jazzahead!

Artists To Watch: Jazzahead! 2019 | Stingray DJAZZ

Rokas — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 13:38:30 +0000

Artists To Watch: Jazzahead! 2019 | Stingray DJAZZ Rokas Wed, 04/03/2019

An international trade fair, exhibition, and renowned festival, ! is one of the jazz community's most important annual events. Hosted in Bremen, Germany, it brings together musicians, bookers, agents, organizers, jazz experts, and music enthusiasts. Jazzahead! 2019 pays special attention to Norwegian jazz and this year’s edition selected 40 different jazz acts from all over the world inviting them to perform over the course of three days. Stingray DJAZZ selects 5 artists not to miss.

THOMAS STRØNEN’S TIME IS A BLIND GUIDE (NO)

25 Apr 2019 | 19:30 - 20:00 | Hall 7.1

Thomas Strønen’s Time Is A Blind Guide is a true chamber music ensemble with a strong group sound performing compelling compositions. It draws lines from traditional folk to contemporary music, performed by some of Europe’s finest jazz musicians.Time Is A Blind Guide captivates the audience with intricate textures, sounds and beautiful melodies.

MAKIKO HIRABAYASHI TRIO (DK)

26 Apr 2019 | 14:00 - 14:30 | Hall 7.1

At the heart of Makiko Hirabayashi’s current work „Where The Sea Breaks“ lies the refined interplay of a trio that stands out in terms of tonal beauty and natural esthetics. It is the interaction of traditions, of chamber music impetus and improvisation, danceable moments and quiet pauses which make this formation’s music so special.

ADAM BAŁDYCH QUARTET (PL)

26 Apr 2019 | 19:30 - 20:00 | Hall 7.2

The Adam Bałdych Quartet is the latest project of Polish violinist and composer Bałdych, who bases the group’s sound on classical music and Polish folk music and who, according to allaboutjazz.com “gives his violin a voice and emotional power that have been too rarely heard in recent decades and offers a fresh take on the instrument for the contemporary scene”.

MATTHEW WHITAKER (US)

27 Apr 2019 | 19:55 - 20:40 | Kulturzentrum Schlachthof

Youngest artist to ever be endorsed by Hammond at 13, youngest ever Yamaha Artist at 15, numerous awards under his belt and many played concerts in the US and internationally: At only 18 years old, Matthew Whitaker has an impressive résumé. In 2017, the pianist and organist released his debut “Outta The Box”, introducing listeners to his composing and arranging skills.

LINDA MAY HAN OH (AU)

27 Apr 2019 | 23:15 - 00:00 | Kulturzentrum Schlachthof

Born in Malaysia and raised in Australia, Linda May Han Oh began playing piano, bassoon and at fifteen dabbled on bass. A lot has happened since those early days: She has performed with musicians such as Joe Lovano, Steve Wilson, Vijay Iyer, Dave Douglas, Kenny Barron and Geri Allen. She is currently the bassist with guitarist Pat Metheny.

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jazzahead! 2018 | Recap

Frederike — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 04:57:29 +0000

jazzahead! 2018 | Recap Frederike Thu, 04/26/2018

Stingray DJAZZ had such a great weekend at jazzahead! 2018. We are beyond proud of this partnership. The live-streaming format worked perfectly, and the interviews with the showcasing artists were more than hilarious.

Here’s a short review of our jazzhead! experience:

Review Showcases

Horse Orchestra

This band is truly one-of-a-kind. The Copenhagen-based septet brings a whole different light to the music world. Before they had their showcase, a few members of Horse Orchestra represented the band in our ‘Jazz it Ahead’ format. They were very clear when they informed us not to clap in between the songs because they only had 30 minutes to perform. Most of the songs are composed by Jeppe Zeeberg, a Danish award-winning pianist, composer, and bandleader. While politely insisting us to shut up, the next song “Montag Ist Vielleicht Der Lustigste Tag” starts.

Kutimangoes

These guys are also from Denmark but create a whole different vibe. African beats & rhythms clang through jazzhead!’s stage “Schlachthof.” Percussion, drums, saxophone, guitar, and clarinet boost great songs one after the other. The African music is of high importance for The Kutimangoes’ repertoire: they can unite the body, the heart, the ears, and unite everyone that takes part. “We want more,” something people scream after a Robbie Williams concert, was shouted to the boys as they were planning to leave the stage after their last song. But fortunately, the gave in and performed another fantastic, funky song.

Jazzmeia Horn

At our overseas night, we not only got blown away by Justin Kauflin’s amazing version of “Strawberry Fields,” but also by Jazzmeia Horn rocking the stage. Scatting, the highest pitch to the lowest tone - there wasn’t anything Jazzmeia couldn’t do. Every word and gesture express her total conviction, as she becomes alive at the moment. “I Love Myself” - a wise lesson she taught us during an interactive musical session with the audience. Something we should never forget!

