Jazzmandu Festival
Photographer: Sanjog Rai
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| Country and Region | Nepal — Central |
|---|---|
| Type of Festival | Music |
| Location of Festival | Kathmandu, Central, Nepal |
| Festival Contact Information | Bishal Nagar, |
| Festival Description | Since 2002 the annual Jazzmandu Festival has established itself as a hub for jazz aficionados. The event includes live performances, that include international stars as well as rising talents, a next generation competition, master classes and jam sessions with a roster that includes national and international artists. |
| Festival Dates | October 23 - 31, 2013 |
| Festival Links | http://www.jazzmandu.org/ |
Festival Story:
When a group of enthusiastic young Nepali musicians decided it was time to put Kathmandu on the international jazz map back in 2002, they could not imagine the long-lasting success of their initiative. It was all about a thirst for good music. The inspiration came from Cadenza, Nepal’s first jazz band, who had played at a music festival in Australia in 2000 and who decided to bring exciting new music from around the world to Kathmandu. In those days finding new music was difficult, and few Nepalis could afford to fly to established jazz centres such as New York and Paris to check out the latest bands. Since Kathmandu couldn’t go to Jazz, Jazzmandu brought Jazz to Kathmandu.
Jazzmandu was initiated in 2002 by Cheddup Bomzan and Cadenza drummer and vocalist Navin Chettri, building on the success of the first Jazz at Patan in 2001. Since then it has grown into an internationally recognised, week-long and multi-venue festival, bringing together Nepali musicians and many acclaimed international artists, while promoting music education and training for Nepali musicians.
Jazzmandu has been instrumental in the growing interest in Jazz in Nepal. The Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory was founded in 2007 to provide rigorous musical training to young local musicians and the jazz scene continues to grow, with more musicians, more bands, more styles, and more venues hosting jazz every year.
Besides providing jazz education to young budding musicians, Jazzmandu brings together artists from all over the world to showcase their own music and jam together with other Nepali and international artists. Some prominent international artists that have performed at Jazzmandu include Don Burrows (2002), Jesse van Ruller (2003), Trilok Gurtu (2003), Jamie Baum (2003), Steve Berios (2006), Dario Eskenazi (2009), Ari Hoenig (2010), Xiomara Laugart (2011) to name but a few.
Other Sources:
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Articles:
- Biggest Jazz music festival in Nepal jazzes audiences, by Punjita Pradhan (Xinhuanet.com, October 22, 2011)
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/culture/2011-10/22/c_131206645.htm
Social networks:
- Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/jazzmandu/89706123188 - YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/JazzmanduOfficial
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