Категорија: Nišville Jazz Festival – eng

The greats of the British scene are coming to Serbia

The famous British group Level 42 led by the singer and one of the most influential bassists (the famous by the characteristic „slap“ playing technique) by Mark King, will perform at Nisville on August 14.2025.

This band is recognizable for its great live performances and for its highly rated albums, the widest he gained popularity primarily with hits like „Lessons in Love“ and „Something about you“, which reached the tops of the British and American charts.

The band was founded in 1979 on the Isle of Wight, where all the members of the first line-up lived, among others I keyboardist Mike Lindup, who is also a member of the band in the current line-up. Mark and Mike had a similar musical background taste and the same jazz idols (Miles Davis, John McLauglin, Keith Jarret and Jan Hammer), so at the beginning of their career they were jazz-funk fusion band that was classified in the group of compositions like Atmosphere, Light of the World, Incognito and Beggar & Co, to later be classified as sophisticated pop and/or dance rock were mentioned „in the same flat“ with Sade and the Style Council. It is interesting that during the „prehistory“ of the band – the first guitarist was Dominic Miller, known today above all for his long-term cooperation with Sting.

The story that Mark King was primarily a drummer (and he also played guitar) seems almost unbelievable. Considering that the other members of the first lineup – the Gould brothers (Phil and Boon) were better on those instruments, Mark King decided to learn to play the bass guitar – and proved to be a very flexible musician who learns very quickly. Since he was working in a musical instrument shop in London at the time, he watched some American funk bassists how they demonstrate the technique of playing the bass guitar with right-hand thumb strikes – and in just a few weeks developed his own style, on the basis of which he is today ranked among the most influential bass guitarists of all genres. Otherwise, the band’s name is a reference to the novel „The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy“ by Douglas Adams in which „42“ – the answer to „the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything.“

Before they released their first single „Love Meeting Love“, this originally instrumental band was forced to comply to the demands of the music industry and add vocals to give a more commercial sound – well that’s how Mark King became the lead singer. Released in 1981, their debut album followed the path of soul and – R&B immediately entered the UK Top 20, to be immediately followed by the album „The Early Tapes“. The group  until 1984 had several minor hit singles before „The Sun Goes Down“ (from the album „Living It Up“) from 1984 reached the British Top Ten list. Released at the end of 1985, the album „World Machine“ (whose fortieth anniversary they are celebrating with a big tour next year) brought the band world fame and the single „Something About you“ reached the seventh place in the US charts, while the song „Lessons in Love“ (with of the next album „Running in the family“) was a number one hit in Britain. Both Gould brothers left the band at the end of 1987; they were replaced by guitarist Alan Murphy and famous jazz drummer Gary Husband. Murphy who passed away in 1989, was replaced by the famous fusion guitarist Alan Holdsworth. Throughout the rest of the 90s and 2000s, the band’s line-up varied, with King as the only original member and his brother, the guitarist Nathan King.

To mark the band’s 30th anniversary (2009), keyboardist Mike Lindup returned to the band. Level 42 went on tour and released a new album. In 2010, Husband left the band again, he was replaced by Pete Ray Biggin. Standard four-piece line-up (bass, keyboards, guitar and drums) it has been supplemented in recent years with a brass line consisting of saxophonist Sean Freeman, trombonist Nichol Thompson and trumpeter Dan Carpenter.

In addition, pre-sale of 500 sets of tickets for Nisville 2025 at a price of 25 EUR or  2,900 RSD

(for a total of 25 bands) starts on December the 2^nd–

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x1RcVrGjGM

Lessons in Love

Something about you

 

Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2019, The Henry Westons Sessions

 

Mark King (Level 42) interview and bass playing with Jazz FM

 

