Категорија: Nišville Jazz Festival – eng

INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY 2025 BY NISVILLE

The Nisville Jazz Festival will traditionally celebrate the „World Jazz Day“ this year as well. on Wednesday, April 30, as part of a major UNESCO and Herbie Hancock worldwide celebration Institute of Jazz based in New York.
For this year’s, the 14th in a row INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY, a matinee will be held program on Wednesday, April 30 at 12 noon on the stage in front of the Nisville Jazz Museum in Nis Fortress, where the renowned jazz band MOBA from Nis will perform.
For this occasion, MOBA will have well-known world jazz standards in its repertoire, and will perform in the following line-up: Mika Paligoric – drums, Marko Milivojević – bass, Miša Pavlović – keyboards and Melanija Micić – vocals.
By the way, the last day of April was declared 14 years ago by UNESCO on Herbie Hancock’s initiative for International Jazz Day. It has been celebrated since 2012, with the explanation that in the last 100 years or more, jazz has become a voice freedom and tolerance in many countries of the world.
The Nisville Jazz Festival responded positively to Herbie Hancock’s invitation 14 years ago and since then he has been an official member of the mentioned institution, so he has been celebrating this unique holiday of jazz music for the past 13 years.
Program in front of the Jazz Museum in Fortress on Wednesday, April 30, at noon sharp is free for all visitiors.

An Italian tribute to a great jazz artist

The doyen of Italian jazz double bassist, composer, arranger and band leader Attilio Zanchi will perform at the upcoming Nisville with his septet and DJ Farrapo presenting the project at upcoming Nisville on Saturday, August 16th. On that occasion, they will present the project „Mingus Portrait“. This program is supported by Italian Institute of Culture in Belgrade.

„Mingus portrait Live“, as the name of the project suggests, is an extraordinary project dedicated to one of the greatest musicians and composers of the 20th century (no style restrictions) – Charles Mingus. The program is a passionate journey through which this proven septet delivers much more than a portrait (in the narrower sense of the word) of this great artist – a greater right and a living gallery of all that was Mingus. In other words, this project opens the door to sound, personal, cultural, but also political cosmos by Charles Mingus. The album was released on the well-known label „Right Tempo“. (https://righttempo.bandcamp.com/album/mingus-portrait).

The doyen of the European jazz scene, the leader of this group, Attilio Zanchi (1953, Milan) studied at the Milan Conservatory, and trained in Canada and the USA, among others, with Dave Holland. During his career so far, he has recorded more than 150 albums, and among the musicians with whom he recorded an immeasurable galaxy of world greats: Lee Konitz, Tony Scott, Sam Rivers, Joe Farrell, Slide Hampton, Harry Sweet Edison, Mal Waldron, Bobby Watson, Dave Liebman, Al Cohn, Gerry Mulligan, Sal Nistico, Jimmy Knepper, Don Cherry, Roy Hargrove, Chick Corea, Peter Erskine, John Surman, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Phil Woods, Steve Lacy, Gary Burton, Milt Jackson, Sheila Jordan, Mark, Trilok Gurtu, David Linx, Tom Harrell, George Cables, Toninho Horta, Uri Caine, Kenny Wheeler… as the biggest names of the Italian jazz scene: Franco D’Andrea, Gianluigi Trovesi… He has been named the best Italian double bass player several times, he is also very active as a pedagogue. He teaches at the Conservatory in Milan, and also gives lectures and seminars in Italy but also around the world, including in Australia. He is the author of several textbooks: „Comparative encyclopedia of scales and chords“, „Course for the development of musical hearing“, „Walking bass styles“….

The members of the septet are renowned Italian musicians – all with many years of experience with respectable performing and teaching careers: Gianni Azzali (tenor saxophone and alto flute), Tino Traccana (soprano and alto sax), Andrea Andreoli (trombone), Daniele Nocella (trumpet), Massimo Colombo (piano) and Tommy Bradascio (drums).

With its roots in the past, to which a well-deserved tribute is paid, this project is also the seed for the future, embodied in a large part and by the creative engagement of a special guest – that’s producer, and band leader Giorgio Cencetti, better known as DJ Farrapo who over the last 25 years has more from 2000 performances, among other things, in prestigious clubs and at festivals such as: Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), Exit (Serbia), Beats for Love (Czech Republic), and he also performed in Brazil and the USA.

