Copenhagen Jazz Festival announces new visual theme and three headliners for this summer‟s festival: Wayne Shorter, Anoushka Shankar, and Tony Allen.
Legendary sax player Wayne Shorter (US), sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar (IN), and afrobeat inventor Tony Allen (NG) will all be playing at this summer‟s Copenhagen Jazz Festival. This was made clear at a press conference Thursday afternoon where no less than three new festival posters also were revealed.
New visual theme The poster has been an important part of Copenhagen Jazz Festival since 1980. Every year a new artist is commissioned to design the poster. A tradition that throughout the years has resulted in very varied expressions.
“This year‟s festival posters are done by graphic designer Leo Scherfig and consist of three improvisational snapshots,” says festival director Signe Lopdrup, “As such, the motive transcends the poster as a single piece of art and illustrates a new visual dimension that will meet people at this year‟s festival. The idea is to add an improvisational visual dimension to selected shows during the festival in the form of vj sets, lights and video artists that will interact with – and hopefully reinforce – the musical improvisation that is essential to jazz and makes up the festival‟s beating heart.”
3 continents – 3 very different musical visions The first batch of names for the festivals spans no less than three continents as well as three very different musical visions. 78 year old American Wayne Shorter – widely considered to be one of the most significant saxophonists in jazz history – will be playing at The Royal Theater. Indian sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar will play at the beautiful Koncerthuset, and Nigerian afrobeat icon Tony Allen will set the dancefloor grooving at Store Vega. Tickets for Wayne Shorter and Anoushka Shankar are already on sale, while tickets for Tony Allen will be available for sale on April 11.
With the unveiling of the new visual theme and the three headliners, this summer‟s festival is well on its way. Like previous years the festival will overflow the city with major concert hall events, packed club experiences and a host of outdoor delights – many of them free. Likewise, visitors will once more be meet with special themes like the much loved Something Else, Jazz for Kids, Classic Jazz Tributes and Jazz by the Sea. The major concerts will be held at The Royal Theater, Koncerthuset in Ørestad and for the first time in many years Store Vega. All in all it looks like the festival once again will top previous achievements regarding the number of concerts and venues. The support from venues, cafes and organizers this year has been massive and visitors can look forward to an increased activity in the areas of town just outside city.
Copenhagen Jazz Festival takes place July 6 to July 15. For general information about the festival, look further down. The posters are available for download in high resolution at www.jazz.dk. The full festival programme will be announced during the next couple of months.
Press photos for download (high resolution): → Wayne Shorter PR (JPG) → Anoushka Shankar PR (JPG) → Tony Allen PR (JPG) → All festival posters (ZIP)
Wayne Shorter Quartet (US) → The Royal Theater, Gamle Scene, July 10, 8.00 PM Tickets on sale at www.jazz.dk
Anoushka Shankar (IN) → Koncerthuset, Koncertsalen, July 8, 8.00 PM Tickets on sale at www.jazz.dk
Tony Allen presents BLACK SERIES – from Detroit to Lagos (NG) → Store Vega, date tba Tickets available for sale April 11
Copenhagen Jazz Festival - Since 1979 10 days - 100 venues – 1,000 concerts
Every single summer since 1979 Copenhagen Jazz Festival has been taking over Copenhagen as one of Europe‟s most important international music events based on eminent artistic quality and a sharp focus on new departures in both Danish and international jazz. Lasting 10 days, the festival envelops the Danish capital, offering a sumptuous musical feast to the 250,000 guests who join us year after year. Enjoying live jazz on the city‟s streets, in its clubs cafés and concert halls, and at open-air venues – all in the very heart of historical Copenhagen.
Copenhagen‟s legendary status as one of the jazz capitals of Europe grew in the 1950s and 1960s, when a whole host of leading American jazz icons had their creative base in the city. Among those who have called Copenhagen home are Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, Ben Webster, Stuff Smith, Ed Thigpen, Thad Jones and Kenny Drew. Each and every one of them has drawn inspiration from Denmark‟s jazz scene and the era‟s most important jazz club: Jazzhus Montmartre. This was also the time when some of Denmark‟s best musicians had their international breakthrough, musicians like Alex Riel, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen and Palle Mikkelborg.
Copenhagen‟s unique jazz history is a key factor in the exceptionally high level of the Copenhagen Jazz Festival, something that can be experienced at the many free open-air stages strategically located throughout the historical city centre. Together with Copenhagen‟s record number of cafés and music venues, these stages create a unique atmosphere, bringing the city alive with jazz from early morning to late at night. As Signe Lopdrup, director of Copenhagen Jazz Festival, says: “People don‟t only come for a fantastic musical experience, but for the unique atmosphere throughout Copenhagen when jazz takes over the city.”
The festival audience can listen to top international jazz names at the stunning Royal Theatre, Copenhagen‟s Opera House and Jean Nouvel‟s architectural world-class Koncerthus – as well as along the harbour front, where they can take a dip in the clear waters to the sounds of Danish and international jazz. Copenhagen Jazz Festival also proudly presents music at the border of jazz and other genres as part of the programme „Something Else‟. And everyone‟s welcome to take their kids to the beautiful parks to the east of the city where thousands of children and their parents flock every summer to enjoy a packed programme of live jazz, circus, painting workshops and singing - all part of the „Jazz for Kids‟ festival programme.
Copenhagen Jazz Festival takes a pride in reaching many – and new – audiences, with tailor-made programmes for pensioners and teenagers, kids and their families, as well as catering for jazz aficionados and enthusiasts. Visitors can look forward to Copenhagen as a friendly and creative city where it‟s safe to wander around accompanied by jazz night and day. A modern and open-minded metropolis that can be experienced at its very best during Copenhagen Jazz Festival.
Facts
Copenhagen Jazz Festival 2012 - Copenhagen Jazz Festival 2012 takes places between July 6-15 – both days included - The festival features around 1,000 concerts at around 100 venues - The concerts takes place at clubs, cafes, bars, concert halls and open-air stages in the city‟s parks and squares and along the harbour front - Besides the concerts acquiring entry fees the festival features a great number of free concerts - Pre-sale spots can be found at www.jazz.dk. In addition, most venues will offer tickets at the door - The festival engages more than 200 volunteers - The festival has existed in its present form since 1979
Programme - The printed programme is released in May and is available for purchase at local supermarket Irma, local libraries, cafes, DSB-stores and at all venues - The complete programme is also available for download as a free application for iPhone and Android. The application features a full festival schedule, daily news and a GPS
Visitors - During the course of the 10 days 250,000 people will visit the festival - The visitors are divided evenly among the age groups 0-35 years, 36-55 years and 56 years or older - Nine out of teen visitors are Danish. The foreign visitors are primarily Swedish, Norwegian, German, British and American - Copenhagen Jazz Festival generates approximately 80 mill. Danish kroner for the city of Copenhagen (Source: Wonderful Copenhagen, Nov. 2011)
Press photos for download → August Rosenbaum, Kunstforeningen Gl. Strand (Foto: Jonas Pryner) → View, DGI-byen Red Roof (Foto: Kristoffer Juel Poulsen) → The Pyramids, Vor Frue Plads (Kristoffer Juel Poulsen) → Jazz For Kids, Østre Anlæg (Foto: Kristoffer Juel Poulsen)
For more information Signe Lopdrup, Festival Director: [email protected], +45 33932013 Simon Christensen, Head of Communications: [email protected], +45 6177 8335 Website: www.jazz.dk // Press room: www.jazzroom.dk