Let's talk about jazz... and Orwell
Eerily empty streets, loss of individual freedoms and classic scapegoat politics: We're not talking about a new, mediocre dystopian blockbuster that unsuccessfully attempts an inspiring Orwell adaptation for the umpteenth time - but about the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, which are currently celebrating their fifth anniversary and are thus prompting another media and artistic recapitulation.
It was precisely at this time of social uncertainty that the young Leipzig director Sebastian Lautenbach set off in search of clues in the Leipzig jazz scene. He had curiosity, patience and a whole bundle of questions in his luggage: who is making jazz today, what do these people dream of and what challenges do they face? In Werner Neumann, Kezia Christy and Robert Lucaciu, he met three musicians who differ not only in terms of their generational affiliation, but also in their musical orientation. Over a long period of time, he accompanied the three musicians in their everyday lives and ultimately created a film mosaic piece by piece from the available material. Now, on April 10, the film will celebrate its premiere at the Prager Frühling cinema bar as part of our Jazzclub.
But let's move on from our cinematic to our concert program: Because in April we are not only presenting film, but also PHILM. This is a Berlin quartet around saxophone-playing band leader Philipp Gropper, whose dense, sometimes restless and sometimes floating cascades of sound paint a perfect picture of contradictory late modernism. Further tips and dates can be found on the following pages: Among them is a new play about "Europe's First Lady in Jazz", Jutta Hipp, as well as a warmest recommendation for a trip to the cool north: Because there, in Bremen to be precise, the renowned jazzahead! is taking place again this year.
And of course we have once again chosen an album of the month. Which one, of course, we won't reveal here. Just this much: in the tradition of Orwell's interpretation of the truth, the album suggests that Weilheim and Chicago are now in Saxony. Don't believe it? Then read for yourself!
See you soon,
Luca
Jazzkalender-Editorial office