Panel

The Stingray DJAZZ organized panel on The Future of Jazz is Video! was a fantastic opportunity to discuss the use of video with a wide range of artists, bookers, producers, labels, and venues. We had a great discussion, and throughout the festival, people kept coming back to us to discuss what had been said.

Who joined us?

Martijn Verlinden, A&R at Challenge Records and booking agent

Michael Zöllner, CEO at Klangmalerei.tv

Uli Beckerhoff, Artistic Director at jazzahead! and musician

Reza Ackbaraly, CEO, and co-founder at Qwest TV

Key takeaways

The future of jazz is with the musicians, but to get attention in the market, those musicians need video content.
Musicians, labels, and managers need to consider a video strategy: what does the artist need? Starting musicians need short videos, teasers of the music (music videos), and not necessarily in the highest broadcast quality.
The next step is recording live sets and showcasing what the artist/band is capable of.

What to do with that video?

Don’t make it available for free on social media but use snippets instead. The full show can be available on services such as Stingray DJAZZ.
Branding and finding a video style that complements the artistic direction of the music, much like the artwork was for a record. Such videos are easier to brand than pure audio.

Live music is the ultimate goal, but the video is the best way to reach the audience to motivate them to come to the actual gig. And also, to reach the programmers, EPKs are out of date, it is crucial to use proper videos.

Livestream

Through the new collaboration with jazzahead!, Stingray DJAZZ can broaden the festival’s international reach by distributing 37 showcase recordings. The showcase concerts were streamed live on the jazzahead! website and the Stingray DJAZZ Facebook page. Furthermore, all participating artists had the opportunity to broadcast their showcase on their social pages! The videos will form the basis for a new jazzahead! format on Stingray DJAZZ, which will be broadcast weekly on Stingray DJAZZ’s international television channels and worldwide VOD services.

Fun fact: Minutes before the first live-streaming of the showcases, the internet connection at the venue of Messe Bremen was down. Luckily everything was up to speed just in time!

Showcases on Stingray DJAZZ

Due to the success of the live stream and our great collaboration with jazzahead!, we’re happy to inform you that Stingray DJAZZ will broadcast the jazzahead! showcases! Keep an eye on our channel!

jazzahead! 2018 | Photo Album

Wouter — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 16:10:55 +0000

jazzahead! 2018 | Photo Album Wouter Fri, 04/20/2018

While one of our music editors is on her way from Amsterdam to Bremen on the same train as upcoming jazz star Justin Kauflin, the jazzahead ! showcase festival is already in full swing!

Stingray DJAZZ, this year's proud media partner of the biggest professional jazz festival, offers you a brief look in front and behind the scenes. All 40 showcases will be streamed live via Facebook. Discover great artists insights with our interview gimmick ‘Jazz it Ahead!’ and of course some sneaky backstage footage!

Coming soon: showcases (most of them) will be broadcasted on our jazz dedicated channel, Stingray DJAZZ!

Here are some (back)stage photos at jazzahead! 2018. Follow the live-stream of the festival via the facebook account of Stingray DJAZZ.

Stay on the pulse of the most recent news in music. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

jazzahead! 2018 | Artists to Watch

Frederike — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 06:38:40 +0000

jazzahead! 2018 | Artists to Watch Frederike Tue, 04/17/2018

jazzahead! is an exhibition and meeting point for the international jazz scene. Since its premiere in 2006, the event has enriched the regional and national cultural scenes with high quality and diverse jazz as well as international flair. With its unique concept combining showcases, conferences, and exhibitions– all revolving around the central topic of jazz, jazzahead has become the must-attend networking event for the global jazz community.

Stingray DJAZZ is a proud partner of jazzahead!. We are glad to share live-streaming content on Facebook and an interview platform “Jazz It Ahead” where we’ll help you get to know the jazzahead! artists better than ever. We have set up a list with our favorite artists who will perform on Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21. Most showcases will be broadcast weekly on Stingray DJAZZ.

Justin Kauflin

Justin Kauflin is an American jazz pianist, composer, and record producer. He is unlike any other artist. At the age of eleven, he lost his eyesight due to damaged retinas. After a decade of classical violin and piano, he switched to jazz piano in high school at the Governor’s School for Performing Arts.

After graduation, he received a scholarship to attend William Paterson University (WPU) in New Jersey. At WPU, he was taken under the wings of legendary trumpeter Clark Terry, with whom he also played in the Terry Clark Ensemble. Kauflin’s relationship with Clark Terry was chronicled by friend and fellow musician Al Hick in the documentary “Keep On Keepin On.” The film won numerous awards and made the Oscar’s short list.

Kauflin was signed by legendary producer Quincy Jones and took part in Quincy Jones’ World Tours in 2013 and 2014. He participated in the recording of multiple CD’s projects, including 2 of his own.

Don’t miss Justin Kauflin’s performance at jazzahead! during “Overseas Night”’ on Saturday, April n Hall 7.1 & Hall 7.2 from 8 PM to 1 AM. Overseas Night sets the stage for 8 bands from outside Europe.

