Every year in April, jazzahead! turns Bremen into an international jazz metropolis. This year’s festival will happen from April 27th to 30th, with 36 bands set to take the stage. Austria will be prominently represented this year by Heinrich von Kalnein and Jakob Helling’s commissioned work “ALPINE AIR”, as well as the quartet Purple is the Color and Gina Schwarz &Multiphonics 8. For details and info, read on!
THE FESTIVAL
jazzahead! is an international industry conference with an integrated showcase festival. Bands apply to play at one of 36 performance slots and are selected by international juries.
The 12th edition of the festival will take place over three days, celebrating music and culture and bringing the international jazz community together for invigorating exchange and experiences.
The festival is divided up into modules featuring various geographic regions; this year, the modules focus on:
- Partner Country Germany European showcases, featuring four commissioned works;
- European showcases
- German jazz expo
- Overseas showcases
Commissioned work: Kalnein & Helling’s “ALPINE AIR” (AT/DE)
One of the four commissioned works in the “Partner Country Germany” module is (co-) composed and led by Heinrich von Kalnein, a longtime resident of Austria and professor of jazz saxophone at the Arts University in Graz.
Lineup:
Heinrich von Kalnein (AT) – Tenor- & Soprano Sax, Flutes
Jakob Helling (DE) – Trumpet, Flügelhorn
Silke Eberhard (DE) – Alto Sax, Clarinet
Alois Eberl (AT) – Trombone
Hanno Busch (DE) – Guitar
Sebastian Scobel – Piano
Gina Schwarz (AT)- Bass
Reinhold Schmölzer (AT) – Drums
- Kalnein & Helling Unit: “Alpine Air” – Apr. 29th, 9:45pm @ Kulturzentrum Schlachthof
Showcase: Purple is the Color (AT/CZ)
Purple is the Color play elegant jazz, not lingering in the classical realm but unfolding interconnections to other styles. The band sets sail to special musical shores on which the dignified sound of jazz can develop its full radiance, free of conventional constraints. The aim of the quartet is to touch the audience with their music, release deep-rooted feelings and trigger emotions. Purple is the Color was selected as a NASOM (New Austrian Sound of Music) act in 2020-21. Their most recent album EPIC was released on the Viennese label Session Work Records in 2021.
Lineup:
Simon Raab | piano
Štěpán Flagar | sax
Martin Kocián | bass
Michał Wierzgoń | drums
- Purple Is The Color: Apr. 29th, 8:15pm @ Kulturzentrum Schlachthof
Showcase: Gina Schwarz & Multiphonics 8 (AT/DE)
In 2020 & 2021 the Austrian jazz bassist and composer Gina Schwarz served as composer-in-residence at the Multiphonics Festival in Cologne. The residency resulted in a program based on the music of the British singer, guitarist and composer Nick Drake; this program was captured on the album Way To Blue (Cracked Anegg), from which she will be performing selections at her jazzahead! concert.
Lineup:
Gina Schwarz – (AT) composition, arrangement, bass
Annette Maye – (DE) Bb-clarinet
Mona Matbou-Riahi (IR/AT) – Bb-clarinet
Steffen Schorn (DE) – contra-alto clarinet, C-melody sax
Thomas Savy – (FR/DE) bass clarinert
Lucas Leidinger – (DE) piano
Mahan Mirarab – (IR/AT) guitar
Dirk-Peter Kölsch – (DE) drums
Daniel Manrique-Smith – (PE/DE) flute
- Gina Schwarz & Multiphonics 8: Apr. 28th, 11pm @ Halle 7.2