Bulgaria’s jazz singer Miroslava Katsarova and her company Blue M have organized for the third consecutive year the Plovdiv Jazz Fest. The event is part of the cultural events of Plovdiv-European Capital of Culture 2019. This year the festival’s programme will show the modern face of jazz- bold, brave and open to the new audience. The city of Plovdiv (Central South Bulgaria) will be captivated by the magic of jazz between November 1 and 4. Miroslava Katsarova told Radio Bulgaria details about the festival programme:

“From November 1 until November 4 the audience will have the opportunity to enjoy two concerts a day except for the last festive day. We begin with Jason Moran, an exceptionally interesting personality from New York. Jason is a pianist, composer, music arranger, lecturer and artistic director of jazz events held at the Keneddy Center. Mr Moran is also a wonderful visual artist. His jazz installations were presented at the Venice Biennale. In my view, the audience will enjoy a wonderful concert show, because Jason Moran will try to recreate an important historical concert of Thelonious Monk held in 1959. In 2017 we mark the 100th birth anniversary of Thelonious Monk. Jason Moran will arrive from the USA with his jazz band formed of young jazzmen from New York who will reproduce Thelonious Monk’s jazz music seen through the eyes of Jason Moran. Mr Moran has also prepared a video art installation for his concert in Plovdiv. Thus, the audience will enjoy the collaboration between digital multimedia and acoustic music. In 2017 we also mark the 100th birth anniversary of Ella Fitzgerald. Plovdiv Jazz Fest chose renowned Bulgarian jazz singer Hilda Kazasyan to recreate some of the songs of the world acclaimed jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald. Her concert was named A Smile for Ella and we will have the chance to enjoy that show on the first night of Plovdiv Jazz Fest 2017. Hilda, Jivko Petrov’s trio JP3 and trumpeter Mihail Yossifov will present new jazz pieces in new arrangements. Hilda Kazasyan has a very strong presence on the stage.

The exhibition of celebrated Bulgarian saxophonist Michel Nahabedyan will be unveiled in the first night (November 1) of Plovdiv Jazz Fest 2017. It captured wonderful moments from concerts of some of his favorite jazzmen worldwide. Miroslava Katsarova has more about the festive programme of Plovdiv Jazz Fest 2017:

“The second night starts with the new project of renowned Bulgarian percussionist Hristo Yotsov named Jazz Cats. Later, Donny McCaslin and his jazz band will appear on the stage. I must admit that I was quite impressed with the sounding of that jazz band and the innovative approach of Mr McCaslin. The third night of Plovdiv Jazz Fest 2017 is dedicated to the Bulgarian jazz musicians. Antoni Donchev will present a new jazz project together with Rosen Zahariev-Roko (trumpet) and Pavel Terziysky (vocal). Later, we are to enjoy the performance of Orlin Pavlov, Pavel Terziysky, Svilen Noev and Stefan Valdobrev with Plovdiv Octet in the project Four Gentlemen Sing Jazz. The arrangements are made by pianist Miroslav Turiyski. The four singers will perform pieces from their own repertoire in jazz versions. On the fourth and last night of Plovdiv Jazz Fest 2017 the audience will enjoy one concert only- the concert of the American saxophonist and composer Joshua Redman and his jazz trio. Joshua Redman is a very attractive jazz virtuoso who changes music and creates new waves in jazz. This type of music will never die due to musicians like him”.

The organizers of Plovdiv Jazz Fest will bestow for the second time their prize for overall contribution to jazz. We will learn the name of this year’s winner on the eve of the music event.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov