Back again for two evenings of jazz music from local and international musicians is AglanJazz Festival, this time happening in October. Moving its dates from the summer months to autumn, the next edition of AglanJazz will present an eclectic selection of bands and jazz ensembles performing a diverse range of jazz and jazz-inspired music. Mark your calendars for October 15 and 16.
Opening the festival will be Cypriot group the Bebop Project, a five-member band whose aim is to revive and promote bebop jazz in the contemporary music scene of Cyprus. The band focuses on the authenticity of bebop, with a special emphasis on swing, which is the core of their musical approach.
Up next will be the David Helbock Trio, led by Austrian pianist David Helbock who represents a new wave of jazz musicians forging unique paths, expanding boundaries and reshaping the way we perceive both traditional and contemporary music. His work redefines the relationship between composition and improvisation, challenging conventional ideas about genre and artistic identity.
Closing the first evening’s performances will be The French Experience, a Cypriot band that transcends boundaries, fusing the energy of electronic music with the improvisational concepts of jazz. Drawing inspiration from the ever-evolving soundscape, they weave rich synth textures, deep bass and intricate rhythms, creating a sonic tapestry that is both futuristic and rooted in tradition. Their music explores a new dimension of jazz, blending vintage analogue synthesizers with modern electronic melodies to create an immersive experience that is as unpredictable as it is hypnotic.
The second night of AglanJazz will begin with the local Bopsters Trio. Their repertoire includes compositions from some of the most notable jazz legends, such as Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell and Elmo Hope, as well as classic jazz standards. Using piano, double bass and drums, the trio highlights the rhythmic and melodic richness of bebop, preserving the vitality and freedom of improvisation that characterises the genre.
Portuguese jazz singer and songwriter of Cape Verdean heritage Carmen Souza will perform next combining traditional forms of Cape Verde with contemporary and traditional jazz. Often called the Cape-Verdean Ella Fitzgerald, Souza is a reference in Cape-Verdean music and a female pioneer, writing, recording and performing her own successful formula of World Jazz all over the globe. She will unveil her 11th album, Port’Inglês (English port), sharing the untold stories of Cape Verde under British rule.
The 2024 festival will close with Human Touch, a cutting-edge instrumental trio from Athens, blending the rich influences of their Greek, Irish, American and Cypriot heritage into a distinctive fusion of global soul. They perform alongside Haig Yazdjian, a musician born in Syria to Armenian parents who emigrated to Greece in the early 80s. Together they will blend their talents to create a sonic experience and Greek ethnic-inspired jazz sounds to wrap up AglanJazz 2024.
AglanJazz 2024
Annual jazz festival with local and international musicians. October 15-16. Aglandjia, Nicosia. facebook event: AglanJazz 2024
