Taking place for the 28th time this year, Christmas Jazz will feature international jazz stars, tribute concerts and local artists performing in Jazzkaar’s programme for the first time, as well as the Estonian premiere of Erkki-Sven Tüür’s Mare Lacrimarum.
“From 20 November to 15 December, Christmas Jazz will present several international concerts. For the first time the festival’s programme includes performances by two of the top vocalists in the jazz world, Gregory Porter and Cécile McLorin Salvant, alongside young talents worth discovering, Ingrid Rabi and Britta Virves, who will also perform at Christmas Jazz for the first time. There are as many as four special projects in this year’s programme, which means that alongside what is well-known and safe, we will highlight Estonian musicians’ cooperation not only with their own groups, but also with foreign artists, which diversifies the work of our musicians and offers new experiences to music lovers,” Anne Erm introduces the programme of this year’s Christmas Jazz.
Composer Erkki-Sven Tüür’s masterpiece Mare Lacrimarum will be performed in Estonia for the first time, echoing the heartache caused by the ongoing war. The music will be performed by the New Wind Jazz Orchestra, YXUS Ensemble and Tallinn Chamber Orchestra conducted by Risto Joost.
Norwegian multi-instrumentalist, composer and tuba wizard Daniel Herskedal will present his solo programme Call for Winter. Two outstanding musician friends, Finnish trumpeter Jukka Eskola and Estonian pianist Joel Remmel will give an improvisational concert with a trio, performing works by prominent Estonian and Finnish classical and popular composers. Tribute to Prince combines a concert with a dance party, led by the eleven-time Grammy winner, trumpeter and arranger Philip Lassiter. Guitarist and composer Jaak Sooäär will perform with well-known ECM artists, percussionist Marylin Mazur, bassist Anders Jormin and singer Josefine Cronholm.
The already announced headliner of Christmas Jazz is the American singer-songwriter Gregory Porter. A star of the new generation and the three-time Grammy winner Cécile McLorin Salvant will give an enchanting concert on 29 November at the Alexela Concert Hall.
Christmas Jazz 2023 will take place from 29 November to 15 December. In addition to Tallinn, the concerts also reach the jazz audience of Tartu and Pärnu. Keep an eye on Jazzkaar’s activities on our website, Facebook page and Instagram.
