Jazz Fest Sarajevo


The Jazz Fest Sarajevo is an international music festival held annually in the first week of November in Sarajevo and is the largest of its kind in southeastern Europe.
Jazz Fest Sarajevo is an annual celebration of contemporary music based on jazz and improvised music. It has been a regular attraction since 1997. The weeklong event presents jazz musicians from 60 countries in more than 300 concerts.

Biography

"After all the huge amount of music and emotion experienced in Sarajevo, what is left is the sense of having lived through an intellectual adventure of the highest caliber. Kudos to Edin and his team for creating and keeping alive this festival in the most difficult conditions - we all may soon have to learn from them.", Francesco Martinelli for All About Jazz, November 2016.
“Almost 21 years after the Dayton agreement Jazz Fest has managed to organize 20 festivals! Edin Zubčević and his staff not only deserve a culture prize but also the Nobel peace prize!”, Lars Mossefinn for salt-peanuts*, November 2016.
Jazz Fest Sarajevo is an annual celebration of contemporary music based on jazz related and improvised music. The festival program features well-known musicians from around the world but also invites new and prospective artists for performances in several venues around the city. In the past 20 years it has earned a reputation of a trend setting international music festival in the Balkan region, with more than 770 artists, who have presented more than 270 different ensembles to audiences.
Within its program, dedicated to offering audiences a relevant cross section of contemporary music, Jazz Fest has presented top artists in their field, rising stars and local talents every year anew, including many premieres. At its 20th-anniversary edition in 2016, it presented yet another European premiere – John Zorn's Bagatelles Marathon, presenting 11 ensembles with a stellar line up of Zorn's longtime collaborators from New York's downtown scene.
With a growing local and international fan community which appreciates the festival's high production standards, diverse and adventurous programming and educational content for kids, young musicians and music students, Jazz Fest Sarajevo has become the most important musical event in the country, as well as an event of high cultural significance for its society.
Jazz Fest Sarajevo is a member of – the European family of organizers of artistic musical programs.

Live releases recorded at Jazz Fest Sarajevo

Live in Sarajevo by Norwegian saxophonist, tenor and composer Håkon Kornstad is a recording of his solo performance held at 18th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2014, released by Jazzland Recordings in 2015.
The composition Adhān by Arve Henriksen from his album Places of Worship, released by Runne Grammofon in 2013, is a field recording from his performance at 2nd Xenophonia in 2010.
Live! by Bosnian vocalist Amira Medunjnanin was recorded in 2008 at 12th Jazz Fest Sarajevo and released by Gramofon the following year.
Very Much Alive by Norwegian drummer Paolo Vinaccia, released by Jazzland Recordings in 2010, features a concert of the Terje Rypdal Trio held at 6th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2002.

Concert links

The John Scofield Überjam Band at 17th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2013
Eivind Aarset Quartet at 17th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2013
David Gilmore & Art of Ascension Trio at 17th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2013
Dhafer Youssef performing and at 10th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2006

Related events

Kid's Day is held traditionally on a Sunday, always the last festival day, when kids of age 3 to 12 have the chance to enjoy a concert with a repertoire of jazz standards rearranged especially for the occasion, followed by a workshop Meet the Instruments, where they prove, every year anew, that free chocolate and natural juices are the best fuel for uncontrolled music making.
Music Meeting Sarajevo is an educational program for young musicians and music students from the Western Balkans region held within the festival program, offering its participants an opportunity to meet the festival's artists as well as a chance to perform within its Late Nite Stage program at jam sessions, while at the same time functioning as a successful platform for future collaborations among young musicians, who usually get only few chances to participate in similar events in a society marked by the Balkan wars in the 1990s.
Xenophonia was initiated by Jazz Fest Sarajevo as a platform for collaboration between local and international artists, with the aim to enable a way for Bosnian and Herzegovenian musicians to position themselves on the international music scene.

Visuals

In collaboration with numerous local designers, Jazz Fest Sarajevo has created a visual path of its own in the past two decades.
Its posters have become collectors' items, earning JFS and its design partners many accolades, among them a in 2011, for best web site national in the field of culture and the Grand Prix Web of the Year Award.
The famous, mouthless made an unforgettable impression on the posters of the 7th, 8th and 9th Jazz Fest Sarajevo in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and was proclaimed Jazz Fest Sarajevo's mascot by audiences who kept looking for it at festival editions that followed.
The Norwegian light designer VJ Tord Knudsen repeatedly ensured a visual spectacle at multiple festival editions, making Jazz Fest Sarajevo concerts a full artistic experience for its audiences.

Personnel

Edin Zubčević - founder and artistic director
Djana Karavdić - head of office
Eric Bajramović - head of production
Mina Maglić - box office and assistance
Including a small but prolific community of loyal Jazz Fest Sarajevo freelance experts and collaborators, who help to make each festival a memorable experience for everyone involved.

Program

20th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2016

Bugge Wesseltoft’s New Conception Of Jazz
Rob Mazurek São Paulo Underground
Nitai Hershkovits Solo
Tatran
Marc Ducret Solo
Samuel Blaser Trio
Inside Out
Taksim Trio
Matija svira Arsena
Masada - John Zorns Bagatelles Marathon Sarajevo
Julian Lage & Gyan Riley - John Zorns Bagatelles Marathon Sarajevo
Nova Quartet - John Zorns Bagatelles Marathon Sarajevo
Sylvie Courvoisier & Mark Feldman - John Zorns Bagatelles Marathon Sarajevo
Trigger - John Zorns Bagatelles Marathon Sarajevo
Erik Friedlander & Jay Campbell - John Zorns Bagatelles Marathon Sarajevo
Uri Caine Trio - John Zorns Bagatelles Marathon Sarajevo
Ikue Mori - John Zorns Bagatelles Marathon Sarajevo
John Medeski Trio - John Zorns Bagatelles Marathon Sarajevo
Craig Taborn - John Zorns Bagatelles Marathon Sarajevo
Asmodeus - John Zorns Bagatelles Marathon Sarajevo
Tijana Vignjević & Belma Alić
Miroslav Tadić & Merima Ključo
Vincent Courtois-John Greaves-Mark Nauseef
Eric Vloeimans' Oliver's Cinema
Bojan Z & Nils Wogram
Julien Lourau & Bojan Z
Django Bates’ humanCHain
Terje Rypdal Group + Palle Mikkelborg
MONUMENTal ORKESTAR

19th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2015

Tigran Hamasyan “Mockroot”
Jason Moran Fats Waller Dance Party
Al Di Meola Elysium & More Unplugged
Arve Henriksen & Christian Fennesz
Tomasz Stanko Band
Vladimir Kostadinovic Quartet
Kurt Elling “Passion World”
Edgar Tones & The Su'sis with Big Band

18th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2014

Gregory Porter
John McLaughlin & 4th Dimension
Bill Frisell – Guitar in the Space Age!
Braća Teofilović i Miroslav Tadić
Dianne Reeves
Håkon Kornstad – Dwell Time
Avishai Cohen Trio
Ibrahim Maalouf – Illusions

17th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2013

ABRAHAM INC. feat. David Krakauer, Fred Wesley & SoCalled
The John Scofield Überjam Band
Hamilton de Holanda
Jack DeJohnette Group feat. Don Byron
David Gilmore & Art of Ascension Trio
Eivind Aarset 4tet
Marc Ducret Trio
Halka

16th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2012

Taksim Trio
Yuri Honing Wired Paradise
The Bad Plus
Badi Assad
Arkul Orchestra
Miles Smiles
Bojan Z
Richard Galliano: La Strada Quintet
Erika Stucky: Suicidal Yodels
ZVRN
Dhafer Youssef: Abu Nawas Rhapsody
Lê / Schiefel / Hadžić / Češljar

15th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2011

Richard Bona
The Rosenberg Trio
Dave Holland & Pepe Habichuela Flamenco Quintet feat. Josemi Carmona
Henderson / Berlin / Chambers Super Trio
John Abercrombie Quartet
Joseph & James Tawadros
Kudsi Erguner Trio
Stian Westerhus
Schiefel / Hadžić / Yankoulov
Ralph Towner
Cheikh Lô

14th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2010

Burhan Öçal & The Trakya All Stars
Edin Bosnić
Mike Stern Band feat. Didier Lockwood
Tigran Hamasyan
Dave Holland Quintet
Joseph Tawadros
John Scofield Trio
Gerardo Núñez Flamenca Reunion
Mercan Dede Tribal Quartet

13th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2009

Carlos Bica Azul
Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman
Anouar Brahem
Arkul
Trilok Gurtu Band
Damir Imamović
Karim Ziad Ifrikya
LTJ Bukem feat. MC Conrad
Renaud Garcia-Fons & Linea Del Sur
Jojo Mayer Nerve

12th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2008

Dianne Reeves
Damir Imamović Trio
Django Bates: Autumn Fires & Green Shots
Brad Mehldau Trio
Amira Medunjanin
Misha Mengelberg
Han Bennink
Manu Katche Playground
Eric Vloeimans Gatecrash
Dave Douglas 3
Misha Mengelberg Quartet
Omar Sosa Afreecanos Quartet
Nicola Conte /DJ act/
Jazzanova /DJ act/
Depart
Susanna

11th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2007

Aziza Mustafa Zadeh
Jacky Terrasson
Mercan Dede Secret Tribe
Bugge Wesseltoft
Jazzland Community
Baba Zula feat. Alexander Hacke
Sidsel Endresen
Del Ferro / Seferović / Terzić
Rabih Abou-Khalil Group
Mungolian Jet Set
Marc Ribot
Joshua Redman Trio
Maria João