He is one of the leaders of the „Global Beats“ and „Electro Swing“ movements, his unique style of research and production is influenced by his love for traditional music from two parts of the world, which he skillfully combines with contemporary rhythms on the stage. His music was published by well-known publishing houses Sony, Wagram, Universal and Verve.

https://youtu.be/ZngGtOzB9Wc Boogie Stop Shuffle (Live in Milano)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-mTOF197Oo Boogie Stop Shuffle (studio recording)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCZ5utYhzn8 Boogie Stop Shuffle (DJ remix)

From the backing vocalist of Prince and Michael Jackson – to the status of a new star

American-Japanese singer-songwriter, guitarist and pianist Judith Hill who is very successfully combines different styles (r`n`b, soul, funk, jazz, blues, gospel, hip-hop…) will perform at the upcoming Nisville  on Sunday, August 17th. Since 2015, she has released five albums under her own name, and she performed at concerts and festivals around the world.

After studying composition at Biola University, Judith Hill went to France, where she performed with the French pop-rock legend Michel Polnareff. Upon returning to the USA, she first built her reputation as a backing vocalist on some of the most important recordings and performances pop and rock artists including: Prince, Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, Greg Allman, Josh Groban, Carloe King, Mike Oldfield, Barry Manilow, Dave Stewart, Rod Stewart, Robbie Williams, George Benson, Johny Legend… In 2009, she was chosen for a duet with Michael Jackson in the song “I Just Can Stop Loving You” (recorded by Jackson in 1987 with singer Siedah Garrett) for the documentary film „This is it“, about Michael Jackson’s preparations for the planned tour of the same name, which was canceled due to his death in the same year. The film, supplemented by performances from the concerts at „Staples Center“ and „Forum“, was later released anyway, where almost all the protagonists of the aforementioned film performed at the commemoration of the great musician (musicians, entertainers, singers) Judith Hill sang „Heal the World“.

Judith is the main protagonist of the documentary along with several other singers documentary film (Grammy for the best musical film) „20 Feet to the Stars“ which talks about the most famous backing vocalists.

She was one of the most notable participants of the fourth series „Voice USA“, and at the beginning in the second decade of this century, much more was devoted to author’s work. The beginning of that phase was when director Spike Lee included several of her compositions (including Desperation) in soundtrack of the film „Red Hook Summer“ (2012). Already next year, Judith Hill signs soloist contract with Sony music company. His first album „Back in Time“ (2015) she co-produced together with Prince.

It is interesting that Prince didn’t notice her in the series „Voice“ nor in a movie about Michael Jackson, he had already watched one of her TV interviews in which she said that she would love working with him. Last year she released her fifth album „Letters from a Black Widow“ which received excellent reviews. By the way, last year she was also a special guest of the Prince’s band Revolution at their reunion in Minneapolis, at the anniversary celebration of 40 years since the release of the famous album „Purple rain“. Her parents: mother – Japanese pianist and organist Michiko Hill Yoshimura and father – bass player Robert Lee “Pee Wee” Hill who met in the early eighties as members of the same Californian funk group, have been playing in their daughter’s band in recent years.

Great great granddaughter of Leo Tolstoy – the Swedish jazz star arrives in Nis

One of the best jazz vocalists in the world, the Swedish jazz singer of Russian origin Viktoria Tolstoy, will perform at the upcoming Nisville with the trio of the famous Swedish pianist Jacob Karlzon on Saturday, August 16.

Although it immediately „catches the eye“, in the official biography of Viktoria Tolstoy it is only at the end (under trivia): „yes, she is the great-great-granddaughter of the famous Russian writer Leo Tolstoy“!

Viktoria has (from 1994 to date) released 14 solo albums, guested on a dozen other musicians’ releases, including two albums with the famous Swedish trombonist Nils Landgren („Funky ABBA“ and Sentimental Journey). Apart from Landgren, she has collaborated with all the leading Swedish jazz musicians (Ulf Wakenius, Esbjorn Svensson, Svante Thuresson, Putte Wickman, Arne Domnerus, Jojje Wadenius…), but also with big world names: McCoy Tyner, Ray Brown, Toots Thielemans… Viktoria performed all over Europe (Scandinavia, Germany, Great Britain, Switzerland. Italy, Spain…) but also in South Africa, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico… She is a favorite singer of Pat Metheny, whose composition „A Moment of now“ is performed by Viktoria on her homonymous album. The famous guitarist once told her: „when you sing – the sun rises“.

The aforementioned Nils Landgren, who is also her friend and producer, says : She is a totally natural talent, someone who just gets it all in an instant. No explaining has to be done when learning a new song, no corrections has to be made when recording. Viktoria is simply an extraordinary talented woman with an almost scary instinct for different styles and modes. No matter what she takes on, she nails it right away. And, she delivers every time and, how she does it! On top of that, she is someone to hang with and to have fun with, on and off stage which is a very important aspect in the way of getting along with an artist. Her laugh is famous as well as her sense of humor. Often with a twist but always positive. Her smile melts glaciers and her appearance does never go unnoticed. In a word: Viktoria is a complete artist. – Nils Landgren, producer and fellow artist.

