Imposing mountain ridges, crisp air and the Jazz Festival Saalfelden, which enjoys an excellent reputation in the contemporary jazz scene – a tempting combination. Just in time for the last August weekend, Saalfelden will prove for four days, why it’s been a fixture in the European music calendar for more than three decades . The Jazz Festival Saalfelden offers an enormous stylistic range and openness to innovative tendencies of contemporary jazz – but without having to make concessions to commercialization. With a total of 31 concerts on multiple stages, the Jazz Festival Saalfelden 2012 will enter its 33rd round.
Proven concept
Since 2004 the artistic directorship lies in the hands of Mario Steidl and Michaela Mayer of the association ‘Zentrum Zeitgenössischer Musik’. The economic responsibility is taken care of by the Tourism Association Saalfelden with the Managing Director Stefan Pühringer. Head of the festival organisation is Barbara Steinberger.
The “Young” Sounds of Saalfelden – Key Visuals in Comic Style
For the key visuals of the festival, the advertising agency Rahofer has produced “The Sounds of Saalfelden” for the third consecutive year and thus established a clear and coherent concept. In terms of design, there is a clear line, which is signalized by the use of colors and variations. The concept of “The Young Sounds of Saalfelden” is interpreted as young and comic-like. Motifs that bring a whole new aspect to the jazz theme, humorous, tongue in cheek, but with clear sound associations.
Program Information
Fixed Points of this year’s program will constantly be presented to the public on the Facebook page of the festival at www.facebook.com/JazzfestivalSaalfelden.
Sponsors, Supporters
The implementation of the jazz festival would not be possible without the festival’s faithful partners. The festival is supported by Zipfer, Raiffeisen, ÖBB, Kolarik & Leeb, as well as public funding agencies.
Festival Preview
- Opening Project Main Stage
Martin Philadelphy – guitar, vocals
Jamie Saft – MiniMoog, keys, bass
Gustavo Costa – drums, toys and percussion
This year’s opening project was given to the Austrian musician Martin Phildelphy, who has never been a guest in Saalfelden. The term “multifaceted” to describe a musician may well be inflationary by now, but if it does apply to a musician, then it has to be Martin Philadelphy, who eludes from any form of pigeonholing.
- Side A – „A New Margin“
Ken Vandermark – tenor saxophone, clarinet
Håvard Wiik – piano
Chad Taylor – drums
It is delightful to once again welcome the saxophonist and clarinetist Ken Vandermark to Saalfelden after eleven years. It is rather unusual to hear the musician from Chicago in a piano trio, but that is exactly what he will be honoring us with. Together with the Norwegian Håvard Wiik on the piano and drummer Chad Taylor, he will present the project “Side A”.
- Gerry Hemingway Quintet – „Riptide“
Oscar Noriega – alto saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet
Ellery Eskelin – tenor saxophone
Terrence McManus – guitars
Kermit Driscoll – acoustic bass, electric bass guitar
Gerry Hemingway – drums, harmonica
Gerry Hemingway has been the forefront of creative improvised music for three and a half decades. He was a member of Anthony Braxton’s Quartet for eleven years , played with greats such as Cecil Taylor and Oliver Lake, and will be a guest in Saalfelden in 2012 and will for the first time perform with his own formation.