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| Leverkusen Jazz 2010 One of Leverkusen Jazz's not so secret weapons is the WDR Big Band, who are paired for this year's model with singer-songwriting statesman Wolfgang Niedecken in a specially commissioned project. Germany's Leverkusener Jazztage has garnished long standing status for providing western European jazz fans with some of the most diverse programs on the Deutschland concert scene. This year's 31st edition, which runs fron November 6th through the 14th, promises to enhance that well earned reputation with themes heavy on guitar and global specialties. A busy suburb just outside the thriving city of Cologne, during this publically embraced week of jazz Leverkusen becomes a dynamic cultural center in it's own right. Considering next Saturday's opening night lineup the "Masters of Accoustic Guitar" billing might be an understatement, with Al Di Meola and Paco de Lucia headlining separate sets. Promotional material indicates it could be the first time in around fifteen years that Di Meola and De Lucia have shared the same program, and the teaser of a possible accoustic summit meeting is intriguing indeed. Emerging 20 year old Australian picker Joe Robinson gets things started. Sunday switches gears to "Queen of Fado" night with Mariza, Carmen Souza, and Jessica Gall. Again the possiblity of spontaniously shared harmonies is stirring. There's no question that the festival will be outstanding, but there have been questions about blues legend Johnny Winter, who picks up his guitar in the face of advancing illness. Winter's latest shows have been touching, mutual acknowledgements between he and the crowd. Not to miss. Eric Sardinas and Big Motor will warm up the masses. Tuesday's electric guitar night features bands led by Allan Holdsworth, John Scofield, Steve Lukather and Joschko Stephan. Expect chords of mastery, mayhem, and mischief. One of Leverkusen Jazz's not so secret weapons is the WDR Big Band, who are paired for this year's model with singer-songwriting statesman Wolfgang Niedecken in a specially commissioned project. Sharing that unique bill on Wednesday the 10th is the Music Maker Blues Review, which came together after Hurricane Katrina through their namesake relief foundation for New Orleans musicians. Drum World features bands based around rhythm kings Billy Cobham, Manu Katche and Omar Hakim. Heartbeats of a planet. Friday the 12th has "Voices of Africa" with Salif Keita's band and Lokua Kanza making the joyous noise. The main stage closes on Saturday the 13th with "Giants meet Future Sounds" in a dialogue featuring middle eastern vocal icon Aziza Mustafa Zadeh, 3 Peas, Piotr Wylezol, and grand master bassist Victor Bailey. A concurrent program at nearby Scala nightclub highlights the festival closing Sunday night blues show with Richard Bargel and Klaus Heuser, the sold-out Clueso and Bernewitz Trio, and a variety of solid offerings. Besides the easy availability of local brews and snacks at the concert venues themselves, there is an abundance of pubs and restaurants in the general vicinity. Travelers, tourists, and hard-core jazz aficionados alike should find all sorts of reasonably priced entertainment and accomodattions as part of the Leverkusener Jazztage experience. "The Leverkusen festival has consistently managed to book both renown touring talent and fresh new faces, " observed All About Jazz correspondent Phillip Woolever. "Anyone who appreciates jazz guitar or global state of the art is in for many treats." Outside the music world Leverkusen is known as the home of Bayer Aspirin, and as an industrial hotbed with one of the most fanatical soccer followings in Germany. Along those abstract lines, anyone coming to Leverkusen Jazz should find no headaches, but get plenty of great kicks. write your comments about the article :: © 2010 Jazz News :: home page |