- 2Recommend It!
- 7,037views
Live Reviews
Enjoy Jazz Festival: Heidelberg / Mannheim / Ludwigshafen, Germany, October 30-November 7, 2012
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.Getting ready to catch a plane to Oslo, for Norwegian singer Sidsel Endresen's 60th Birthday bash at Nasjonal Jazzscene Victoria, it was unfortunate to have to miss Enjoy Jazz's first symposium on the state of jazz today. Organized by German scholar Dr. Christian Broecking, Lost in Diversity was sure to feature some intriguing lectures and group discussions, with invited participants including musicians including saxophonist Archie Shepp, pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach and reed multi-instrumentalist Yusef Lateef, along with jazz critics like Howard Mandel and Ted Panken. Thelonious Monk Institute president Tom Carter, Jazzinstitute Darmstadt director Wolfram Knauer, University of California's Eric Porter, Copenhagen Jazz Festival's Christian Dalhas and others.
But with a truly exciting two days lined up for Oslo—including a new improvising ensemble led by Endresen, and an evening of music dedicated to Endresen by friends flying in from many locations—it was a one-time event not to be missed. Still, it's always difficult to leave Heidelberg, and this year was no different. After a week of largely outstanding music, great food, terrific care from the Enjoy Jazz staff and the Hollander Hof hotel, the only thing that will be better will be a guaranteed invite to return to Germany in 2013, when Enjoy Jazz turns fifteen.
Photo Credit
All Photos: John Kelman
