Jazz festival to attract over 40,000
Over 40,000 jazz enthusiasts are expected to flock to Cork this bank holiday weekend for the Guinness Jazz Festival.
The growing importance of Europe as a powerhouse for the creation of new jazz sounds and concepts is being acknowledged at the festival with the inauguration of the ‘Guinness Jazz in Europe’ Award.
The new award will highlight the huge success of European jazz in recent years and is being very keenly sought after by the cream of top European jazz stars performing at the Jazz Festival.
Jazz fans are divided over who should get the Award. Will it be Erik Truffaz, the enigmatic French trumpet star or Nils Petter Molvaer from Norway with his brilliant nu-jazz electronic mix?
Another favourite is the innovative pianist, Esbjorn Svensson from Sweden, while many people support the boogaloo sounds of Germany’s Barbara Dennerlein and the nu-groove of Ireland’s young Trouble Penetrator group led by digital artist, Roy Carroll.
The President of the European Parliament, Mr Pat Cox, will announce the winner on Sunday next, following deliberations by the Guinness Jazz Festival Awards committee.
The judges will be looking for a range of qualities including improvisation, musical and technical creativity and the use of European musical themes and motifs in performances.
Guinness inaugurated its annual awards scheme at the Festival eight years ago and five awards are now dispensed each year. These are now the premier accolades for jazz excellence in this country.
