Let's talk about jazz... and mistakes
How much jazz fits into a week, one might ask in times of all-encompassing quantification tendencies. October proved it: More than one might usually think. This year's Leipzig Jazz Days had 34 program items to offer. And anyone who, like me, used to believe that one concert a week was enough for people over 30 was proven wrong for the first time.
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 we don't just want to look back in this issue, we also want to look forward. If you read the following 13 pages carefully, you'll see: November is a far cry from a gloomy hangover in darkened bars. From the Nils Kugelmann Trio to the Moses Yoofee Trio and the Leipzig formation Görda, we have once again compiled numerous cultural and concert dates for you that are definitely worth recommending. And we also have the obligatory "album of the month" for you - this time from a duo that once had their highly romantic first date, at least in a musical sense, at the Leipzig Jazz Days.
See you soon, and happy reading!
Luca
Jazzkalender-Editorial office