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Camilla George is a visionary saxophonist, composer, bandleader and innovator.
Her strong cultural roots and love of fusing African and Western Music has informed
her own unique style, a key reason why she is a firm fixture on the new London Jazz
scene, alongside peers such as Nubya Garcia and Shabaka Hutchings.
Her music is a hypnotising blend of Afrofuturism, hip hop and jazz, with a politically
minded subtext that has a powerful connection to her Nigerian identity, lineage and
heritage, reflecting African history, culture and slavery.
Born in Eket, Nigeria, Camilla has been interested in music from an early age and
particularly in the fusion of African and Western music. She grew up listening to Fela
Kuti, as well as Jackie McLean and Charlie Parker. She began playing the
saxophone aged 11 years old, when she won a music contest where the prize
awarded her saxophone lessons.
Camilla went on to study with many jazz greats such as saxophone giant, Jean
Toussaint (of Art Blakey fame), Julian Siegal and Martin Speake at Trinity College of
Music where she gained a Masters in Jazz Performance, as well as being awarded
The Archer Scholarship for Outstanding Performance in 2011.
In 2009, she joined award-winning band Jazz Jamaica and performed with special
guest, Ernest Ranglin at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club. In 2013 Jazz Jamaica was
nominated for a MOBO award for Jazz Performance. They continue to perform
extensively all over the world.
In 2014, Camilla formed her own critically acclaimed project showcasing the stars of
the new UK Jazz Scene. Dubbed “The Golden Girl of Jazz” by The Evening
Standard, Camilla’s debut album, ‘Isang’ (pronounced E-SANG which means
‘journey’ in Ibibio her native language) received huge critical acclaim.
Her follow up album, ‘The People Could Fly’ which was released in September

2018, featuring special guest Omar, as well as in hugely respected guitarist Shirley
Tetteh, gained substantial critical acclaim with 4 star reviews from the Financial
Times and Jazzwise to name a few. The album and Camilla was featured on several
key playlists such as State of Jazz, and Camilla was the poster girl for Tidal’s British
Jazz playlist. The album looked at tales that slaves passed onto their children
through generations and, whilst full of sorrow, was essentially a story of hope for
black people and mankind that we can one day live together in harmony.
Her most recent album, ‘Ibio Ibio’, is a tribute to her tribe the Ibibio people of South
Eastern Coastal Nigeria. The album features an incredible lineup, including Daniel
Casimir, Sarah Tandy, Winton Clifford, Renato Paris, Sheila Maurice-Grey, Rosie
Turton, Shirley Tetteh, hip hop drummer, Daru Jones, Birmingham based rapper,
Lady Sanity and Sam Jones.
Ibio-Ibio was well-received by the press, with Mojo Magazine’s 4 star review stating
“George is the undoubted star, delivering criss-crossing solos with a ‘50s hard-bop
bent.” Other media coverage included a feature in Jazzwise Magazine.
Camilla was nominated for a Jazz FM award for Best Instrumentalist 2019, and in
2023 won ‘Best Jazz Act’ at the Urban Music Awards. She performed in the Jazz
Re:freshed showcase for SXSW, which was filmed at Abbey Road studios in 2021,
as well as the Jazzahead showcase in 2021 and reached the final in the DC Jazz
Prix in 2021. In 2023 Camilla was asked to star in a promotional video for Henri
Selmer Saxophones Paris.
Recent notable performances include North Sea Jazz Festival, where Camilla
performed with both her own group and as a featured artist in the ‘Diaspora Suite’
performance; Jazz a Vienne, where Camilla also sat in for a guest spot with Marcus
Miller; EFG London Jazz Festival, Jazz In The Park Romania, Brosella and Jazz
Onze Lausanne.

The Great Guitars are coming to Serbia.

Guitar virtuosos Bireli Lagrene, Martin Taylor and Ulf Wakenius will present their music magic: one night, three (multiple award-winning) guitarists, eighteen strings as part of Nisville 2024 on Saturday August 17.

Bireli Lagrene (France), Martin Taylor (Great Britain) and Ulf Wakenius (Sweden), under the name „The Great Guitars“ continue the colorful tradition that began in the seventies of the last century when legendary guitarists Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel and Charlie Byrd recorded and performed around the world. The link between of that and this new (no less legendary) guitar trio is Martin Taylor, who during the eighties became a member of the original group (replacing Herb Ellis), who now participates with Lagren and Wakenius in a brilliant program that shows the mastery of playing the guitar with strong emotions, lucid humor and originality musical fireworks.

