Guangzhou Jazz Festival is back! From November 22nd to December 1st, the 2019 Guangzhou Jazz Festival will be held in the city, featuring a series of concerts and events.
With a limitless sense of imagination, and welcoming and inclusive attitude, the Guangzhou Jazz Festival vitalizes the city every Autumn. Over the past four years, the festival has hosted scores of Grammy Awards winners, including Victor Wooten, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Vince Mendoza, Randy Brecker, Patti Austin, Ron Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Mingus Big Band, WDR Big Band Köln, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Randy Brecker, Patti Austin, and Branford Marsalis.
This year, the 5-year-old Jazz carnival still stands firm by its primary goals: be professional, international and local. This November, some of the best Jazz music in the world will come to the city:
Branford Marsalis [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]
A three time Grammy award winner and sixteen time nominee, Branford Marsalis is currently the most influential and interdisciplinary performer, composer and education profession in the field of Classical and Jazz. He also founded the Branford Marsalis Quartet, widely recognized as one of the best Jazz bands in the world.
Cicile Maclorin Salvant, among the current crop of young blood in jazz divas has been nominated for a Grammy three times in four years. Just 28 years old, Cicile has already captured the attention of the whole Jazz world with her exceptional talent and unparalleled ability in performing.
Cicile Maclorin Salvant [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]
Born on the flatlands of Inner Mongolia, Urna is the most active Asian singer on the European music stage. Without seemingly intentional embellishment, she takes the ballads and landscapes from the prairies of her home all the way across Europe. Her chanting is wide and full of strength, striking deeply into the listeners hearts.
In the section of ‘Made in GZ’, the We Do Jazz Big Band will dominate the Jazz Festival’s outdoor lawn concert. Five young Jazz bands from Hong Kong, Macao, Guangzhou and Shenzhen will also bring a near five hour long ‘Jazz Marathon’, an unprecedented experience for jazz lovers.
French accordion dance Talk Show [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]
In the section ‘Jazz in Europe’, the Sumrrá Trio is one of the most exciting trios in the contemporary Spanish Jazz world. The Rembrandt Trio from the Netherlands provides a new direction for Jazz to grow by innovatively combining Jazz, Classical and ancient Persian music. During the French accordion dance Talk Show, guitarist Thomas le Briz and accordionist Erwan Mellec will introduce and perform the French Musette from the golden era of French Jazz. As a special event, the so called ‘Secret Concert’ will bring you a surprise encounter with other outstanding Jazz musicians.
Moreover, masterclasses, workshops, lectures and salons will also be spread around the city’s CBD art zones and schools during the festival. The 2019 Guangzhou Jazz Festival is sure to become a great party for every participant, so let’s get things swinging in the city!
A local Jazz band performs at the press conference of the 2019 Guangzhou Jazz Festival at the Xinghai Concert Hall in Guangzhou on September 12th, 2019. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]
Highlights of 2019 Guangzhou Jazz Festival
Grammy Winner: Branford Marsalis Quartet
Time: 8pm, Friday, November 22nd, 2019
Ticket: VIP880/680/480/280/180
Venue: Symphony Hall, Xinghai Concert Hall
Made in GZ: Outdoor Concert
Time: 4pm, Friday, November 23rd,
Venue: The lawn in front of the Guangdong Xinghai Performing Arts Group Building, Ersha Island
Made in GZ: GBA Jazz Marathon
Time: 5pm, Saturday, November 23rd, 2019
Ticket: RMB 200/100 (student)
Venue: Chamber Hall, Xinghai Concert Hall
The History of French Jazz Musette
Time: 8pm, Sunday, November 24th, 2019
Ticket: RMB 100/50 (student)
Venue: Chamber Hall, Xinghai Concert Hall
Secret Concert
Time: 8pm, Thursday, November 26th, 2019
Ticket: RMB 100/50 (student)
Venue: Music Space, Xinghai Concert Hall
Sumrrá V Journeys
Time: 8pm, Wednesday, November 27th, 2019
Ticket: RMB 280/180/80
Venue: Chamber Hall, Xinghai Concert Hall
Rembrandt Frerichs Trio
Time: 8pm, Thursday, November 28th, 2019
Ticket: RMB 280/180/80
Venue: Chamber Hall, Xinghai Concert Hall
The Unbounded Voice: Urna Live Concert
Time: 8pm, Saturday, November 30th, 2019
Venue: Symphony Hall, Xinghai Concert Hall
A Dazzling Grammy Night with Cécile McLorin Salvant
Time: 8pm, Sunday, December 1st, 2019
Ticket: RMB 1080/880/680/480/280/180
Venue: Symphony Hall, Xinghai Concert Hall
Special events
Jazz Open Day
Time: 11:00-22:00, November 23rd, 2019
Venue: Xinghai Concert Hall
Jazz classes
Time: From October to November
Venue: Music Space, Xinghai Concert Hall
Jazz in the City: Mini Concert
JoJo’s Riverside, Parity Pier
Time: October 2019
Yongqing Fang
Time: October 19th, 2019
Guangdong Literary Vocational College
Time: November 2019
Jazz Gallery
Time: November 22nd - December 1st, 2019
Venue: Xinghai Concert Hall
Jazz Night in Garden Hotel
Time: November 29th, 2019
Venue: LN Garden Hotel
How to buy tickets: 400-108-8808/020-87358735
How to get there: Take Bus No. 131A or B21 to Xinghai Concert Hall Station.
Author: Monica Liu
Editor: Simon Haywood