10th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2006

Dejan Terzić: Underground
Nils Petter Molvær
Cristina Branco
Richard Bona Group
Markus Stockhausen
Bojan Z Xenophonia
João Bosco / Gonzalo Rubalcaba Group
Yuri Honing Trio
Trio 3
Dhafer Youssef Group
Dennis Rollins’ Badbone & Co.
Dhafer Youssef & Bojan Z
FLY: Mark Turner, Larry Grenadier, Jeff Ballard
The Grande Mothers Re:invented, Roy Estrada, Don Preston

9th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2005

Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra feat. Carla Bley
Marimanga Group
Jack De Johnette Quartet
Minority
John Scofield Trio
Matt Darriau Paradox Trio
Tom Harrell Quintet
Jon Hassell & Maarifa Street
Arve Henriksen & Jan Bang
Dafnis Prieto & Judith Sánchez-Ruíz
Snetberger / Andersen / Vinaccia
Charming Hostess
Jazz Jamaica
Han Bennink
Graham Haynes & Hardedge
Magic Malik Orchestra
Daniel Karlsson Quintet

8th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2004

Biréli Lagrène
Dusko Goykovich Quartet
Joachim Kühn Trio
Ravi Coltrane Group
Al Foster Quartet
Carlos Bica & Ana Brandao: DIZ
Django Bates Human Chain + J. Lindstrand
Victor Bailey Group
Roscoe Mitchell Trio
Wadada Leo Smith & Ikue Mori
Steve Coleman & Five Elements + guests
Muriel Zoe
Distortion Trio
Susie Ibarra Trio
Kudsi Ergüner: Islam Blues
Jarek Smietana Quartet

7th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2003

Denys Baptiste – Let Freedom Ring!
Minority
Bojan Z “Transpacifik” Trio
E.S.T. – Esbjörn Svensson Trio
Soweto Kinch 4tet with Abram Wilson
Combinate
Dhafer Youssef & Digital Prophecy
Vasilić Nenad Balkan Band + Martin Lubenov
Nils Wogram & Root 70
Ante Gelo Trio
Juliet Roberts
Massimo: Johnny Hartman Songbook
Carlo Actis Dato
Muthspiel & Muthspiel
Dejan Terzić European Assembly feat. Antonio Farao
Nguyên Lê “The Hendrix Project”
Gerardo Nuñez Group + Rafael + Carmen Cortés
Combinate
Xhaferi & Seferović
Han Bennink
Anouar Brahem & Barbaros Erköse
Special Edition

6th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2002

Joe Zawinul Syndicate
Der Rote Bereich
Dennis Rollins’ Badbone & Co.
Stefano Di Battista Quartet
Lonnie Plaxico Group
Darko Poljak Quartet
Tamara Obrovac Transhistria Ensemble
Maria Joao & Mario Laginha Mumadji Quartet
The Graz Veterans
Kenny Wheeler & John Taylor
Terje Rypdal Group
Renaud Garcia-Fons Navigatore
Armend Xhaferi Trio

5th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2001

Vlatko Stefanovski / Miroslav Tadić
Harry Sokal Roots Ahead Trio
Arild Andersen Trio Feat. Kirsten Braten Berg
Vasilić Nenad Balkan Band
Triocolor
Wolfgang Puschnig Aspects Quartet
Bojan Zulfikarpašic & Anna Lauvergnac
Trio Aldo Romano / Louis Sclavis / Henry Texier
Paolo Fresu Quintet
Dave Holland & Chris Potter
Bojan Zulfikarpašić / Julien Lourau / Karim Ziad
Erik Truffaz Quartet feat. Nya

4th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2000

Marimanga Trio
Hans Mathisen New Quartet
Boilers Quartet
Edin Bosnić Trio & Horns Four
Vienna Art Orchestra, cond. Mathias Rüegg
Markus Stockhausen / Arild Andersen / Patrice Heral
Richard Galliano Trio
Irene Schweizer
Karl Razter Group

3rd Jazz Fest Sarajevo 1999

Django Bates: Quiet Nights
J-Life
Jeanne D
Cubismo
Sephardic Tinge
The Zawinul Syndicate
Bodan Arsovski & Ezgija Orchestra
Markus Stockhausen and Dhafer Youssef
Bojan Zulfikarpašić
Gypsy Swing Project

2nd Jazz Fest Sarajevo 1998

B. P. All Stars Band
Happy End
Jiri Stivin & Ali Haurand
Vladan Dobricki Trio
Seth
Vlatko Stefanovski Trio
Yazzya & Special Guest
Berndt Luef & Jazzett Forum Graz

1st Jazz Fest Sarajevo 1997

Happy End
No Srklet Band
Fabrizzio & His Friends
Low Brass
Eddie Parker Trio
Unfinished Business
Boilers Quartet
Fun-Da-Mental