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Russian and foreign jazz musicians have a chance to showcase their talents

The III International forum&festival Jazz Across Borders (JAB) offers jazz musicians to apply for participation in JAB Showcases and the opportunity to perform for the experts of the world jazz community.

JAB Showcases, a showcase festival which provides an opportunity for Russian and foreign jazz performers to present their music to jazz industry’s professionals (promoters, program directors of festivals, clubs, representatives of recording labels, journalists).

«JAB Showcases is not a contest, – the president of the forum&festival Igor Butman stressed. – Our project is more like a talent fair, there is no need to win here. The main goal is to introduce Russian jazz to the leading producers, to show them that our performers are quite competitive in comparison with European bands. First of all, we want to show international experts (leading producers, experts and festival directors are coming to the forum) as many of our talented musicians as possible, to demonstrate the variety of styles and ideas that can brighten up the world famous jazz venues and impress a worldwide audience».

More than 200 bands from 15 countries have applied for JAB Showcases. After participation in JAB showcases many artists received invitations from the organizers to perform at festivals and prestigious venues in Russia and abroad: Alexander Dovgopoly Project (festival “Jazz by the old fortress”, Novokuznetsk), VAN Quartet (the festivals “Jazz seasons in Leninskie Gorki”, Moscow region, and “JazzMay”, Penza), Ilya Morozov Sextet (“JazzMay”, Penza), Moscow Jazz Orchestra (Umbria Jazz Festival, Umbria, Italy), LRK Trio (Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, London, UK, DC Jazz Festival, Washington, DC, USA, Casa da Musica, Porto, Portugal), Highland Project (Sirius jazz festival, Sochi, Russia), Lenny Sendersky & Moon strings (Red Sea Jazz Festival, Eilat, Israel), a Kle2Go Trio (Usadba jazz Festival, Moscow, Russia), the Ilugdin Trio (Ubud Jazz Festival, Jakarta, Indonesia, Amersfoort Jazz Festival, Amersfoort, the Netherlands) and many others. The artists had the opportunity to release albums on the European label Losen Records. LRK Trio, Alina Rostotskaya, Ilugdin Trio and Lenny Sendersky released albums on the label and received a lot of great reviews in leading jazz media.

The deadline for applications for participation is October 7, 2019.

Applicants are selected by experts of worldwide jazz industry. The main selection criteria: proficiency and technique, originality of the presentation.

About Jazz Across Borders (JAB)

Jazz Across Borders (JAB) is the first and only professional platform in Russia designed to assemble international and Russian jazz community representatives. The first Jazz Across Borders forum&festival was held in 2017 at VI St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum and for the third consecutive year provides Russian and foreign musicians a unique opportunity to discuss issues of concern. More than 2000 jazz performers and young musicians from different regions of Russia and 35 foreign countries have become participants of the festival JAB.

Building upon the success of the last year’s forum&festival The Jazz Across Borders 2019 program will be divided into five parts:

  • JAB Conference, which includes panel discussions, roundtables, workshops and meetings with industry representatives and top industry’s experts; relevant issues and industry trends, ways of the promotion of Russian jazz musicians overseas and foreign performers in Russia, tour management issues etc. will be discussed during the Congress part;
  • JAB Showcases, a showcase festival which allows Russian and foreign jazz performers to present their music to jazz industry’s professionals (promoters, program directors of festivals, clubs, representatives of recording labels, journalists);
  • JAB Clubnight, an intense series of concerts at jazz clubs of St. Petersburg;
  • JAB Expo, an exhibition of Russian and foreign jazz companies;
  • JAB Gala, a gala concert featuring Igor Butman, Moscow Jazz Orchestra and other participants of forum&festival on November 16, 2019 at the Grand Hall of St. Petersburg Philharmonia.