International Jazz Festival in Nanjing

Image credit

Nanjing is hosting the Nanjing Jazz and World Music festival. In addition to the bands listed below Nanjing’s nightclub scenen will be at it’s sparkling best – a great time to visit one of China’s magical cities.

Done Gone Stringband

The Done Gone String Band brings you true blue country music sounds from the hills, porches and kitchens of the North American Plains. Playing vintage-sounding original material as well as a selection of the finest of traditional old-time songs. The Done Gone String Band are Bob Hamilton on frailing banjo, mandolin, dobro and vocals; Sarah Hamilton on fiddle and vocals; Patrick Hamilton on frailing banjo and vocals; Anne Louise Genest on guitar and vocals; Nadine Landry on upright bass and vocals.

Compelling, haunting melodies, and foot-stomping instrumentals fuel this new band like a moonshine powered rocket. 

Snaarmaarwaar

Snaarmaarwaar are considered one of the surprise successes of 2008 / 2009 Belgium Music Scene. These young musicians play national folk pieces as well as their own compositions on string instruments, namely guitar, mandolin and mandola. Although this instrument combination seems limited, they put together an impressive variety of sounds and styles. In their music you detect traces of Portuguese Fado, Bluegrass and Irish and Italian influences. The secret of Snaarmaarwaar is to present them effortlessly with gentle lyrics and pumping energy.

König Trio

König Trio plays compositions located in the area between Classic- and Jazz Music. Stephan König, musician, composer and conductor says: “Over the last 100 years music in Europe has developed in two directions: The classical music and the popular music. Today there is a deep valley between these two directions. You could build bridges, but I am more interested in what you can find in the valley in-between. There you discover what both music styles have in common”

 The König Trio is: Stephan König – piano and composition; Tom Götze – keyboard and Harald-Christoph Thiemann – percussion  

Nueva Manteca

Journalist Raul Rico of the authoritative Latin Beat magazine praised the group as “Europe’s finest in Latin Jazz”. The 7-piece group belongs to the top of the Latin scene, which is reflected in USA radio playlists regularly show top ranking positions for Nueva Manteca’s CD’s.  Worldwide Nueva Manteca has been well known for its synergy between Cuban and Jazz Music. The artists resemble an international caliber and equally convincing soloist capacities of each individual member. Expect a sizzling and swinging show!

Torsten de Winkel presenting the Canaries All-Stars

The UNESCO endorsed Bimbache Global Initiative has existed for more than five years as a continuous loose encounter of the best Canary and Spanish musicians performing with artists from regions around the world, representing different styles and cultures. Musicians and instrumentation develop over time, so each concert is a new experience. Truly a world music experience! The vocal centerpiece of the project, the famous singer Fabiola Socas will also be performing at the Nanjing Jazz Festival concerts.

The project hinges around guitar virtuoso Torsten de Winkel, who has performed and recorded with the “Who is Who” of the International Music Scene: Pat Metheny Group, Joe Zawinul, Whitney Houston, Grandmaster Flash, Alphonse Mouzon, Hellmuth Hattler. He is also the founder of the famous New York Jazz Guerrilla.

In the opening concert on November 13th the All Stars will perform with local flute virtuoso Lydia Yang Yulun Gerke!

So wherever you are in the world – come on over to Nanjing for Jazz in China.