Oslo Jazz Festival 2014 starts as usual with the opening concert at The Norwegian Opera & Ballet. Tord Gustavsen has the honor to be the main artist at this years’ event. Extended Circles is the title of the concert, introducing a completely new composition signed Tord and singer Synne Sanden.
Later in the evening there will be an exclusive concert where the French jazz musician, singer and film composer Michel Legrand and his trio include Karin Krog and Solveig Slettahjell as musical guests.
During the week you may enjoy concerts at various locations in the center of Oslo. For the first time this year concerts will be performed at the venues Edderkoppen, Cosmopolite and Kulturhuset. New is also the Indian House, formerly known as New Orleans Restaurant in Rosenkrantzgate.
Slightly overshadowed by the Norwegian Constitution jubilee, the Oslo Jazzfestival is celebrating Adolphe Sax’ 200th birthday this year. He was born in 1814, and he invented the saxophone. There will be a strong list of both Norwegian and international saxophone players during the festival, including names like Sonny Fortune, Billy Harper, Scott Hamilton, Marshall Allen, John Surmann, Tore Brunborg, Barry Møster, Knut Riisnæs, Bodil Niska and Hanna Paulsberg.
This is also the 50th anniversary of modern jazz in Oslo, since the Charles Mingus Sextet performed at the University Hall in 1964. The University hall was overcrowded at that time, and the contemporary composer Arne Nordheim and poet Jan Erik Vold wrote raving reviews in the daily paper Dagbladet. The Norwegian eminent jazz bassist Arild Andersen has taken on the responsibility to reproduce Mingus’ musical universe to this years’ listeners. He attended the legendary concert 50 years ago.
For those who want to reminisce about Oslo’s jazz scene there is a photo exhibition at Kulturhuset, and city walks to old jazz clubs, guided by Bjorn Stendahl. At Kulturhuset you may also be viewing jazz productions from the French TV channel Mezzo, a partner of this year’s festival.
A strong focus on children and young people has for many years been characterizing the Oslo Jazz Festival. This year promising young bands from the Nordic countries have been invited to Oslo. They will perform on the outdoor stage at Karl Johan and participate in seminars and master classes with some of the musicians playing at the festival.
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