The launch of the sixth edition of Katara European Jazz Festival yesterday hit a high note with a huge turnout and a festive vibe with performances by Austrian and Bulgarian jazz musicians.

Yet another week of celebration of jazz through exciting shows by some of the best jazz artistes from 13 European countries awaits music lovers in Doha starting yesterday night with newly formed Pannonica trio from Austria and Vassil Petrov quartet led by the prominent male singer from Bulgaria.

Addressing the opening night, Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, General Manager of Katara, said the annual festival had become one of the most important events organized by the Katara Cultural Village in cooperation with embassies of European countries in Qatar.

“The Katara European Jazz Festival has become a major global demonstration that attracts some of the world’s best jazz musicians and composers. It is one of the most prominent headlines planned by Katara in the process of building ties between peoples through culture, art and creativity, as music is one of the most beautiful ways of human expression and a strong bridge that contributes efficiently in civilizational and cultural exchange and encourages cooperation and rapprochement between different peoples and communities in the world,” said Al Sulaiti.

Source: The Peninsula Qatar

Dr. Willy Kempel, Ambassador of Austria to Qatar and local EU Chair, lauded Katara’s visionary leadership bringing people together through the jazz festival.

“This is a magical occasion. Katara is a place that bring cultures of people together. This sixth edition means we have grown over the years – we have large variety of music, we have more diverse crowd. For Katara to use jazz as a bridge between peoples is something that we see as very visionary,” Kempel said.

Comprising Gina Schwarz on double bass, Christopher Pawluk on guitar and Judith Schwarz on drums, the Pannonica considered three strong, articulate voices of Austria’s Jazz scene impressed the audience with their individual sounds and powerful interpretations of their compositions.

Multi-awarded singer Vassil Petrov, who is one of the most popular singers in Bulgaria, serenaded the crowd with his velvety voice reminiscent of Frank Sinatra, one of the world’s most beloved crooner.

The festival, which runs until Saturday at Katara Esplanade in front of Gates 20 and 21, presents two shows by different artistes every day except Friday when it has three shows starting at 6.30pm.

Tonight, jazz music lovers can enjoy performances by Andre Fernandes — XY from Portugal and ListeNew Trio from Italy. Tomorrow, Emocion from Belgium and Szaloky Classic Jazz Sundays from Hungary will enthrall the crowd.

Other artists slated to perform at the festival are Arthur Dutkiewicz Trio from Poland and Opera Chaotique from Greece on Thursday, Beat Kaestli from Switzerland, Jazz BIT from Romania, and Three Fall and Melane from Germany on Friday. The festival will conclude on Saturday with performances from Cie Lubat from France and Joaquin Chacon from Spain.

Source: https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/05/11/2019/6th-Katara-European-Jazz-Festival-begins-on-a-high-note

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