March is traditionally a jazz month. Just because of that 53. International Jazz Week Burghausen, the oldest and most important Bavarian jazz festival, which has always attracted many Munich residents. Like especially this year from March 12th to 18th, because after much criticism about the flattening of the program in recent years, the makers of IG Jazz are once again bringing in an exciting mix of established, real jazz greats like Ron Carter and Christian Muthspiel his OrJazztra Vienna, but above all with many rising stars like Laura Jurd, Ana Carla Maza or Emma Rawicz.
Of course, you don’t have to go far away; there has rarely been such a lavish alternative program in Munich itself. The Underpass at the same time, for example, presents three remarkable American guests: the singer/songwriter Vienna Teng, who stormed the charts over 20 years ago and appeared on David Letterman, is attempting a comeback after studying ecology and pursuing an IT career (March 12); the 41 year old Lawrence Fields, who played for a long time with cracks like Joe Lovano and Christian Scott, is currently considered a rising star in the pianist sky with his late debut (March 13th); and the pianist and singer Rachel Eckroth can point to a Grammy nomination in 2022 and collaborations with stars like Rufus Wainwright or St. Vincent (March 16). The French accordionist is just as exciting Louise Jalluwhich recently caused a sensation at the festivals with its modern Piazzolla interpretations (March 15).
Also the Bavarian courtwho is taking up the old tradition of his country mottos with “Japanese Weeks”, has scheduled three of the five concerts in parallel: Aki Takase & Daniel Erdmann To kick things off, they present their “Ellington” project, which has just been nominated for the German Jazz Prize (March 12). And after the local heroes Hodo Gaia Aiko Blumer (March 13th) is the famous, up-and-coming singer from Basel Yumi Ito (March 14) with her trio.
On top of that, other top-class guests are guests in the large houses. Guitar god Al Di Meola (March 13) and the Israeli star bassist Avishai Cohen play in Prinzregententheater (March 15). And even the reunited cult rock band Kaizer’s Orchestra in the Muffat Hall should attract some jazz fans (March 14).
Even after that, the real jazz fan remains in constant use. In the underpass, among other things, are the new projects of the Rebecca Trescher Tentetts (20.3.) and the trio of Iiro Rantala (26.3.), Gregory Private (27.3.) and Alex Machacek (30.3.) to admire. The Japanese Weeks continue at the Bayerischer Hof with the Michael Wollny drummer’s Hayashi Octet, which has only performed once before Eric Schaefer (March 19) and the pianist living in Paris Koki Nakano (20.3.) ends.
The Cape Verdean singer Lura can be heard at Ampere on March 22nd.
(Photo: Sergio Santos)
Finally give in amp The honor goes to two outstanding world music acts who have also performed in jazz clubs: after a long time, the wonderful Cape Verdean singer Lura can be seen again in Munich (March 22nd). And for the first time the charismatic Haitian singer, poet and MC Vox Sambouwhose seven-piece band also includes the brilliant Caribbean singer Malika Tyrolien, who is a native of the Canadian jazz scene (March 27).