Bansko Jazz Fest

Sofia Echo, 9 Jul 2007

Classic, blues, fusion, Latin, nu-jazz, gipsy jazz, R&B, soul, afro-beat and other jazz styles.

All of these may be experienced in Bansko this August. This year, the small town in the Pirin mountain celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Bansko International Jazz Festival. In the past decade, the event has become a world-class attraction, combining the incredible mountain scenery with the modulations of jazz. The open stage, combined with the mountain nights, creates an atmosphere that is special. The event will start on August 8 and will last till August 13. Organisers promise that it will be true feast of music.

Especially for the jubilee, organisers have invited an audience favourite, an Egyptian band led by virtuoso percussionist Yehya Khalil.

Special guests this year are Janice Harrington known as the Lady Blues-Gospel, and her band from the US. The show will be opened by the holder of the best young jazz performer award in France, Nico Wayne Toussaint and his band. The Bulgarian National Radio Big Band, with Denise Jannah, the most popular name in Dutch jazz, will also be there. Bulgarian jazz legend Milcho Leviev, will be present as well. He will be accompanying the Greek singer Vicky Almazidu. Another Greek, guitarist Kostas Maginas, will perform together with young trumpeter Michael Yosifov, and the fine vocalist Peter Salchev. The list includes boogie-woogie fury Christoph “Boogie Wolf” Steinbach from Austria, Spanish flamenco group El Macareno, Czech guitar star Pavel Ryba, the gipsy jazz quartet of Francesco Buzzurro from Italy, as well as the Polish trio of Wlodek Pawlik. On August 13, people will enjoy Djabe, from Hungary, and two great names of Bulgarian music – Vassil Petrov accompanied by Angel Zaberski, in duo with Maria Taneva and Kalin Veliov with his band.

For the desert come Nato’s official Big Band – SHAPE International Big Band – who will close the Festival with the best of the classical jazz of the 1940s – selected pieces by Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, as well as by contemporary composers Mat Harris and Thom Cubis

View Properties for Sale in/near Bansko.




  read more articles

• Print
• Ask for free advice