THE MAYORESS of San Javier, Pepa Garcia, and the Festival Director, Alberto Nieto, presented the official poster and advanced programme for the XIV edition of the San Javier International Jazz Festival on Wednesday 16th March to the media at the Town Hall press room. Supporting the occasion were representatives from festival sponsor's, Caja Murcia, La Caixa and La Opinión.
The presentation of the poster is always a highlight in the diary for the Ayuntamiento de San Javier as it marks the start of the annual proceedings for one of the top jazz festivals in Spain. Designer Ramon Torres was on hand to pose for photos along side his “cool” masterpiece. The festival director pointed out, “The poster is intended to convey a casual photo-realistic free spirit that characterizes the jazz festival.”
This year's festival will be staged from June 25 to July 30, and is dedicated to the memory of Gary Moore and Solomon Burke. It will feature some of the best guitarists in the world. "The festival will have a large presence of guitarists, like Lee Ritenour, John Scofield, Elvin Bishop, and Albert Lee," explained Nieto.
Other artists due to appear include top names such as the grand dame of jazz, Rene Marie, and Brazilian singer Leny Andrade. The Romanian-born French violinist Costel Nitescu, who will perform with the Spanish group, the Biel Ballester Trio, and the French jazz/pop/swing ensemble Pink Turtle.
Speaking about the concerts, Nieto revealed the presence of Californian, Lee “Captain Fingers” Ritenour, who returns to San Javier after a spectacular appearance at the VIII edition. Ritenour is considered to be a pioneer in the contemporary jazz and jazz-funk genres of music. Guitar Player Magazine awarded him with a Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2010. This time he appears with a band of world class sidemen including the great American pianist and composer Dave Grusin, co-founder of the legendary jazz label GRP Records. Grusin has composed many scores for feature films and television, like "The Graduate" with Paul Simon, "The Fabulous Baker Boys", and "3 Days Of The Condor". He has won numerous awards for his soundtrack and record work, including an Academy award and 12 Grammys.
The legendary American jazz guitarist and composer John Scofield, often referred to as "Sco," will be playing for the first time at the festival with a band of super luxury star-studded sidemen; composer and pianist Mulgrew Miller; drummer Bill Stewart; and bassist Scott Colley. John Scofield worked for 3 years in Miles Davis' band, has recorded 30 albums, played and collaborated with Joe Henderson, Charles Mingus, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Pat Martino, Mavis Staples, Billy Cobham, George Duke, Jaco Pastorius, John Mayer, and many other well known artists. At ease in the bebop idiom, Scofield is also well versed in jazz fusion, funk, blues, soul, and other forms of modern American music.
Nieto referred to Elvin Bishop as "one of the best bluesman in Chicago Blues active today." Bishop returns to San Javier after his "historic" concert at the 3rd edition of Musicas del Alma. The strong presence of the guitar in this edition is ever present with country rock star, Albert Lee, one of the most admired guitarists in the world. Albert Lee will perform with his band, The Hogan's Heroes.
For fans of vocal jazz, Nieto announced the return of the grand dame of jazz, Renee Marie, "a sensual voice with an absolute command of the stage," he said, “an American singer that moves
with great skill between jazz, soul, blues and gospel.” Bossa Nova, will also be included in the programme with another world class female vocalist, Leny Andrade, and Sambop, a band that features some of the most prominent jazz musicians in Brazil, including the legendary trumpet master, Paulinho Trompete.
The Festival Director predicts "a big surprise" for the public with the inclusion of the Parisian combo 'Pink Turtle', consisting of seven instrumentalists together with singers who have turned into one of the best selling groups in France. 'The Pink Turtle' was a hugely successful band in the 60's and returned after a long absence in 2008, to continue with it's free pop jazz swing style. Their latest album, 'Pop In Swing' released in 2009, covers popular tunes such as "Smoke On The Water" by Deep Purple, and "How Deep is Your Love" by The Bee Gees.
Finally, the inclusion of the Mallorcan guitarist, Biel Ballester and his trio together with Romanian violinist Costel Nitescu, "two great European jazz virtuosos" playing music in the spirit of the great Django Reinhardt. Both have performed before separately at the festival, and now they will play together on the same stage for what promises to be a memorable night of “gypsy jazz manouche”.
The full festival programme will be presented mid March, and will most likely double to 12 nights of concert, which will all fall between June 25 to July 30. Without disclosing any more names, Nieto hinted the presence of "one or two big bands and a big dose of blues." The Mayoress guaranteed "affordable ticket prices, everything along the same lines as in recent years." Pepa García noted that "despite the cut of 10 percent, due to the financial crisis, the festival has succeeded not only in maintaining, but has increased the quality, through hard work, enthusiasm, and more enthusiasm."
In 1998 the San Javier International Jazz Festival was born as a result of the efforts of Alberto Nieto and a group of jazz fans, with the aid of the San Javier Town Hall through its Cultural Department. In less than a decade this festival has matured into one of the most important cultural events of the Murcia Region of southern Spain, with a great national and international resonance.
The Mayoress concluded by stating “the jazz festival is a flagship of San Javier, and this region of Spain,” and confirmed that "under our agreement of collaboration with Spanish TV station TVE, the festival will be recorded and broadcast in the autumn”. She thanked the sponsors for their support, and those who attended the presentation represented by Matthew del Cerro de La Opinión, Sara Abelló by La Caixa, and Francisco Lozano, for Caja Murcia. Plus Aguagest and Estrella de Levante, who are other sponsors committed to the festival.
For more information visit www.jazz.sanjavier.es
