The 42nd edition of the Terrassa Jazz Festival, from March 8 to 26, will make a clear commitment to the contemporary with leading international figures such as Monty Alexander -who returns to the festival after 22 years-, and the duo formed by Paolo Fresu
To whet your appetite, the festival opens with Wilma Ann, originally from the United States Virgin Islands, who will be accompanied by a young and talented group on a journey that covers soul, jazz, funky and, at times, the hip hop. She will perform alongside Ariel Vigo, the Argentine saxophonist who has a reputable professional career, and the Andalusian pianist Vicente Marín, a recent finalist in the Jazz category of the Juventudes Musicales de España Contest. Èric Elias will be on electric bass and Pau Gurpegui on drums, who is already standing out on the Catalan jazz scene with his drumsticks.
The festival will also continue to support Catalan-made jazz and is committed to the pedagogical vocation of the musical event, over 19 days, with collaborations with different conservatories. The event will offer an eclectic program with 61 concerts and activities spread over 22 venues in Terrassa and El Vallès, with the epicenter on the Nova Jazz Cava stage, a club that is celebrating its 29th anniversary.
Another master of 88 keys also shines with his own light, such as Chano Domínguez, who returns to the Festival to recreate the universe of Michel Petrucciani together with trumpeter Flavio Boltro, a classmate of the great French pianist. Who will also make her first performance in Terrassa will be the American singer Robin McKelle, who will sign a night to invoke the spirit of the great lady of jazz, Ella Fitzgerald. And the traditional “Nit de Blues” will bring the public closer to the electric blues of the Californian soloist E.C. Scott, a soulful lady with a career spanning over fifty years.
Susanna Carmona, coordinator of the festival, defines the programming as "contemporary and daring". “It is a contest that seeks to have roots in the present, but without forgetting the legacy and teaching of the teachers”, she highlights. She assures that the contest fulfills “the mission of being a platform for new talent and welcoming them so that they come to present their proposals and projects. But at the same time that we give voice to the musicians who have grown with the festival, we cannot forget what they have made history”.
The program has a wide range of record releases from the Catalan scene that amplify Nova Jazz Cava's commitment to local talent throughout the stable season. This year, the new projects of musicians that the Festival has seen grow like Lluís Coloma, Roger Mas, Lucas Casares, Oriol Vallés or Lluís Capdevila and Luismi Segurado will be discovered. Next March 9, the Nova Jazz Cava will welcome Joan Albert Reunion, where the saxophonist meets different travel companions such as Erwyn Seerutton (voice), Josep Maria Farràs (trumpet), Oriol Vallès (trumpet), John DuBuclet (trombone), Guim Garcia Balasch (alto sax), Enric Carreras (piano ), Ramon Grimalt (double bass), Xavi Ortiz (electric bass), and Adrià Font (drums).
In this edition, after three years of pandemic break, the emblematic Jazz Picnic is recovered in the Vallparadís park. This day of music in the open air incorporates a novelty: Picnic Xic, a section with workshops and games, designed for the little ones, managed by Avan and Vadejoc.
Emotion is never lacking in the festival. The 20th Jazzterrasman Award 2023 pays tribute to the Barcelona saxophonist Joan Albert (Barcelona, 1950), for his long career of more than four decades and his links to the jazz club. The edition is dedicated to Karles Torra, a historic music critic for La Vanguardia and a member of Jazz, who recently passed away.
The Councilor for Culture of Terrassa, Rosa Boladeras, has highlighted the "innovative and creative will of the festival, whatever the circumstances". Maria Miralda, president of Amics de les Arts, thanked the entire Jazz Club family for their participation -which this year celebrates its 64th anniversary-, as well as collaborators and volunteers, who "work with love for music and to jazz”.
