jazzahead! 2018 | Artists to Watch

jazzahead! is an exhibition and meeting point for the international jazz scene. Since its premiere in 2006, the event has enriched the regional and national cultural scenes with high quality and diverse jazz as well as international flair. With its unique concept combining showcases, conferences, and exhibitions– all revolving around the central topic of jazz, jazzahead has become the must-attend networking event for the global jazz community.

Stingray DJAZZ is a proud partner of jazzahead!. We are glad to share live-streaming content on Facebook and an interview platform “Jazz It Ahead” where we’ll help you get to know the jazzahead! artists better than ever. We have set up a list with our favorite artists who will perform on Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21. Most showcases will be broadcast weekly on Stingray DJAZZ.

Justin Kauflin

Justin Kauflin is an American jazz pianist, composer, and record producer. He is unlike any other artist. At the age of eleven, he lost his eyesight due to damaged retinas. After a decade of classical violin and piano, he switched to jazz piano in high school at the Governor’s School for Performing Arts.

After graduation, he received a scholarship to attend William Paterson University (WPU) in New Jersey. At WPU, he was taken under the wings of legendary trumpeter Clark Terry, with whom he also played in the Terry Clark Ensemble. Kauflin’s relationship with Clark Terry was chronicled by friend and fellow musician Al Hick in the documentary “Keep On Keepin On.” The film won numerous awards and made the Oscar’s short list.

Kauflin was signed by legendary producer Quincy Jones and took part in Quincy Jones’ World Tours in 2013 and 2014. He participated in the recording of multiple CD’s projects, including 2 of his own.

Don’t miss Justin Kauflin’s performance at jazzahead! during “Overseas Night”’ on Saturday, April n Hall 7.1 & Hall 7.2 from 8 PM to 1 AM. Overseas Night sets the stage for 8 bands from outside Europe.

The KutiMangoes

Danish Grammy Award-winning group The KutiMangoes has crossed borders, thrilling audiences from Copenhagen to South Korea and Africa. Formed in 2012 by Gustav Rasmussen and Michael Blicher, this band took West African music and fused it with its western musical background to develop a new sound. Mixing cultures to create a new, global expression is their goal. African musical traditions are of high importance in The KutiMangoes repertoire since they can unite the body, the heart and the ears.

The KutiMangoes have an authentic sound that brings up the best vibes! They have released 2 albums: Afro-Fire (2014) and Made in Africa (2016). Afro-Fire was nominated for 5 Danish Grammy Awards, winning “Best World Music Album” and “Best World Music Track”. Made in Africa was also nominated for various awards.

Catch their performance at jazzahead! during “European Jazz Meeting” on April, Friday 20 in Hall 7.1 & 7.2 from 2:00 PM to 12:00 AM. During European Jazz Meeting, 18 formations from all over Europe are given the chance to present their music.  

High Definition Quartet 

High Definition Quartet is a Polish jazz band formed in Krakau in 2010. They are definitely not like any other jazz band. They let go of the usual and experiment with all sorts of genres: modern avant-garde, classical music, jazz etc. This quartet has collaborated with various influential jazz-artists, for example, the legendary trumpeter Randy Brecker with whom they toured Poland and the Gulf States. They released two albums, Bukoliki and Hopasa that showcase unflagging energy and creativity.

Don’t hesitate to watch his performance at jazzahead! during “Polish Night” on Thursday, April 19th in Hall 7.1 & 7.2 from 7:30 PM to 12:40 AM. Polish Night will be the kick-off of this year’s jazzahead live program! Eight acts will highlight the broad spectrum of jazz from Poland.

Beats & Pieces Big Band 

The British Beats & Pieces Big Band sees itself as a band that happens to be big, rather than your average “big band.” The members met as students in Manchester and grew up together developing musically, individually, and collectively within the city’s exciting scene. Today, these fourteen musicians know each other inside out, and this familiarity is part of what sets them apart from a lot of other big bands.

The band’s debut album Big Ideas was released in March 2012. Since then, they have performed all over Europe including in Germany, France, Ireland, and Norway. Beats & Pieces Big Band has received many awards including “Best UK Newcomer” at the 2013 Jazz Awards. The music is an expression of the band’s members and their varied musical backgrounds and activities; all brought together by Ben Cottrell’s inspired writing.

Don’t miss their performance at jazzahead! during the “European Jazz Meeting” on Friday, April 20th in Hall 7.1 & 7.2 from 2:00 PM to 12:00 AM. During European Jazz Meeting, 18 formations from all over Europe are given a chance to present their music.  

Horse Orchestra

Hold your horses for Horse Orchestra, a Copenhagen-based septet consisting of musicians from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland. This Dixieland band combines elements from different parts jazz history with boundary-pushing experiments and free improvisation. Compositions from 1920s New Orleans and Chicago meet 1960s free jazz to create an original, post-modern, and humorous style. Their debut album Living The Dream has won two awards at the Danish Music Awards Jazz 2015: “Special Release of the Year” and “New Name of the Year.” They released a second album in 2016, Four Letter Word, which is totally worth a listen!

Watch their performance at jazzahead! during the “European Jazz Meeting” on Friday, April 20th in Hall 7.1 & 7.2 from 2:00 PM to 12:00 AM. In the ‘European Jazz Meeting’, 18 formations from all over Europe are given the chance to present their music.  

Jazzmeia Horn 

Jazzmeia Horn is an American jazz singer-songwriter of African ancestry. She won various awards such as the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition and the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition (twice!). Horn is a singer who stands apart from many of her peers because she takes on every song so naturally. She is a performer for whom every word, gesture, and ornament becomes an expression of her total conviction, and she completely comes alive in the moment. Her incredible voice and unflagging energy take you all the way to that special, musical place. 

Don’t miss her performance at jazzahead! during “Overseas Night” on Saturday, April 21st in Hall 7.1 & Hall 7.2 from 8 PM to 1 AM. Overseas Night sets the stage for eight bands from outside Europe.

Mn’JAM Experiment (Stingray DJAZZ)

If you zoom into Mn’JAM Experiments music, you’ll find a mix between empirically and rationally constructed elements; between acoustic, electric, and electronic instruments’ urban rhythms and traditional melodies, vocal loops and guitar solos, turntables and acoustic drums. The combination and correlation between sound and image make this performance a clear-cut synesthetic experience. The band is composed of singer Melissa Oliveira (M) and JAM, an electronics and visual artists who also adds the audio-visual “experiment.” Given the nature of their performance, Mn’JAM has not recorded any studio album yet, making their live shows all the more fascinating, each unlike the other, each exclusive.

Watch their performance at jazzahead! during “Overseas Night” on Saturday, April 21st in Hall 7.1 & Hall 7.2 from 8 PM to 1 AM. Overseas Night sets the stage for eight bands from outside Europe.

Stay on the pulse of the most recent news in music. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.