Combining Taylor’s vitreous „fingerpicking“ (playing with the fingers of the right hand instead of a pick), with Lagren’s stunning technique and Wakenius’ incredible versatility, their performances include solo, duo and trio performances. During their rich careers, the three of them collaborated, among others with artists ranging from Tommy Emmanuel to David Grisman, from Donald Fagen (Steely Dan) to Wynton Marsalis, and Bonnie Raitt to Bob Dylan.

Since the 1980s, Bireli Lagrene has been the undisputed king of jazz guitar throughout the world. During the early 80s, Birelli was a child prodigy, rightly considered at the time to be the only true successor to Django Reinhardt, and in the last forty years he has released 39 albums. Among the many awards he received, it stands out: „Django dOr“ for the best French jazz musician (1993 and 2002), Best French Jazz album („Front Page“ from 2001), as well as „Django dOr“ for the best guitarist (2007). The crowning glory was prestige the „Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres“ (Knight of Arts and Letters) medal – awarded by France as the highest recognition for significant contribution to art, which he received in 2012. On the list of musicians with whom he collaborated: Al Di Meola, Paco de Lucía, John McLaughlin, Benny Carter, Benny Goodman, Stephane Grappelli, Larry Coryell, Vic Juris, Philip Catherine, Jaco Pastorius, Stanley Clarke, Gil Evans, Charlie Haden, Stanley Jordan… The legendary Pat Metheny says of Martin Taylor that he is one of the most incredible solo guitarists in the history of this instrument“, while Jeff Beck once said: „He surpasses all of us – I have never seen and heard something similar. Taylor is world-renowned as the most prominent representative of „fingerpicking“ jazz playing guitar, with a record 15 British jazz awards, 10 best albums in the USA and Europe, and the title „Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire“, which was awarded to him by the Queen of Great Britain. His innovative online guitar school is attended by guitarists from over 60 countries. What is special in the jazz world the fact that, among others, he performed and recorded for 12 years with Stephane Grappelli – violinist, the founder and co-leader of the original „Quintet of the Hot Club of France“ and precisely in the second position co-founder and leader – legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt. He also played in Count Basie’s big band, as well as with Chet Atkins, Joe Pass, Tal Farlow, Buddy DeFranco, but also with the legend of classical music violinist Yehudi Menuhin and former Rolling Stones bassist – Bill Wyman.

Ulf Wakenius – an outstanding jazz guitarist is praised and literally celebrated all over the world. Between In 1997 and 2007, Ulf held what was perhaps the most prestigious position for guitarists in jazz: the chair in the quartet of one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time – Oscar Peterson, walking in the footsteps of the legendary Joe Passa. Wakenius’ guitar duo Guitars Unlimited (the other member was Peter Almqvist) rocked Scandinavia in the early 80s, and it culminated in 1985 when they performed in the revue „Melody Grand Prix“ in Gothenburg, as the Eurosong was then called, which was seen by about 600 million viewers. Not long after that Wakenius began an extremely successful and long-lasting collaboration with the legendary Danish bass player Niels- Henning Örsted Pedersen, and both of Wakenius’ albums with bass icon Ray Brown were on the first place in the American jazz list. The list of musicians with whom he recorded and performed included Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, Jack DeJohnette, Jim Hall, Milt Jackson, Joe Henderson, Phil Woods, Max Roach, Toots Thielemans, Bobby Hutcherson, Bill Evans, Randy Brecker…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K_SKjMe0MY Martin Taylor & Bireli Lagren

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9CQeMtEKZ0 Martin Taylor and Ulf Wakenius

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1qNF1rkhe8 Bireli Lagrene & Ulf Wakenius

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cblkG34j_JY Martin Taylor, Ulf Wakenius (& Eleonora Strino)

Photo: The Great Guitars promo

Exotic jazz-fusion from the Far East at the Nisville Festival

Ethno-jazz-fusion band VERTIGONG from distant Indonesia will perform in the main event

Festival program of this year’s Nisville Jazz Festival on Thursday, August 15 on the Niš Fortress Plateau.

