The Jazz Fest Sarajevo ( Bosnian, Croatian and

Serbian Serbian may refer to: * Pertaining to Serbia in Southeast Europe; in particular **Serbs, a South Slavic ethnic group native to the Balkans ** Serbian language ** Serbian culture **Demographics of Serbia, includes other ethnic groups within the co ...

: ''Sarajevski džez festival'' / Сарајевски џез фестивал) is an international music festival held annually during the first week of November in

Sarajevo Sarajevo ( ), ; ''see Names of European cities in different languages (Q–T)#S, names in other languages'' is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a population of 2 ...

and is the largest of its kind in

Southeastern Europe Southeast Europe or Southeastern Europe is a geographical sub-region of Europe, consisting primarily of the region of the Balkans, as well as adjacent regions and Archipelago, archipelagos. There are overlapping and conflicting definitions of t ...

Background

Established in 1997, Jazz Fest Sarajevo is an annual celebration of

contemporary music Contemporary music is whatever music is produced at the current time. Specifically, it could refer to: Genres or audiences * Adult contemporary music * British contemporary R&B * Christian adult contemporary * Christian contemporary hit radio * Con ...

based on

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

-related and

improvised music Musical improvisation (also known as musical extemporization) is the creative activity of immediate ("in the moment") musical composition, which combines performance with communication of emotions and instrumental technique as well as spontaneous ...

. The

festival A festival is an event celebrated by a community and centering on some characteristic aspect or aspects of that community and its religion or cultures. It is often marked as a local or national holiday, Melā, mela, or Muslim holidays, eid. A ...

program features well-known jazz musicians from around the world, as well as new and upcoming artists in several venues around the city. In the past 20 years, it has earned a reputation of a trend setting international music festival in the

Balkan The Balkans ( , ), corresponding partially with the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throug ...

region, with more than 600 artists performing at over 270 different concerts.

Live releases recorded at Jazz Fest Sarajevo

* ''Live in Sarajevo'' by Norwegian saxophonist, tenor and composer

Håkon Kornstad Håkon Games Kornstad (born 5 April 1977 in Oslo, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz musician (tenor saxophone, bass saxophone, flute and live looping) and classically trained singer (tenor), known from bands such as Wibutee and Kornstad Trio, and co ...

is a recording of his solo performance held at 18th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2014, released by Jazzland Recordings in 2015. * The composition "Adhān" by

Arve Henriksen Arve Henriksen (born 22 March 1968) is a Norwegian trumpeter. Career Henriksen was born in Stranda Municipality and educated on the Jazz program at Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet, Trondheim Musikkonservatorium; he later studie ...

from his album ''Places of Worship'', released by Runne Grammofon in 2013, is a field recording from his performance at 2nd Xenophonia in 2010. * ''Live!'' by Bosnian vocalist Amira Medunjnanin was recorded in 2008 at 12th Jazz Fest Sarajevo and released by Gramofon the following year. * ''Very Much Alive'' by Norwegian drummer

Paolo Vinaccia Paolo Vinaccia (Camerino, 27 March 1954 – Oslo, 5 July 2019) was an Italian jazz drummer who lived in Norway. He died on 5 July 2019 after almost ten years of living with pancreatic cancer. Career Vinaccia worked with Terje Rypdal, Bendik Ho ...

, released by

Jazzland Recordings Jazzland Recordings is a Norwegian jazz and improvised music label based in Oslo, Norway, often associated with nu jazz. It was founded in 1996 by pianist Bugge Wesseltoft to release his "New Conception of Jazz" and operate as a standalone label ...

in 2010, features a concert of the

Terje Rypdal Terje Rypdal (born 23 August 1947) is a Norwegian guitarist and composer. He has been an important member in the Norwegian jazz community, and has also given show concerts with guitarists Ronni Le Tekrø and Mads Eriksen as "N3". Career Rypd ...

Trio held at 6th Jazz Fest Sarajevo 2002.

Related events

Kid's Day is held traditionally on a Sunday, always the last festival day, when kids of age 3 to 12 have the chance to enjoy a concert with a repertoire of

jazz standard Jazz standards are musical compositions that are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive List ...

s rearranged especially for the occasion, followed by a workshop, "Meet the Instruments", where they prove, every year anew, that free chocolate and natural juices are the best fuel for uncontrolled music making. Music Meeting Sarajevo is a program designed for young musicians and music students from the

Western Balkans The Balkans ( , ), corresponding partially with the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throug ...

region, which is held within the festival's program. It offers a unique opportunity for participants to meet the festival's artists and showcase their talent on the Late Nite Stage program through jam sessions. Additionally, the program serves as a platform for future collaborations among young musicians who may have limited opportunities to participate in similar events due to the aftermath of the Balkan wars in the 1990s. Xenophonia was initiated by Jazz Fest Sarajevo as a platform for

collaboration Collaboration (from Latin ''com-'' "with" + ''laborare'' "to labor", "to work") is the process of two or more people, entities or organizations working together to complete a task or achieve a goal. Collaboration is similar to cooperation. The ...

between local and international artists, with the aim to enable a way for Bosnian and Herzegovenian musicians to position themselves on the international music scene.

Personnel

Edin Zubčević –

founder Founder or Founders may refer to: Places *Founders Park, a stadium in South Carolina, formerly known as Carolina Stadium * Founders Park, a waterside park in Islamorada, Florida Arts, entertainment, and media * Founders (''Star Trek''), the ali ...

and

artistic director An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company or dance company, who handles the organization's artistic direction. They are generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogu ...

Djana Karavdić – head of office Eric Bajramović – head of production Mina Maglić –

box office A box office or ticket office is a place where ticket (admission), tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through a hole in a wall or window, or at a Wicket gate, wicket. ...

and assistance

Past programs

References

"Sarajevo Jazz Festival 2016"
Francesco Martinelli.

All About Jazz ''All About Jazz'' is a website established by Michael Ricci in 1995. A volunteer staff publishes news, album reviews, articles, videos, and listings of concerts and other events having to do with jazz. Ricci maintains a related site, ''Jazz Near ...

. USA. November 18, 2016.
"The Times They Are A-Changin
Lars Mossefin. salt-peanuts*. Norway. November 7, 2016.
"Re-creation: Jazz as a tool for social cohesion Jazz Fest Sarajevo/Banlieus Bleus"
Fiona Goh. Strength in numbers 2, A study by Europe Jazz Network. 2016. {{Sarajevo Annual events in Bosnia and Herzegovina Autumn in Bosnia and Herzegovina Festivals in Sarajevo Jazz festivals in Bosnia and Herzegovina Tourist attractions in Sarajevo Culture in Sarajevo