Jakob Karlzon, who often collaborated with Victoria (they also released the duo album „A moment of now“) who will accompany her in Nisville with his trio, has released about fifteen albums under his own name, and has performed and recorded with well-known world names, including Dominic Miller, Billy Cobham, Kenny Wheeler, Bob Berg, Jeff Ballard, Nils Landgren, Rigmor Gustafson, Norma Winstone….

On the already mentioned album (for voice and piano) „A moment of now“, which will be the basis of the program for Nisville, Viktoria and Jacob Karlzon in a very specific way perform compositions by authors ranging from Cole Porter, through Metheny and Zawinul, to Stevie Wonder, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Allais Morrisette and Mark King… Thus, the Nisville audience will almost certainly hear the big hit „Lessons in love“ twice. The first time in the original performance of „Level 42“ at the opening on Thursday, August 14, and the second time – on Saturday, August 16.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVQTmxhtlkU Lessons in Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cikACQadQEM Red Rain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfDU3zOCTas Funky ABBA

The famous British hip hop / electro funk band Stereo MC’s will perform in the main program of the upcoming Nisville Jazz Festival on Friday, August 16, 2025 at the Nis Fortress Plateau.

Stereo MC’s are Brixton via Nottingham’s globally revered Hip-Hop/Electronic dance pioneers. Best known for their international Top 20 hit single ‘Connected’, which was released in 1992 and taken from the ‘Connected’ album of the same year. The album reached #2 in the UK Album Chart and also contained the aforementioned hits ‘Step It Up’, ‘Creation’, and ‘Ground Level’, and led to the group winning two Brit Awards for Best Group and Best Album in 1994.

Being childhood friends and neighbors, Rob and Nick formed Stereo MC’s in the mid-eighties, with the pair inspired to make music by their combined love of early hip-hop, funk and electronic music. The Stereo MC’s initially pressed their first 12” vinyl and started their own independent record label called G Street Records with Kiss DJ Richie Rich and budding entrepreneur Jon Baker. When G Street attracted the attention of 4th & Broadway in 1989, the duo recorded the debut Stereo MC’s album, ‘33-45-78’.

Nick said, “When we started getting gigs around that time we thought it would be great to have live drums, even if they made the turntables bounce around. But when we went to the States, the U.S. branch of our record company said, ‘We’re not paying for a drummer to come on tour, because you don’t do that with this type of music’. There were a few barriers to cross before dance music was established as a live music force and was given equal rights in the touring and festival scene. Island Records had a good attitude to developing young acts, though, and we were given time to grow both in the studio and on the road.”

After releasing 33-45-78 the band toured with De La Soul, Living Color and A Certain Ratio. They then headed to New York to record their second album, ‘Supernatural’ in 1990, bearing the singles ‘Elevate My Mind’ (which made it into the United States R&B Charts) and ‘Lost in Music’ which was a club hit in the UK and US. This success was further cemented when they supported Happy Mondays on a US tour.

Rob said, “If we weren’t on the road or making our own tracks we were remixing for other artists. Life didn’t have a clock, you just worked and vibed until you dropped on the sofa and woke up in your clothes six hours later.”

Stereo MC’s were in demand for remix work from the likes of U2, Madonna, Tricky, Pressure Drop, David Holmes, Terranova and Mo’Wax records, as well as earlier mixes for The Jungle Brothers, Latifah and RZA. “The summer of 1992 saw us finish our 3rd LP, Connected, which we toured solidly for about 18 months after its release. It was a big success for us and everybody involved and was a beautiful moment in our development. Navigating our way through the aftermath of over-touring fatigue and life catching up with you was challenging, and for a while the creative spark was hard to find, so we went into recluse mode and built our own studio again so we could get out of the music biz domain.”

After making a mix album for the DJ Kicks series on Studio!K7 in 1999, 2001 saw the release of the band’s fourth album ‘Deep Down & Dirty’, followed by a tour that included opening for Jane’s Addiction in the US. The album’s title track became Stereo MC’s fifth consecutive Top 20 hit single in a row.

Following recordings for Pias, K7 and Graffiti they continued their long relationship with club music, starting the label ‘connected’ in 2015, initially to release their own new music, but also releasing other artists, and have since become established in the ever-popular Afro House genre. They have also collaborated with some of the biggest current names in house music via releases with Adam Port and Keinemusik and Stil Vor Talent, and have featured guest spots with Re.You , Anja Schneider, Fred Everything and many others.

“Connected”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3RzQ1b_c9w&t=6s

Stereo MC’s live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaxLbKU3H_w