Between July 11-14, the 28th edition of the Gărâna Jazz Festival, which is considered “contemporary Woodstock”, will take place in the Banat village of Gărâna. Artists from all over the world participate in the event, led by the American double bass player Christian McBride, winner of eight Grammy awards.
Christian McBride, a great name in jazz PHOTO Facebook
“Gărăna Jazz Festival is already in its 28th edition this year and was born as an event of connection that interweaves the essential elements that we long for in our lives: connection with nature, a resonance with the harmonious rhythms of jazz and a deep connection with ourselves. The event managed to put Romania on the map of international jazz festivals, being a special, authentic festival, anchored in the community and jazz, as a representative of the feeling of freedom”specify the festival organizers.
The festival made a huge contribution to the development of the national jazz scene by educating several generations of artists and music fans. Hundreds of artists have set foot on Gărâna in the last 27 years and have been listened to by approximately 130,000 people. Among them are Eberhard Weber, Tomasz Stăńko, Liv Warfield, Mike Stern, Jan Garbarek, Charles Lloyd, Snarky Puppy, Jean-Luc Ponty, John Abercrombie, Miroslav Vitous, Zakir Hussain, Nils Petter Molvaer and many others.
Just like the location of Gărâna, jazz includes unknown horses and challenges that make the experience a special one. Instead of diminishing its appeal, the capricious climate and the location in the heart of the mountains seem to fuel the ambition of the participants, the “chosen ones” to share the unique musical experience in a wild setting.
This year, famous jazz names will take to the stages located in unconventional locations – in the middle of nature but also in the Văliug Church, an old village church with an impressive architecture: 30 Years of est – Tribute to Esbjörn Svensson Trio: Dan Berglund, Magnus Öström, Ulf Wakenius, Marius Neset, Joel Lyssarides and Verneri Pohjola, Christian McBride & Ursa Major and Airelle Besson Quarter. All information about the festival can be found on the official website: https://garana-jazz.ro
Winner of eight Grammy awards, the American double bassist Christian McBride will present his new quintet at the Gărâna Jazz Festival 2024. Comprised of young and versatile musicians, this new group falls into McBride’s signature acoustic jazz and fusion-funk. Ursa Major consists of: Ely Perlman on guitar, Mike King on keyboards, Savannah Harris on drums and Nicole Glover on saxophone. Christian McBride is one of the most experienced and adaptable musicians in the art of jazz. His mastery is evident in his compositions and arrangements, as is his flair for improvisation and spontaneous creation. Exploring diverse genres from jazz to R&B, pop/rock and hip-hop/neo-soul to classical, Christian McBride is a chameleon virtuoso of acoustic and electric bass and an undisputed leader. He has performed and recorded with a number of leading jazz musicians and ensembles including: Freddie Hubbard, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Joe Henderson, Diana Krall, Roy Haynes, Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, Eddie Palmieri, Joshua Redman.
In the summer of 1997, at the La Răscruce Inn in the Banat village of Gărâna, some friends were planning a jazz jam session. As the timbales, trumpets and saxophones seemed to flow well in the middle of nature and cauldrons of goulash in the Semenic mountains, the movement became a festival and was repeated the following year, and two years later and 27 years later.
