Following the huge success of the 1st Aegina Jazz Festival last July, with 1,200 attendees and outstanding reviews from both artists and audiences, the festival returns, this time with an international line-up, a strong female presence and an upgraded visual identity.
On 17-18 July, at the former Aegina Prisons, the Jazz Solidarity Network presents a tightly curated programme featuring leading names from the Greek and international jazz scene, along with surprises that will once again make the event a talking point for months.
The festival will open with the iconic lady – and ECM artist – of the world-jazz scene, Savina Yannatou, accompanied by Spyros Manesis, one of the leading pianists and composers of his generation. In their concert, they explore the coexistence of different musical worlds through a live improvisational dialogue, from compositions by Greek creators to the music of the Mediterranean and free jazz.
This year’s international colour will be brought by the Seville scene (Assejazz), with Proyecto Jazz Colombia: a band distinguished by the romantic compositions and tender voice of Colombian guitarist Juana Gaitán, joined by leading Andalusian instrumentalists Bernardo Parrilla, Javier Delgado and Nacho Megina on winds, double bass and percussion respectively.
The second day of the festival will open with one of the most historic jazz trios of the Greek scene, Human Touch, featuring Stavros Lantsias (piano, drums), Yiotis Kiourtsoglou (bass) and David Lynch (winds). They will present their new, ‘colourful’ album Colorblind.
The festival will close in the most danceable way, hosting the eight-member orchestra Kapten from Thessaloniki. Kapten play a musical blend that combines the exotic charm of Ethiopian jazz, melancholic cinematic soul, as well as hip-hop, funk and underground rock rhythms. The band consists of Panagiotis Kapetanakis (trumpet), Thanos Tsakiltzidis (saxophone), Alexandra Karampournioti (voice), Nikos Tsop (voice), Grigoris Liolios (guitar), Maquitto (bass), Thomas Kostoulas (drums) and Alexis Makatselos (drums).
Special guests on the first day will be Floros Floridis and Akillas Karazisis, in a collaboration that will connect the present with the history of the Aegina Prisons, the venue hosting the event.
On the second day, Natassa Martin and Angeliki Toubanaki will interact with the audience with the aim of creating music collectively, using only human bodies as instruments.
The festival’s visual identity was once again created by designer Vangelis Fokas. This time, he drew inspiration from the great Aegina artist Yannis Moralis, whose sculpture has been creatively incorporated into the communication materials.
All festival proceeds will be used to support and promote the work of the artists of the Jazz Solidarity Network, specifically to continue the historic project The Greek Jazz Book, held under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture.
Ticket presales: https://www.more.com/gr-el/tickets/music/festival/2nd-aegina-jazz-festival/
Press Centre, Mourtzis, Proka, Twins (Kypseli), Mikro Kafe (Perdika), Skorpios (Souvala)
Presale tickets: from €12
Information: 2107710979
Media Sponsors
ERT, Kathimerini, Kathimerini English Edition – The New York Times International Edition, ANA-MPA, Third Programme, Kosmos Radio, The Voice of Greece – ERT, Athens 9.84, Monopoli.gr, CultureNow, Neolaia.gr, TVXS, Saronic Magazine, AeginaPortal, Aegina365.gr, We Love Aegina.
