Another edition of the Terrassa Jazz Festival is here once again, which this year will be playing host to some 325 artists in 41 concerts, 15 of which will be free of charge. With its commitment to quality music in a programme aimed at every type of audience, the Festival's twenty-sixth edition will feature more diversity than ever. The names of established musicians will be appearing alongside emerging talents on the jazz scene, with performances that explore new horizons in the genre. Presentations of new projects and recordings, special productions, and tributes to Lou Bennett, Tete Montoliu and John Coltrane will be some of the musical treats we can look forward to hearing in a selection of venues between 1 and 27 March.

The concert programme kicks off on 1 March with the trio of Cuban pianist Aruan Ortiz, responsible for opening the event, followed by artists making their very first appearance at the Festival, such as singers Laïka Fatien and Luciana Souza and saxophonist Yusef Lateef who, accompanied in a sextet by the Belmondo brothers, is new to Catalonia. The North American guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg will be presenting his new recording, as will Henri Texier on his return to the Festival. Special productions include the manouche of Gypsy Swing, showcasing the very purest French gypsy traditions, and David Reinhardt, the grandson of the legendary exponent of the Hot Club in France.

A few old friends will be back in Terrassa, some after an absence of many years: John Abercrombie, Ron Carter, Mullgrew Miller, Russell Malone, Henri Texier, Kenny Barron, Abdu Salim, Esbjörn Svensson with e.s.t. and Charmin Michelle who, with the Ignasi Terraza Trio and Toni Solà, will be presenting an evocative repertoire of Billie Holiday songs.

This new edition will be featuring some new venues: Plaça Lluís Companys will host the performance of the Terrassa Dixie Sextet, while the Cultural Centre, to which the Festival returns this year as a concert venue, will feature drummer Jack DeJohnette and singer Sibongile Khumalo, two new stars at the event, with their band "Intercontinental". It will also be hosting two more specially organized performances: the Big Band Jazz Terrassa concert with the Sant Cugat Symphony Orchestra conducted by German conductor Peter Herbolzheimer, showcasing the symbiosis between jazz and classical music, and the final performance of the festival with the posthumous awarding of the Jazzterrasman 2007 prize to Tete Montoliu on the tenth anniversary of his death.

Lovers of the Blues have a firm date with the traditional 'Blues Night', starring three outstanding female vocalists in this genre: Deborah Coleman, Sue Foley and Roxanne Potvin; Àlex TNT will be headlining the late-night session, while at the Pícnic·Jazz Vallparadís we can look forward to a performance by singer Terry Evans.

Two Spanish premieres will be underlining the Festival's commitment to local jazz: TRI-EZ and Colina-Miralta-Sambeat Trio, who, together with the Giulia Valle Group, singer Anna Luna, the Ivanow Jazz Group and Radio Malanga, are all appearing with a newly-released CD behind them. We will also be presenting a new version of JazzJove Non Stop aimed especially at younger people.

Exhibitions, conferences and cinema, the record fair and a new photography competition in the Vallparadís Park, will be some of the main events.

This edition is strengthened by its free public events which, along with the stellar concerts at the Nova Jazz Cava and the Cultural Centre, will once again make Terrassa the focus of attention of all jazz enthusiasts.

Enjoy the Festival!