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Live Reviews
Punkt in Mannheim: Enjoy Jazz Festival: Days 11-12, October 30-31, 2009
John Kelman
With the realization that there will always be more music coming at him than he can keep up with, John wonders why anyone would think that jazz is dead or dying.While AAJ's coverage of Enjoy Jazz comes to a close, the festival still has nearly two weeks left to go, with artists including Overtone Quartet (with Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Jason Moran and Eric Harland), Wayne Shorter, Erik Truffaz, Ulf Wakenius, Tord Gustavsen and more. With its breadth of programming and, in this year, two festival-within-festivals, it's grown over its relatively short history, to become Germany's most important festival for jazz and more. Festival Director Rainer Kern's story remains a remarkable one, all the more so considering his background is in chemistry and that he's essentially learned about all the ins and outs of running a festival by experience and an intrepid confidence in his vision. But the proof is in the pudding, and with the past two weeks of outstanding programming, Enjoy Jazz 2009 is going to be a tough act to follow. But while Kern often makes decisions close to the festival, there's little doubt he's already thinking about possibilities for the next edition of the festival.
With a small but dedicated staff that treats musicians and media as if they were guests in their home, Enjoy Jazz becomes an even more apt title for this six-week festival. A thoroughly enjoyable time that, with largely only one show per night, also operates at a very relaxed pace, the festival not only encourages checking out new music, but all the sights of the Mannheim/Heidelberg/Ludwigshafen region. The best festivals possess some quality that distinguishes them from the many others around the world—with rich programming delivered at an easily digestible pace in a multitude of wonderful venues within a truly spectacular tourist region, it's safe to say that there's no other jazz festival in the world like Enjoy Jazz.
Visit Punkt, Alte Feuerwache, Jon Hassell, Kammerflimmer Kollektief, Ensemble Modern, Sidsel Endresen, Sweet Billy Pilgrim, Eivind Aarset, J. Peter Schwalm, Caravan Palace and Enjoy Jazz on the web.
Photo Credit
All Photos: John Kelman
Days 1-2 | Day 3-6 | Days 7-10 | Days 11-12
