The 23rd edition of the longest-running jazz festival in Greece is back in the Technopolis City of Athens and slated to stay until June 3, offering nine days of live concerts featuring Greek and international musicians and music bands.
Visitors at the Technopolis City of Athens can enjoy free jazz concerts starting at 9 p.m. featuring different artists at each time slot (9 p.m., 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.).
Concurrently, a photography exhibition (free admission) will be taking place daily (May 27 – June 2), showcasing photographs by 130 creators. The “METApolis” photo team presents the exhibition “Unique”, a diverse collection that showcases the introspection and negotiation of the city’s identity, a journey through street photography, staged photography and the urban landscape.
Opening Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 16:00-23:00, Friday & Saturday 12:00-23:00, Sunday 10:00-23:00
Additionally the festival’s popular market will be running daily hosting more than 100 creators, many of which are introducing themselves for the first time. Both new and favorite local artists will fill Technopolis’ designated area with their inspiring ideas and handmade creations, spanning clothes, jewelry, accessories, toiletries, wellness products, art and decoration, children’s items, delicious treats and vintage pieces.
Furthermore street food, interactive games for children and grown-ups, DJ sets will complement the event’s positive vibes and festive spirit!
Admission to the market is free during its opening hours Monday-Friday 19.00-00.00, Saturday & Sunday 12.00-00.00
Athens Jazz Program – free concerts
May 27 Athens Jazz is dedicated exclusively to Greek jazz, featuring three local bands chosen by the festival’s artistic committee. Jan Van & Fotis Siotas duo, the fast-paced rhythms of the unpredictable Mob Trio, and the experimentations of the trio of the internationally renowned trumpeter and composer Andreas Polyzogopoulos are scheduled to open the show!
21:00 | Jan Van & Fotis Siotas (GR – Jazz+)
22:00 | MOb Trio (GR – new music proposal)
23:00 | Andreas Polyzogopoulos Trio (GR – official participation)
Jan Van & Fotis Siotas
On Tuesday, May 28, we will have the opportunity to enjoy the performance of Michal Bugala, one of the most prominent figures in Slovakia’s contemporary music scene. Bugala will be playing with his acoustic trio, Triple Jump, which drifts away from its jazz starting point, swaying comfortably-even by rapping- between hip-hop, funk and various aspects of rock. Next up is Dock In Absolute, a group full of youthful energy from Luxembourg that loves classical music while flirting with prog-rock. Following them is the brilliant guitarist Louis Matute from Switzerland, who will take us on a journey with his Large Ensemble to a melodically rich jazz world full of Latin aromas, creatively drawing on his Central American origins.
Louis Matute Large Ensemble
(c)Nadia Tarra
21:00 | Triple Jump (SK)
22:00 | Dock In Absolute (LU)
23:00 | Louis Matute Large Ensemble (CH)
Wednesday, May 29, starts with Júlia Karosi, who, along with her quartet which uniquely integrates Hungary’s musical tradition and folk songs in a classical jazz setting. She will pass the baton to the French Léon Phal, a musician who manages with characteristic ease to produce groovy sounds in which the sense of electronic instruments is omnipresent. Yet, the result emerges in a completely analogue way through the patents of his talented quintet. Finally, the “man with the red trombone”, Nils Landgren, will take the stage, who, with his Funk Unit, one of Sweden’s most important jazz-funk ensembles, makes every live performance look like a delightful tribute to the greats of the funk school.
Nils Landgren Funk Unit
21:00 | Júlia Karosi (HU)
22:00 | Léon Phal (FR)
23:00 | Nils Landgren Funk Unit (SE)
On Thursday, May 30, the day will kick off with a performance by Erika Soteri, the talented British Cypriot singer who combines jazz, rock, funky, soul, Latin and R&B in a unique and personal way. Following her performance, we will be treated to the deep and expressive sounds of the Mathias Eick Quintet, a Norwegian quintet led by the sensational trumpeter, considered one of the most influential figures in the modern music scene of his country. The evening ends with Italian finesse at its best: the highly talented Italian Paolo Fresu comes to Athens Jazz with his Devil Quartet, with which he has been playing for twenty years and consists of important Italian jazz figures. Together, they will offer us an unforgettable, evocative live show full of southern spontaneity and central European stylistic precision.
Erika-Soteri
21:00 | Erika Soteri (CY)
22:00 | Mathias Eick Quintet (NO)
23:00 | Paolo Fresu Devil Quartet (IT)
On Friday, May 31, Product May Contain from Poland takes the stage, creating a unique sound blend combining, among other things, folk music tradition with ambient elements, as well as chamber music with ethnic percussion, followed by the abstract jazz expression of Mingo Rajandi, the multifaceted artist from Estonia, whose work is characterized by simplicity, liberated expression and inter-artistic momentum. Up next is the Zabelov Group, an exceptional duo from the Czech Republic. Their live performance is an intoxicating electronic set, where the electric accordion, otherworldly vocals and lively recorded loops with repeating motifs produce a multi-layered sound that reaches impressive peaks.
21:00 | Product May Contain (PL)
22:00 | Mingo Rajandi (EE)
23:00 | Zabelov Group (CZ)
The first day of summer, Saturday, June 1, will be celebrated with the Shake Stew music band from Austria who will captivate us with their groovy sounds and percussions that combined with the rich wind instruments with the spiritual jazz hints, create a psychedelic acoustic experience. Next is the uprising Sunbörn from Denmark, betting that their “sunny” instrumental music, with its afro-jazz, ethnic elements and electronic touches with South American salsa hints, will make everyone dance the night away. Saturday’s performances will end with the irresistible voice of British singer Cherise. She belongs to a new generation of soul, jazz, and R&B musicians from the United Kingdom who manage to approach the huge musical legacy with respect and a fresh perspective. At the same time, she stands out with her punk temperament, authentic soul-jazz timbre, and pervasive self-confidence.
21:00 | Shake Stew (AT)
22:00 | Sunbörn (DK)
23:00 | Cherise (UK)
On Sunday, June 2, we will welcome Nana Rashid and enjoy the fragility, tenderness and muffled tension that springs from the melancholic yet dynamic timbre of her voice – features that rightly make her one of the most extraordinary talents in music Denmark has shown in recent years. Then, the award-winning Daahoud Salim Quintet from Spain will step onto the stage to cover a wide range of jazz directions, focusing on both hard bop and the unique technical skill of Daahoud Salim on the piano. Finally, Botticelli Baby, the outstanding jazz band from Germany, will be the closing act of the evening. They will entertain the audience with a range of jazz styles, lively movements, dance moods, and their signature cinematic emotion that reflects their unique and creative approach to music.
Daahoud Salim Quintet
21:00 | Nana Rashid (DK)
22:00 | Daahoud Salim Quintet (ES)
23:00 | Botticelli Baby (DE)
Monday, June 3, the festival closes with the miraculous jazz trio from Canada, BadBadNotGood, the band that changed the standards about fresh, contemporary jazz.. The closing show, full of stylistic flexibility and multifaceted performing prowess is organized in collaboration with Gazarte and requires a special ticket which can be found here: more.com.
