- From 20 June to 28 July, at the Palau de la Música and in the neighbourhoods of Valencia.
The President of the Palau de la Música, José Luis Moreno; the Director of the Palau, Vicente Llimerá; the Deputy Director of Music, Nieves Pascual; and the Festival Coordinator, Enrique Monfort, have presented the XXVII Festival de Jazz de València and the ‘Jazz als barris’ cycle, which returns to the Palau de la Música and brings together great artists from the Spanish and international scene, with special emphasis on the best Valencian jazz. Previously there has been a previous performance by the pianist Eduard Marquina, who will take part with his group in the ‘Jazz a los barrios’ cycle on 27 June.
The Jazz Festival will take place from 20 June to 28 July in the Jardines del Palau, the Sala Rodrigo and the Sala Iturbi, as well as in various neighbourhoods of the city. The prices of the concerts range from 5 euros to 20 euros. In addition, there are eight free concerts. Two of them will take place in the Palau Gardens, one will be in the Sala Iturbi, another will be in the Sala Rodrigo and four are included in the ‘Jazz als barris’ cycle.
The XXVII Festival de Jazz de València has been designed as an Atlantic bridge connecting Spanish jazz with American jazz, with special emphasis on Cuban and flamenco music. Artists who have won 41 Grammy awards and 76 nominations will perform on the festival’s stages.
The Sala Iturbi will host national and international events such as the Cuban rhythms performed by Gonzalo Rubalcaba Trio d’Ete, formed by the pianist Rubalcaba, Eric Harland and Matt Brewer (9th July); the saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera with the Orquesta de València in a fusion concert with the flamenco of Juan Manuel Cañizares and the harmonica specialist Antonio Serrano (11th July), and the pianist Chucho Valdés with the show Irakere 50 aniversari. Also performing will be the trumpeter Andrea Motis accompanied by Camerata Papageno with the presentation of Febrero (10 July), the percussionist and singer Terri Lyne Carrington (13 July), and a jazz tribute to Nino Bravo by the Orquesta y Coro de RTVE with Serafín Zubiri and David Pastor Band (12 July). And to open the performances in the Sala Iturbi, the concert starring the Methenology Band, a group with influences of Pat Metheny (28 June).
Valencian jazz will kick off the Festival with the Municipal Symphonic Band of Valencia, conducted by Cristóbal Soler and the show Kiko Berenguer Freedom Experience (20 June). The second open-air concert will feature the Perico Sambeat Flamenco Big Band, led by the Valencian saxophonist in a fusion programme (26 June).
The Sala Rodrigo will be the venue for the ‘Ciclo Big Bands Valencianas’, with three concerts. The first of them will be the Ki Big Band with the British singer and guitarist James Morrison and conducted by Ramón Cardo (4th July), Lírica Big Band feat Eva Romero, conducted by Kako Rubio (6th July) and the Orquesta de Jazz del Conservatorio Superior de Música de València, conducted by Jesús Santandreu and the show Black, brown & beige (7th July).
In addition, the Palau de la Música’s International Jazz Seminar, organised by Sedajazz, is back for its 24th edition and will be held from 25th to 28th June. It is aimed at students and professional jazz musicians who will be able to attend master classes on different subjects, jam sessions and other complementary activities. The activities will take place at the José Iturbi Municipal Conservatory of Valencia.
The councillor for Cultural Action, Heritage and Cultural Resources, José Luis Moreno, stated that ‘we must highlight the great tradition València has with jazz, and our festival, which is once again being held here at the Palau, is a musical event synonymous with quality and prestige’. The councillor emphasised the ‘Jazz in the neighbourhoods’ cycle, explaining that ‘this year’s locations are not fortuitous, as the festival will go to Campanar as a tribute to the victims of the tragic fire, to Parc Central because of the numerous cultural facilities that have been created, and to Benicalap because of its designation as a neighbourhood of music’.
The president of the Palau de la Música, Vicente Llimerá, stressed that ‘it is the only festival that brings together three great groups such as the Orquesta de Radiotelevisión with its choir, the Camerata Papageno and the Orquesta de València, as well as the presence of the Municipal Symphonic Band’. He also highlighted the educational aspect, since ‘we continue to hold the International Jazz Seminar and we have agreements with the Conservatorio Superior de Música de València and the Conservatorio Municipal José Iturbi’.
He also highlighted the novelty of the ‘Valencian Big Bands’ cycle, as ‘the commitment to Valencian artists must have continuity and in the Big Bands we have a great pool of talent’. Finally, he stressed that this year’s design responds ‘to the image of the façade of the Palau, which thanks to the sponsorship of Iberdrola will have permanent lighting that will be marvellous, and that the columns also resemble the keys of a piano, the instrument that predominates in this year’s edition’.
Jazz als barris (Jazz in the neighbourhoods)
There will also be free open-air concerts in the ‘Jazz als barris’ cycle, which this year will be held from 20th to 28th July, all of which will begin at 21:00. The double bass player Martina Sabariego begins the series in the Plaza de Campanar (20 July); the trombonist Paco Soler, in the Plaza del Santísimo Cristo de Natzaret (21 July); the pianist Eduard Marquina, in the Parc Central (27 July) and the voice of Julia Sapiña, in the Parc de Benicalap (28 July).