Bue Note Records Festival

From 13th until 23rd July at Bijloke site in Ghent (Belgium)


In an organization of VZW Jazz and Music in Ghent and in cooperation with the city of Ghent and Blue Note), festival director Bertrand Flamang presents the 5th edition of the international ‘Blue Note Records Festival’ from 13th until 23rd July at the Ghent Bijloke site almost simultaneously with the Ghent Festivities. With this jubilee edition, the former Blue Note Festival changes its name into Blue Note Records Festival. The leading thread running through the festival program is defined by several artists who were given a stage for the last 4 years by Bertrand Flamang, and who were considered utmost popular by the audience.

Program

Under the saying ‘there’s a favorite jazz stream for everyone’, jazz has grown from tradition and the trendier crossover, yet again, spread over two weekends at the middle-age Bijloke site in Ghent. This festival has always had the ambition to give both streams a contemporary image and at the same time line up the best of current jazz and corresponding music. 

The mainstream and avant-garde jazz is emphasized from 13th / 18th July 2006 and will be referred to as “All That Jazz.”. During “All That Jazz?” from 19th / 23rd July 2006, the fusion is staged, with more popular and danceable music. Each night, the Blue Note Records Festival lines up 4 bands, but this time during 11 concert days instead of 10. Four bands; an upcoming talent as introduction, followed by an international name, a Belgian artist with an established reputation, completed with an exclusive headliner who rarely plays in Belgium. Next to the 42 artists, 10 DJ’s also signed up; they will play adequate sets during and after the concerts. 

All That Jazz. introduces top names from the contemporary European and American jazz, as well as Belgian talent and determined novices. Opener at the festival is the young Carlo Nardozza, winner of the Young Jazz talent competition 2005. Singer Dianne Reeves triumphed here at the second edition and without a doubt, has become a great jazz diva. John Zorn returns, this time with his masterly Acoustic Masada. The festival is pleased with the presence of the great saxophonist Wayne Shorter’ quartet and the inspiring trio from saxophonist Charles Lloyd.
But also the controversial pianists Andrew Hill and Jason Moran step forward. Toots Thielemans returns with singer Trijntje Oosterhuis. From the European scene there’s the illustrious trio Romano/Sclavis/Texier, trumpeter Paolo Fresu, Kris Defoort, Erwin Vann, Nathalie Loriers and Eric Legnini. Brazil alights with Motta, Tania Maria and Eliane Elias. 

All That Jazz?, the second part of the festival, concentrates on the musical issue which finds itself on the border of jazz. Randy Newman and Dr John; great songwriters who honor the musical inheritance but also sharply observe. Young song-talent brings along Sioen. True-bred Latin music, gloomy African sounds and big city sounds will not be overseen by pianist Chucho Valdés, Cesaria Evora and our very own Jaune Toujours. Fado presents Mariza and Madredeus. Unmistakable funk and rhythm and blues, sometimes enriched with contemporary electronics and hip hop resounds thanks to Maceo Parker, Us 3, Rony Jordan and Daniel Romeo. Even Sergio Mendes discovered hip hop. The old fusion lions assembled under the name The Original Superstars of Jazz Fusion. 

Educational and social engagement 

To the festival organization, jazz means ‘liberation music’, a social stream which opposes resentfulness and premises to search for solutions and to strive for self-determination. This commitment not only expresses itself through the line-up.

Orientation, development and support from and for young musicians is essential to build up and to preserve an energetic music scene. Therefore, Blue Note Records Festival commits itself to organise masterclasses and courses. Coordinator Brecht Ranschaert has initiated a new educational project enclosing three central pillars on which the pure musical aspect has to be able to fall back on: stage awareness, business awareness and recording- and production techniques. 
These courses are instructed by professionals from within the field of action and are appealing for musicians as well as for people who’d like to operate around music and musicians. People like John Watts, former singer from the pop group Fischer Z, and stage manager Piet Arfeuille will enlighten on stage-ability. Managers, bookers from international offices and experts will educate on the business side of music and, in cooperation with the Ghent College studio, the recording-process and the technical side of performing will be discussed. 

Several other educational organisations (such as Muziekmozaïek, Muziekcentrum Vlaanderen, and the Conservatory of Ghent) are also engaged in those three themes and will be closely involved in this project. The program can be consulted from 15th May onwards at www.bluenoterecordsfestival.com .


Side-stages, exhibitions & CD

The sole additional organisation of the Blue Note Records Festival, a production in collaboration with Duvel Moortgat, is the 6th edition of the Young Jazz Talent in Ghent music competition. From July 16 through 24, each day from 2 pm till 4 pm one band will perform in the ‘Duvel-Droomschip’, at the Gouden Leeuwplein in Ghent’s city centre. This way, the musicians reach a much wider public than normally would be possible. Admission is free.
The winner will be chosen by a jury of professional jazz connoisseurs and will get to play the opening concert of the 2007 Blue Note Records Festival, the closing concert of Young Jazz Talent Ghent 2007 and a ‘JazzLab Series’ late 2007.

At the Bijloke site there will be 2 exhibitions. House-photographer Jos L. Knaepen, a.k.a. ‘The Jazzman’ exposes his photo-impressions of the festival artists in 2005, in the chapel next to the Bijloke, during festival days and hours. Steven De Baets painted legendary Blue Note Records covers on large panels and exposes at the Bijlokesite (between the entrance and spectator area). Only for festival visitors.

Just like the past years, Blue Note/EMI releases a compilation Festival-CD with songs from artists from the Blue Note-label performing at the festival.

Price-policy

The ticketing has taken off. The spectators’ reaction on last year’s lowering of entrance fees was very positive and resulted in an attendance of 25.000 people.

Therefore, this year, the festival director Bertrand Flamang leaves the prices of one-day tickets unchanged at € 23 in advance sale, even though an effort was made to invest in a more ambitious program. Besides day-tickets, yet again, this year it is possible to purchase the profitable weekend-tickets (3 days-pass), on line, through telephone or at advance-sale locations. The opening concert (including Carlo Nardozza and Dianne Reeves) is priced at € 12,50 or € 17,50 depending on the seating area. Weekend-tickets (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) are €60,00. All tickets are available at www.bleunoterecordsfestival.com, FNAC-stores (also on line and through telephone) and Uitbureau Gent (also on line and through telephone). 
Kids under three years old: free admission. Kids from 3 to 12 years old: 5 Euro (box office only). Persons accompanying disabled persons in need of accompaniment: free admission (box office only, not applicable during opening concert). These prices exclude the booking-cost of € 2,00 per ticket.

Aside from the opening concert (concert hall De Bijloke), all concerts will take place in the convent’s garden at the Ghent Bijloke site. The marquee guarantees an optimal acoustic environment and visibility (with strategic placed screens). During the 1st weekend seating accommodation is 2.800 (and 500 standing-places). In the 2nd weekend 3500 standing places will be provided.

Renewed house style and festival location

Just like the previous editions POLARIS Creative Backline supplies a powerful communication image, in cooperation with Karl Meersman. This jubilee-edition is also the start of a new, fresh, timeless house style for the festival. POLARIS guarantees the graphical communication, as well as the web design, web hosting, visualisation and location management. The natural created chaotic festival location and accessibility is revised by Architectuurbureau a154, through a division scheme which is altered to the festival’s ethical and practical objectives. 

All information on www.bluenoterecordsfestival.com  or vrienden@bluenoterecordsfestival.com