April 16 – 27, festival Jazzkaar will be held in Tallinn. Festival presents Estonian jazz musicians (Villu Veski, Raivo Tafenau, Jaak Sooäär, Kristjan Randalu, Sofia Rubina) as well as top musicians around the world (Avishai Cohen, Al Di meola, Gino Vannelli, Leny Andrade, Son de la Frontera, Angelique Kidjo, Roy Ayers, Dave Douglas jt). The biggest jazz event in Estonia will take place in 12 cities where performers from 16 different countries will give 50 concerts.
Among Estonian musicians the performers at the Jazzkaar are Raivo Tafenau (saxophone) and Meelis Vind (bass clarinet) – duo that has been active over 10 years, Estonian Guitar Octet (debuted in 2007), Tõnu Naissoo Quartet with Anna Põldvee, saxophone players Raivo Tafenau and Siim Aimla with their groups and young vocal soloists Tuuli Taul and Kadri Voorand with their ensembles.
Successful cooperation is made with musicians from abroad: Ain Agan performs with Finnish jazz guitarist Teemu Viinikainen, guitarist Jaak Sooäär plays together with Swedish bass player Thommy Anderson and Danish percussionist Karsten Mathiesen in the ensemble „The Dynamite Vikings” (debuted at Jazzkaar in 1998), Argentinian guitarist Fulvio Paredes will give a concert with Villu Veski Group, Sofia Rubina sings with Lithuanian musicians in ensemble D’Orange. Weekend Guitar Trio that celebrates their 15th year of activity appears on the stage with Austrian musician Markus Reuter. Jubilee is celebrated also by Estonian Dream Big Band – at the concert of their 10th birthday the soloist will be Irish-German singer and guitarist Torsten Goods.
Estonian jazz musicians have many fresh CD presentations scheduled for Jazzkaar 2008. Villu Veski (saxophone) and Tiit Kalluste (accordion) will present their third CD in the series „Sounds of the Nordic Islands”, Tanel Ruben Quintet has released CD „Kogutud rikkus” („Collected treasure”), singer Kelli Uustani presents her first CD „Kuni pöördub tuul” („Till the wind changes”) and Gregorian chant ensemble Vox Clamantis with Weekend Guitar Trio present their jointly released CD „Stella matutina”.
Estonian radio Klassikaraadio will broadcast live 10 concerts from Jazzkaar 2008, commented by music journalists Immo Mihkelson and Tiit Kusnets.
Festival program with audio and video examples www.jazzkaar.ee.
Mariliis Valkonen