Presentation

Everything is ready to host the Festival's 39^th edition and to enjoy about seventy activities scheduled between the 11^th and 29^th of March in multiple venues in both the city and the county. We'll discover interesting acts from both the national and international scene, represented by well-established artists and emerging stars from the American, English, French, Dutch, South Korean, Congolese, Brazilian and Catalan scenes.

We'll get to discover the new recordings by Ignasi Terraza and Pureum Jin, a collaboration between Eastern and Western cultures and influences which winks an eye at the hard bop language. The great Texas dame of blues Trudy Lynn will be presenting her new album after her sixth nomination for the Blues Music Awards. Two giants of contemporary jazz, Dave Liebman and Richie Beirach, have developed a unique and sophisticated harmonic concept with standards and original songs gathered in an excellent new work. Lew Tabackin's mastery on sax and flute is celebrated on a tour for the 80^th anniversary of one of the most prestigious jazzmen of his generation.

Coming from across the Atlantic and on her debut in Terrassa, new yorker Catherine Rusell presents a formidable recording with classic gems of jazz and blues nominated for Best Vocal Jazz Record of the year. New York's emerging jazz scene brings new music of the highest caliber: an innovative act led by pianist Theo Hill and vibraphonist Joel Ross, two artists of rising popularity with a bright new recording. On the other hand, Avishai Cohen & Big Vicious' electrifying trumpet will explode during this exciting and unprecedented jazz rock project's premiere in Catalonia. The release of the Israeli hornblower's new album is simultaneous to his debut at the Festival.

Congolean musician Ray Lema, France-based world jazz's leading artist, will premiere Trasendance, his newest album full of rythmic ambivalence and sophistication, at a show performed by his sextet. Straight from the London scene, Brazil's musical diversity will be brought by Minas Gerais singer Luna Cohen and a pannel of Anglo-Brazilian musicians. Holland and Catalonia team up at “Alto for two”, a brand new project with music 100% original led by rising stars within the European scene: Kika Sprangers and Irene Reig. An evening that Perpignan pianist and composer Mélodie Gimard will open with “Numen” bringing flamenco tradition and the newest jazz together.

Jordi Rossy is the artist awarded by the Festival this year, and one of the country's most recognized jazzmen around the world. He's been a golden bridge between musicians from both sides of the Atlantic, and a catalyst for talent forged in Catalonia. He and seven musicians he usually surrounds himself with will be protagonists of a unique and extraordinary show during which he will be the recipient of the 2020 Jazzterrasman award.

Jazz made in Catalonia will show its quality and the vitality of its music industry once again with some top level premieres. Afro Blue's free spirit, Tronik's rich imagination in the wake of Monk's music, Tro's striking and original work, amazing Smack Dab's energetic groove, and the melodic warmth and energetic sound of Toni Solà and Harry Allen's saxophone duel will provide the musical temperature of the present time. Nina Simone and Aretha Franklin will also be there through new projects led by singers Laia Porta and Susana Sheiman, while Tòfol Martínez will present his Blues Band.

The Festival lineup spreads through the county with Womblues -Big Mama, Sister Marion and Sweet Marta- in concert in Vacarisses, where the Hot Dogs Jazz Band will also play. Betta, Madrid blues-soul scene's greatest sensation, is the guest star performing with the untiring Wax & Boogie in Viladecavalls. Classic jazz, swing and New Orleans' Dixieland will have their turn in Matadepera with Gili-Casares & Co.

We should not forget the Jam Sessions, Jazz Jove Non Stop and, to top it all, Catalonia's best jazz popular fiesta, Picnic Jazz, which will fill up Parc Vallparadís with good vibes, jazz, soul, R&B and blues.

All this and so much more will take place at one of 27 venues hosting 280 participant musicians performing within reach at Nova Jazz Cava, in squares and urban parcs, yards and terraces, and the social sites of associations and collectives that weave the Festival's organizational fabric. Concerts, artistic residencies, cinema, pedagogical and family friendly events, swing you can dance to, literature, quizzes, workshops, musical panels, exhibitions and gastronomic routes are to be found in a program full of synergies and designed for every palate.

From Club de Jazz d'Amics de les Arts and Joventuts Musicals we encourage you to participate and share an exciting, diverse, unique, contemporary Festival lineup, a cultural event that will turn Terrassa into the jazz epicentre for the 39^th time.

Details of the Terrassa Jazz Festival 2020

19 days / 32 concerts / 42 complementary activities / 280 musicians / 27 spaces / 10 record presentations / 32 international musicians debuting at the Festival / 4 absolute premieres of projects / 6 premieres in Catalonia / 1 own production with the Jazzterrasman Prize / 2 masterclasses / 1 European artistic residence

We dedicate the edition of the Festival to the memory of Wim Van Der Bruggen (1935-2019), jazz clarinetist and promoter in Terrassa, and Josep Vadell (1931-2019), pianist and jazz promoter.

Image

The image that will preside over the city next March, is the work of illustrator Conrad Roset. The artist expressed his satisfaction with returning to the city that saw him born 29 years ago and being able to create the image of the Terrassa 2020 Jazz Festival.

Inspired by his more personal collection "Muses" and in homage to the beauty of the female figure, one of his creative motivations, Roset proposes a mixed technique work of Chinese ink and watercolor, where black and white predominates. "The two colors that I think combine perfectly with the elegance of jazz ... the process of creation is based on manual drawing and its subsequent digitization," says the author.

Drawing has been his passion and a constant in his life. He has exhibited in galleries and museums in major cities in the US and Europe. He is also currently working in the video game world. Her latest project, "Gray," has been a winner in the latest edition of the Game Awards 2019, presented in Los Angeles.