotel Hilton, Air Serbia, SOKOJ,Schweppes, Kafeterija.
The Belgrade Jazz festival will be traditionally supported by Erste Bank, Staropramen, a number of Embassies and international culture centers, other friends and partners, as well as the Tourist Organization of Belgrade and the Tourist Organization of Serbia.
Supported by: USA embassy, South Korea embassy, Canadian embassy, Portugal embassy, Camoes Institute, Spain embassy i Cervantes Institute,Gete Institute, Italian cultural center, Israel embassy, Brasil embassy, Norway embassy, Autrian Cultural Forum, Collegium Hungaricum Beograd, Australian embassy, “Stanković” music school, FMU, Belgrade tourist organization, Serbian tourist organization, Hotel Park, Hotel Crown Plaza, Alma Quattro.
Since 2015, the Belgrade Jazz Festival is a member by invitation of the Europe Jazz Network.
