The concerts of Winter Jazz from February 1st to March 24th offer new meetings, exciting discoveries, fresh sounds and albums. The focus is on the Nordic and Estonian. The most loved events of Winter Jazz will be the concert dedicated to the 90th birthday of the Grand Old Man of Estonian jazz Valter Ojakäär.
The season will begin with the group of Norwegian singer Greta Aagre and composer-remixer Erik Honoré. Erik Honoré is known as one of the artistic directors of Punkt Festival. Their last album „Year of the Bullet“ (2012) gained attention internationally. Greta Aagre has performed in different line-ups on concert as well as theatre stage, her warm voice and detailed expression and tasteful soundscapes of Erik Honore create a cosy emotional atmosphere. Acknowledged Estonian trumpet-player Aleksei Saks will perform as a guest of the group.
Internationally known UMA will present their new album „Peidus pool“ – „Hidden half“. One of the best and most diverse Estonian singers Iris Oja will sing songs based on the poetry of Anzori Barkalaja. Songs of nature and human relationships were born from the cooperation of trumpet-player Aleksei Saks, guitarist Robert Jürjendal and singer Iris Oja.
Kadi Quartet is band of Estonian singer Kadi Vija, consisting of young talented musicians. Kadi has lived in Finland from 2005 and has studied singing at Helsinki Metropolia University, but also at Berklee College of Music in Boston; at the moment the young singer-songwriter is a student of Sibelius Academy, as are her band-members. The quartet performs – for the first time in Estonia – their own songs, but also jazz standards.
Valter Ojakäär has made an unforgettable and priceless impression on Estonian music as a musician, music historian, writer and radio host. He can be called th father and Grand Old Man of Estonian jazz. His extensive work was prized with the life-time achievement award of the Republic of Estonia in 2008. On Maestro’s birthday his music will be performed by Raivo Tafenau band and Liisi Koikson.
The Spanish-French duo Antonio Placer – Jean-Marie Machado presents the program of their new album „Republicalma“. Antonio Placer is a singer, musician, poet, composer and arranger, whose music feeds from many different cultures and styles. His strong tenor is full of passion as he sings in Spanish, Galician, French and his own rhythmic language Tamarindola. This time he will be accompanied by one of the best French jazz pianist and improvisers Jean-Marie Machado.
The main sponsor of Jazzkaar is Danske Bank, other sponsors are Eesti Päevaleht, ERGO and Kafo. The official accommodation partner is My City Hotel. Partners are United Motors, Tallink and Aktaprint, also Estonian Ministry of Culture, Estonian Cultural Endowment, Tallinn and the Royal Norwegian Embassy.
Tickets are on sale via Piletilevi retailers and on-line www.piletilevi.ee.