What makes the group Vertigong unique on the world jazz scene is using of the traditional instrument Bonang, which, with a classic jazz quartet, presents the exotic sound warmth of the Far East mixed with recognizable jazz-fusion harmonies and a virtuoso female vocalist creates an unrepeatable musical journey.

The line-up of the group Vertigong consists of Purwanta, the leader of the band that plays Bonang, Paulus Neo Prasetyo – electric piano, Mohamad Farigh Dewanto – bass guitar, Dimas Suryo Kencono on drums and Anting Retno Windhari Widodo – vocals.

According to music critics, Vertigong is not just a musical ensemble. It is an experience that resonates with the heart and soul. With unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries and with a visionary leader at the helm, Vertigong appeals to a wide range of the audience to immerse themselves in a world where art knows no boundaries.

This original quintet was carefully designed to create a unique identity in a vast landscape of artistic research and achievement.

Performing at the world’s biggest jazz festivals, Vertigong is unique way orchestrates experiences that resonate with a diverse audience, creating a sound a tapestry that speaks to the soul.

Highly recommended: don’t miss Vertigong’s performance on Thursday, August 15 at the opening of the 30th anniversary of Nisville Jazz Festival.

Video:

At the closing evening of this year’s jubilee, 30th Nisville Festival, on Sunday, 18^th of August Ana Đurić Konstrakta will perform too, certainly one of the most interesting appearances on the Serbian music scene in the past few years.

Ana Đurić Konstrakta (born Ignjatović) is a Serbian singer and songwriter. Before she started her solo career in 2019, until then she was known to the public as lead vocalist of the indie pop band Zemlja gruva („Land of Groove“), which was founded in 2007. She represented Serbia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin with the song „In corpore sano“, where she took an excellent 5th place!

She made her debut as a member of the electronic group „Mistakemistake“ in the early 2000’s, but she was only heard of on the Serbian scene when she performed as a lead singer in to the group „Zemlja Gruva!“. The group released three studio albums: „VTF Is Grooveland?“ (2010), „Dino u zemlji gruva“ (2013), with arrangements of songs by the Croatian singer Dino Dvornik, and „What do you really want?“ (2016).

Some of the band’s most famous hits are: “Best Wishes“ (2010), „I Didn’t Know That I Wanted This“ (2011) and „Stronger Maniacs“(2013). With the release of the single „Zvake“ (Chewing Gums) in June 2019, Konstrakta continues her solo career. In March 2020 she releases „I Ain’t Got No Shaman“, inspired by tabloid article about Emina Jahović, the way she asks for help from a shaman to get over her divorce from Mustafa Sandal.

On February 28, 2022, Konstrakta announced its project Triptih (Triptych), 12- one-minute music video for three songs – „Noble“, „In corpore sano“ and „Mekano“ (Soft). The concept of the project was created by Konstrakta herself, together with Ana Rodić and Maja Uzelac. She held the record as the first Serbian performer who reached the highest number of monthly hits listeners on the streaming platform Spotify with more than 1.3 million people in May 2022. In addition to the enormous support of the Serbian public, Konstrakta also received open praise from numerous regional public figures, such as father Porfirije, the Serbian Patriarch and Novak Djokovic. She has also received praise from fellow musicians and composers such as Tonči Huljić for his lyrics, music and visuals.

At the end of May 2022, she performed for the first time after Eurovision at the Sea festival Star in Umag (Croatia), in front of an estimated audience of close to 20,000 people! After that, Konstrakta and „Zemlja gruva“ become the first local headliners on the main stage stage of Exit in July 2022. By the way, the Land of Grooves has already performed in Nashville 2011 with Zoe Kid, when the famous saxophonist Hans joined them on stage Dalfer. Konstrakta performs live with a band combining electronics and a live gig influenced by different musical genres, with a very original visual choreography a concept that leaves a strong impression on the audience and brings a large amount of positivity energy.