THE SURINAME JAZZ FESTIVAL 2007
MUSIC from the HEART

 
Paramaribo / Swamp Fish Press, October 7, 2007 - It is that time of the year again, for the sixth year in a row the Suriname Jazz Festival is a fact! The festival has become a seasonal highlight for many music lovers in -and outside- Suriname. Performances are scheduled during three days: from 26 thru 28 October.

 The theme for this year is 'Jazz Meets Roots'. Opening night will be at 't Vat; Swinging Saturday is located on the Pier and the Closing Night is planned at 't Vat again. What visitors may expect: a delightful mixture of styles, brought to the audience by experienced musicians who know every tune there is to know, but also by young talented jazz cats, just at the beginning of a promising career.

The first five years the Suriname Jazz Festival Foundation has been working very hard to create possibilities to raise the standard for Surinamese jazz music. How? By taking the initiative to launch musical encounters and present an inspiring festival program. The foundation sees Paramaribo as a musical laboratory to establish a typical Wild Coast Sound.

This year's festival the focal point is even more on the new generation. Opening Night at 't Vat offers a Youth Stage. Participants are the Effendi Ketwaru Music Academy, the department for Music Education Lelydorp & surroundings and the National Public Music Academy. Also on Opening Night: a public workshop titled 'The Bridges between the Samba and Jazz’.

The fusion-philosophy which is the beating heart of the Suriname Jazz Festival, is underscored especially well by the Double 'Steelpan' Explosion-act, which is planned for Saturday Night. The finest of Suriname's steelpan-musicians will perform together with Konkie Halmeyer & Friends.

 Konkie's steelpan-career started in Curaçao. Suriname's southern neighbors will show what they've got too: the Jura Gomes Quartet from Brazil will bring a refreshing and inspiring mix of jazz styles. From Suriname the Laurence Gudge Band and DJ Prepmatic will join on Saturday to add their typical flavors to the musical blend.

On Sunday Night the program reflects a more mellow mood with Local Jazzy Flavors at ‘t Vat. Join the crowd to see Changes perform; the jazz group from the Effendi Ketwaru Music Academy. Changes has been preparing for a year now to participate in this year's Suriname Jazz Festival.

 Simaro (directed by Lucas Ooft) and Emotions (directed by Ernst Flu) have golden oldies on their play list but in a modern Kaseko Jazz-version with a Surinamese touch. And last but not least: Name It is on the playlist too.

Tickets for the Performance Night on the Pier are available for SRD 30. Ticket can be bought in advance, starting 22 October at Zeelandia Suites, Paramaribo, or through the website: www.surinamejazzfestival.com. The concerts at 't Vat are free, on Friday Night as well as on Sunday Night.