jazzwerkruhr & jazzplayseurope
Workshop, network, forum and festival for the jazz scene in the Ruhr Metropolis and the young jazz scene in Europe
U.F.O. / Photo: Christoph Giese
Jazz is alive and well in the Ruhr region - and some of it is really great, innovative music. From solid mainstream in concert halls to exciting improvisation in jazz clubs - the lively scene in the Ruhr Metropolis has plenty of potential.
However, this has not come about without a number of initiatives to help artists find opportunities to present their music. One of these is "jazzwerkruhr", the successor to "Swingbeats - Jazz Podium Ruhr", which has been promoting musicians across all towns in the Ruhr since 2002.
Selected jazz ensembles perform each year in November and December at five showcase concerts on the "tour de ruhr" in five Ruhr towns - and naturally, this will also be taking place during the RUHR.2010 cultural capital year. With the European Capital of Culture in mind, the established "jazzwerkruhr" project has appeared in the guise of "jazzplayseurope" since December 2007, setting the pace and spreading the word ahead of the 2010 extravaganza.
The aim of interlinking regional initiatives, labels and performance venues is to establish a young contemporary jazz scene in Europe. This will make it easier for outstanding young musicians to make the necessary contacts and perform their music outside of Germany.
In November 2009 the first "jpe-laboratory" sets off on a European tour through five neighbouring countries: Austria, Poland, Belgium, France and the Netherlands.
In 2009 and 2010, workshops and concerts will be held in the Ruhr Metropolis as well as throughout Germany and Europe in line with the RUHR.2010 philosophy of "Shaping the Ruhr and Shaking Europe".
All year
Nov/Dec 2009
One-week festival in November 2010 in the Ruhr Metropolis
You can find further information at
www.jazzwerkruhr.de
www.jazzplayseurope.eu
Related topic:
TV: Tour de Ruhr
Program (in English and German) as e-paper