Estonia Celebrates Jazz Appreciation Month in April

Estonia has joined with the world-wide Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) tradition, which dedicates April to jazz music. “April - Jazzikuu" (April - Month of Jazz) unites a numerous selection of events all over Estonia that introduce jazz - competitions, concerts at schools, exhibitions, lectures, workshops, shows on national television and radio.

Jazzikuu culminates with the biggest and most influential jazz festival in the Baltic countries - Jazzkaar Festival.

Jazzkaar Friends Society, the organiser of Jazzkaar Festivals, brings this tradition to life in Estonia. By now most of Estonian jazz-involved organizations have joined with the idea.

Jazzikuu 2007 Jazz Ambassador is the legendary saxophone player Archie Shepp from USA, who has significantly influenced the history of jazz. On the 27th of April Shepp gives an exclusive concert in Tallinn. On the 28th of April the saxophone player meets with his fans and music students in the biggest Estonian bookstore Rahva Raamat. A public interview will be held, which will be recorded for Estonian Public Radio and the only Estonian professional music magazine Muusika. Shepp will also answer questions of fans and sign autographs.

The Young Jazz Talent Award is given out for the first time in cooperation with Estonian biggest telecommunication company Elion, festival Jazzkaar and Estonian Jazz Union. The Young Jazz Talent Award appreciates a young Estonian jazz musician for his/her outstanding accomplishments and initiative. The winner gets an opportunity to record in the studio of Estonian Public Radio and to perform at the festival Jazzkaar 2008. He/she is also provided with a marketing consultation and a professional photo-shoot.

Jazzikuu 2007 series of school concerts reaches 17 public schools over Estonia in April. In addition to schools in Tallinn jazz sounds will be heard in Estonian smaller towns like Jhvi, Tapa, Valga, Kehra and Prnu. Performances will be given by well-known Estonian jazz musicians Siim Aimla, Raivo Tafenau, Reigo Ahven, James Werts and others.

From 26th to 30th of April a jazz historian and the author of the idea of JAM from the USA John Hasse will be in Estonia. There will be jazz history lectures in Tallinn for music students and teachers, but everyone is welcome to join.

There will be more jazz than usual in the program of Estonian Television. During a movie program “Jazzikuu on ETV" jazz films are shown on Thursday nights. There will be films like “Santo Domingo Blues," “Bobby McFerrin: Beyond Words," “Dee Dee Bridgewater" and “Keith Jarrett: the Art of Improvisation."

A jazz posters competition for students was held last December as an introduction for the Jazzikuu events. Over 300 works were submitted to the competition from students in the age of 7-19. On Jazzkaar Art Saturday on April 21 the best of these works will be awarded. The winning poster - smiling cat - will be used in the Jazzikuu 2007 graphic design and will also be printed on the Jazzikuu T-shirt. An award is also appointed to the school from where the most posters came from.

April is also a Month of Jazz for Estonia's largest record store Lasering. Majority of jazz records are on sale; there will also be jazz-related awards. Magazine Muusika will also dedicate its April number to jazz.

Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) was initiated in 2001 in the USA by The Smithsonians National Museum of History.

For more information, see the website below.