The KutiMangoes

Danish Grammy Award-winning group The KutiMangoes has crossed borders, thrilling audiences from Copenhagen to South Korea and Africa. Formed in 2012 by Gustav Rasmussen and Michael Blicher, this band took West African music and fused it with its western musical background to develop a new sound. Mixing cultures to create a new, global expression is their goal. African musical traditions are of high importance in The KutiMangoes repertoire since they can unite the body, the heart and the ears.

The KutiMangoes have an authentic sound that brings up the best vibes! They have released 2 albums: Afro-Fire (2014) and Made in Africa (2016). Afro-Fire was nominated for 5 Danish Grammy Awards, winning “Best World Music Album” and “Best World Music Track”. Made in Africa was also nominated for various awards.

Catch their performance at jazzahead! during “European Jazz Meeting” on April, Friday 20 in Hall 7.1 & 7.2 from 2:00 PM to 12:00 AM. During European Jazz Meeting, 18 formations from all over Europe are given the chance to present their music.

High Definition Quartet

High Definition Quartet is a Polish jazz band formed in Krakau in 2010. They are definitely not like any other jazz band. They let go of the usual and experiment with all sorts of genres: modern avant-garde, classical music, jazz etc. This quartet has collaborated with various influential jazz-artists, for example, the legendary trumpeter Randy Brecker with whom they toured Poland and the Gulf States. They released two albums, Bukoliki and Hopasa that showcase unflagging energy and creativity.

Don’t hesitate to watch his performance at jazzahead! during “Polish Night” on Thursday, April 19th in Hall 7.1 & 7.2 from 7:30 PM to 12:40 AM. Polish Night will be the kick-off of this year’s jazzahead live program! Eight acts will highlight the broad spectrum of jazz from Poland.

Beats & Pieces Big Band

The British Beats & Pieces Big Band sees itself as a band that happens to be big, rather than your average “big band.” The members met as students in Manchester and grew up together developing musically, individually, and collectively within the city’s exciting scene. Today, these fourteen musicians know each other inside out, and this familiarity is part of what sets them apart from a lot of other big bands.

The band’s debut album Big Ideas was released in March 2012. Since then, they have performed all over Europe including in Germany, France, Ireland, and Norway. Beats & Pieces Big Band has received many awards including “Best UK Newcomer” at the 2013 Jazz Awards. The music is an expression of the band’s members and their varied musical backgrounds and activities; all brought together by Ben Cottrell’s inspired writing.

Don’t miss their performance at jazzahead! during the “European Jazz Meeting” on Friday, April 20th in Hall 7.1 & 7.2 from 2:00 PM to 12:00 AM. During European Jazz Meeting, 18 formations from all over Europe are given a chance to present their music.

Horse Orchestra

Hold your horses for Horse Orchestra, a Copenhagen-based septet consisting of musicians from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland. This Dixieland band combines elements from different parts jazz history with boundary-pushing experiments and free improvisation. Compositions from 1920s New Orleans and Chicago meet 1960s free jazz to create an original, post-modern, and humorous style. Their debut album Living The Dream has won two awards at the Danish Music Awards Jazz 2015: “Special Release of the Year” and “New Name of the Year.” They released a second album in 2016, Four Letter Word, which is totally worth a listen!

Watch their performance at jazzahead! during the “European Jazz Meeting” on Friday, April 20th in Hall 7.1 & 7.2 from 2:00 PM to 12:00 AM. In the ‘European Jazz Meeting’, 18 formations from all over Europe are given the chance to present their music.

Jazzmeia Horn

Jazzmeia Horn is an American jazz singer-songwriter of African ancestry. She won various awards such as the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition and the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition (twice!). Horn is a singer who stands apart from many of her peers because she takes on every song so naturally. She is a performer for whom every word, gesture, and ornament becomes an expression of her total conviction, and she completely comes alive in the moment. Her incredible voice and unflagging energy take you all the way to that special, musical place.

Don’t miss her performance at jazzahead! during “Overseas Night” on Saturday, April 21st in Hall 7.1 & Hall 7.2 from 8 PM to 1 AM. Overseas Night sets the stage for eight bands from outside Europe.

Mn’JAM Experiment (Stingray DJAZZ)

If you zoom into Mn’JAM Experiments music, you’ll find a mix between empirically and rationally constructed elements; between acoustic, electric, and electronic instruments’ urban rhythms and traditional melodies, vocal loops and guitar solos, turntables and acoustic drums. The combination and correlation between sound and image make this performance a clear-cut synesthetic experience. The band is composed of singer Melissa Oliveira (M) and JAM, an electronics and visual artists who also adds the audio-visual “experiment.” Given the nature of their performance, Mn’JAM has not recorded any studio album yet, making their live shows all the more fascinating, each unlike the other, each exclusive.

Watch their performance at jazzahead! during “Overseas Night” on Saturday, April 21st in Hall 7.1 & Hall 7.2 from 8 PM to 1 AM. Overseas Night sets the stage for eight bands from outside Europe.

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