Let's talk about jazz... and mistakes
In these times of all-encompassing quantification, one might ask: How much jazz can fit into a week? October has proven that it’s certainly more than one might usually think. This year’s “ Leipziger Jazztage ” featured 34 events. And anyone who, like me, had previously believed that people over 30, on average, are satisfied with attending just one concert a week was proven wrong right from the start.
In addition, in moments of unbridled megalomania, I used to believe that after an estimated 1487 concerts in almost 20 years, I had heard or seen everything in one form or another. It is not least thanks to Laura Robles that I was able to disabuse myself of this second misconception. Because her cajón playing during her performances with Agua Dulce and GANNA was (of course) not reminiscent of the post-hippie pedestrian zone folk that we've heard far too often, but rather of apocalyptic, industrial-style drum machine salvos.
And while we're on the subject of prejudices: The previously rather unpleasant and (supposedly) lovely flute also took on a whole new connotation for me in the course of the festival. The axe to misconception number three was laid by Dalla Torre/Joussein/Zöschg with their brilliant performance in the galerie KUB - it was finally brought down by the jazz-punk cascades of Witch 'n' Monk in the Schaubühne Lindenfels.
The other 31 concerts also offered many surprises and insights - including the fact that the Monument to the Battle of the Nations still stands rock-solid even after 113 years (thankfully!). At least even Stian Westerhus' bloodcurdling eruptions of sound could not bring it down.
You can still find an overview of the numerous other festival highlights - from the Immanuel Wilkins Quartet to Anw Be Yonbolo and Aly Keita - on our festival blog "Laut und Leipzig". The numerous text, podcast and video contributions were produced and written by a total of 15 young journalists who took part in this year's third edition of the media workshop.
But of course, with this issue we don’t just want to look back—we also, and above all, want to look ahead. Anyone who reads the following 13 pages carefully will see that November is a far cry from a gloomy, hangover-induced atmosphere in dimly lit dive bars. From the Nils Kugelmann Trio to the Moses Yoofee Trio and the Leipzig-based group Görda, we’ve once again compiled a wealth of cultural and concert events for you that we highly recommend. And we’ve also got the obligatory “Album of the Month” in store for you—this time from a duo whosefirst date, at least in a musical sense, was highly romantic and took place as part of the “ Leipziger Jazztage .”
See you soon, and happy reading!
Luca
Jazzkalender-Editorial office
