News

Today, Monday 7, the film season features Calle 54, the acclaimed film by Spanish director Fernando Trueba. An excellent opportunity to be presented by his partner and friend Javier Estrella, director of the Madrid Jazz Festival and founder, alongside Trueba, of the label Lola Records (which released the soundtrack of Calle 54), but, above all, a pioneer of the fusion of flamenco and other genres. Trueba himself said in an interview: “My friend Javier Estrella was a real pioneer in fusing flamenco and jazz, nearly twenty years ago now”. On this occasion, Estrella will be conversing with Fernando Chiapussi, who was in charge of the line-up of the Buenos Aires International Independent Film Festival.

Tonight, Sunday 8.30pm at Teatro 25 de Mayo in Villa Urquiza, guitarist Angelo Debarre and accordionist Ludovic Beier will give one of the most eagerly awaited concerts of the Festival. It will constitute an opportunity to appreciate their unique style, known as “jazz manouche” (gypsy jazz), an energetic, visceral music style, following the tradition of the great Django Reinhardt and drawing on the rich music legacy of the gypsy people. Chilean Contracuarteto will be the opening band. Tickets begin at 10 Argentine pesos and are on sale at www.festivales.gob.ar.

Today Buenos Aires Jazz.09 offers an interesting series of free events, featuring renowned musicians of the local and international scenes on the stages of the Centro Cultural Recoleta and Teatro Sarmiento. Within the section “Jazzología”, Arturo Schneider’s orchestra is performing at 6pm on the roof terrace of the CCR. At 7pm, within the section “Open Air”, Mariano Otero (photo) and his nonet will be presenting the album Desarreglos – Tributo a Walter Malosetti (a tribute to Walter Malosetti), born as a result of a commission from the 2008 edition of the Festival. It will be the turn of the Guillermo Klein Octeto to round off the night on the same stage with a special tribute to Cuchi Leguizamón.

Durante el día de hoy se podrán comprar entradas personalmente en el Hard Rock Café (Av. Pueyrredón y Libertador) entre las 12 y las 20 h. Hay localidades disponibles para la clínica de guitarra que Ben Monder brindará este lunes 7 a las 14 h en Café Vinilo. Además, mañana también se presentarán el grupo D’3 Pardo - Posé - Roper (España) y Steve Cardenas Trío (EEUU, foto), a las 21 h en el Teatro 25 de Mayo.

Toda la información en la programación día por día que ofrece esta misma página: allí se podrán elegir los conciertos más atractivos e interesantes, de los tantos que ofrece este Festival.

American pianist and composer Fred Hersch (photo), whose performance last Thursday officially opened the calendar of concerts of Buenos Aires Jazz.09, will be delivering today Saturday at 1pm at Teatro San Martín a solo piano concert, a real gem for music lovers, whether they are connoisseurs of jazz or not. Tickets for this unique, unmissable show are available for purchase online at www.festivales.gob.ar or in person from 11am at Casa de la Cultura (Av. de Mayo 575) and Teatro 25 de Mayo (Av. Triunvirato 4444). Prices begin at 20 Argentine pesos.

One of the great voices of Spanish jazz is performing in Buenos Aires for the first time today, Saturday, affording us an excellent opportunity to appreciate her talent live. Her concert at Teatro 25 de Mayo, tonight at 9pm, will boast the guest appearance of guitarist Ben Monder. Tickets are available online at www.festivales.gob.ar or in person today from 11am to 7pm at Casa de la Cultura (Av. de Mayo 575) and Teatro 25 de Mayo (Av. Triunvirato 4444). Prices begin at 10 Argentine pesos.

On Saturday, the major Buenos Aires newspapers published highly favourable reports of the concert by Fred Hersch and his trio which marked the official opening of Buenos Aires Jazz.09. Under the headline “The trio’s art at its finest”, Clarín reads: “Seldom does Hersch play what could be clearly described as an accompanied melody; he rather shares out democratically between both hands, and even splits all up with the right amount of sweetness and violence, yielding something which at times bears some hallmarks of Anton Webern”, according to critic Federico Monjeau.

Right at 9.39pm on Thursday night, following an introduction by specialised critic Diego Fischerman, Fred Hersch hit the stage alongside two greats, Matt Penman (double bass) and Nasheet Waits (drums), to the respectful applause of a full house at Teatro Presidente Alvear. What happened immediately afterwards will go down in the annals of history as one of the highlights of this incipient Buenos Aires Jazz.09: a solid, subtle performance of works of their own and of such big names as Ornette Coleman and Miles Davis, by gifted musicians who work together in perfect sync.

The film season “Film & Jazz” opens today, Friday, with a real documentary gem which has seldom been screened in Argentina: Sonic Mirror, by the outstanding Finnish filmmaker on the great Afro-American drummer (ex Mahavishnu Orchestra) who boasts an extensive career alongside the greatest musicians of the west. Sonic Mirror will screen at 5pm at the “microcine” of Centro Cultural Recoleta, admission is free until capacity limits have been reached.

Ecuadorian bassist “Cayo” Iturralde adds to the list of notable jazzmen to perform in Buenos Aires for the first time, in this case within the section “Gatherings”. “Cayo” and his fellow countryman, guitarist Ramiro Olaciregui, will share the stage with Argentine Richard Nant (trumpet) and Eloy Michelini (drums), today, Friday, at 10.30pm at Club Lounge. A day later, along with his band Pies en la Tierra, he will be opening for Carme Canela & band, on Saturday 9pm at Teatro 25 de Mayo. Tickets for both shows are on sale at www.festivales.gob.ar, or in person Friday and Saturday from 11am to 7pm at Casa de la Cultura (Av. De Mayo 575) and Teatro 25 de Mayo (Av. Triunvirato 4444).