On Sunday, April 21, the 35th edition of the renowned jazz festival “Jazzkaar,” Estonia’s oldest music festival, will kick off in Tallinn.
Audiences can immerse themselves in the festival’s concerts throughout the week, running from April 21 to 28, serving as a prelude to the International Jazz Day celebrated globally on April 30. Concerts will be held across various venues throughout Estonia.
“Jazzkaar” showcases Estonian jazz luminaries alongside international guests, presenting a diverse array of jazz and world music in their concert programs. The festival’s venues include clubs in the Telliskivi quarter and the “Alexela Kontserdimaja” in the city center.
A distinctive feature of the festival is its intimate concerts, with this year’s edition even featuring performances in recording studios.
Alongside the concerts, “Jazzkaar” hosts an annual jazz award ceremony. This year, festival concerts will also take place in Pärnu, Wieland, Tiri, and Tartu, the European Capital of Culture for 2024.
Highlighting the festival’s concert program, on Tuesday, April 23, audiences can witness a new duo featuring innovative Estonian composer and saxophonist Maria Faust alongside Danish drummer Kresten Osgood.
On Wednesday, April 24, American trumpeter-composer Theo Croker and his quartet will perform compositions from Croker’s dynamic 2022 album “Love Quantum,” blending jazz with electronic atmospheres and hip-hop rhythms.
Friday, April 26, brings the eclectic sounds of MonoNeon, drawing inspiration from jazz pianist Thelonious Monk and hip-hop producer J. Dilla, infused with funk, soul, and blues influences.
Friday’s festivities continue with “Boomcat” and Eric Laar, combining jazz expertise to create danceable atmospheric music, with a performance at “Pärnu Wunderbaar” on the following day.
Saturday, April 27, sees Estonian pianist-composer Kirke Karjas mesmerize audiences with her intricate and surprising musical journey. Additionally, soul-funk singer Rita Ray joins forces with “Selektor Studio” guitarist for a duet concert.
Wrapping up the festival on Sunday, April 28, virtuoso bass guitarist Christian McBride and his quintet take the stage. At “Fotografiska Tallinn,” audiences can experience the sextet of Estonian guitarist Karl Madis Pennar, accompanied by trumpeter James Copus, presenting Pennar’s latest album “Journeys Abroad.”
Estonian double bass player Mingo Rajandi will conclude the festivities on Sunday evening as part of the Tartu festival, offering a memorable musical experience for audiences closer to Latvia.
