San Sebastian Jazz Festival

The San Sebastian Jazz Festival (official name: Heineken Jazzaldia) is held every year during the third week of July in the Basque city of Donostia (also called San Sebastián), which has been a tourist destination since the 19th century because of its beautiful scenery, history, cultural activity and cuisine.

The festival was founded in 1966, becoming the first jazz festival organised in Spain and one of the oldest in Europe. The Heineken Jazzaldia hosts around a hundred concerts in twelve stages located in different points throughout the city of San Sebastian. Some of these concerts are free and some others are ticketed; and some of the venues are in the open air and some others are indoors. Among these, the shows in Zurriola Beach and the terraces of the Kursaal Auditorium are the most popular. In the 2013 edition, around 155,500[1] people enjoyed the festival.

History

The San Sebastian Jazz Festival (Heineken Jazzaldia) takes place every year since 1966 and it is the eldest of Spain and one of the eldest in Europe.

The history of the festival can be linked to that of the contemporary jazz. Many important artists have participated in the festival, such as Charles Mingus,[2] Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Dexter Gordon, Art Blakey, Ray Charles, Sarah Vaughan, Stan Getz, Don Cherry, Ornette Coleman, Gerry Mulligan, Weather Report, Hank Jones, Sonny Rollins, McCoy Tyner, Wynton Marsalis, B.B. King, Diana Krall, Van Morrison, Liza Minnelli, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and Keith Jarrett, among many others.

The first San Sebastian Jazz Festival was on September 10 and 11 1966.[3] The following year the schedule changed to July, in which has been celebrated since. At first, the Jazzaldia was an International Contest for amateur groups[4] and only one professional performance was given: Mickey Baker.

The Trinity Square (Plaza de la Trinidad) was chosen by the organisers to be the main location of the Festival. This square was built in 1963 following the project of the architect Peña Ganchegui to commemorate the hundred-year of the demolition of the walls of the city. The square is located in the heart of the Old Town and it is quite captivating because it is placed between a Renaissance building (San Telmo Museum), the 18th century Basilica of Santa María, Urgull Mountain and the picturesque houses of this Basque Old Town.

The Trinity Square has embodied the essence of the Jazzaldia throughout the years. Musicians agree on the placement of the square and the audience is very close to the stage. In the middle 70’s bigger names started to perform in the Jazzaldia, so wider venues were needed and the shows were moved to the Velodrome and the Sports Hall. However, at the beginning of the 90’s the Trinity Square regained its importance in the Jazzaldia.

During the first years of the festival, the programme stated a preference towards mainstream and traditional jazz and blues with artists like Milt Buckner, Jo Jones, Cab Calloway, John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters.

Some years later, the Jazzaldia updated its programme in terms of style after the two unforgettable performances by Charles Mingus in 1974 and 1977. The San Sebastian Jazz Festival became a cultural reference in Spain during the 80’s and the 90’s. Some of the concerts, like the one in the Velodrome by Chick Corea in 1981, attracted 15,000[5] people. However, with the passage of time the level of attendance decreased; this fact was due to the rise of music festivals and musical manifestations that took place in Spain during those decades.

In 1992, the organisers decided to go back to the origins of the Festival, the Trinity Square, and stopped organising shows in the Velodrome. Nowadays, there are a dozen stages spread through the city.

The Festival has increased the number of people in the concerts each year and also the variety of ages, making the Zurriola Beach the most popular venue among young people.

Stages

The Festival is spread through the city taking advantage of the wonderful natural scenery and magnificent architecture the city offers. The Jazzaldia combines indoor-ticketed concerts with free concerts performed in the open air such as Zurriola Beach and the terraces in the Kursaal.

Plaza de la Trinidad (Trinity Square) This venue is in the heart of the medieval Old Town of San Sebastian and is the soul of the 48-year history of the Festival. Great names in jazz play at the stage located between two major landmarks of San Sebastian, the Basilica of Santa Maria and San Telmo Museum, an incomparable site, unique in the world, it creates a special atmosphere for both players and the audience.

Kursaal Auditorium (Kutxa Space) Modern Auditorium designed by the prestigious architect Rafael Moneo. 1,800 seats enjoy their visibility and excellent acoustics. Therefore, it is the most appropriate framework for solo recitals or small formats, although the size of its stage also allows the programming of large orchestras and choirs.

Victoria Eugenia Theatre (Skoda Space) This magnificent Italian-style theatre has celebrated its centennial in 2012. It underwent a thorough restoration between 2001 and 2007, maintaining its original appearance while technical features were upgraded. Thanks to its reduced capacity, 888 seats, it is adequate to establish an atmosphere of complicity between the artist and the audience.

Victoria Eugenia Club The work done at Victoria Eugenia Theatre allowed the recovery of this area, located under the main stage. Its conditions of lighting and sound, with a limited capacity of about 150 are perfect to recreate the atmosphere of jazz clubs.

San Telmo Museum (Skoda Space) The San Telmo Museum is one of the oldest monuments in San Sebastian, dating from the 16th century, and was reopened in 2011 after a restoration that added a modern wing. The Church is a fascinating site for its acoustics and magnificent frescoes by José María Sert. The Renaissance cloister produces a magical atmosphere in the evening concerts.

Green Stage The giant Green Stage is the most trendy and popular among young audience, unlimited capacity (the whole beach) or styles. The concerts are for free and a huge crowd gathers each night in the sand, with historical records such as Bob Dylan (83,000 people in 2006), Jamie Cullum (50,000 in 2013), B.B. King (41,000 in 2011), Patti Smith (20,000 in 2010) and Bobby McFerrin with Orfeón Donostiarra (18,000 in 2008).[6]

Frigo Space This stage is located in one of the terraces of the Kursaal, facing the sea. With a very varied programme for all ages, free concerts are offered in this space from 7pm until dawn.

Heineken Terrace This stage is placed in one of the terraces of the Kursaal, with a wide view over the Zurriola beach. Very casual, with an artificial turf to sit or lie down and enjoy the concert in a relaxed way as if it were a picnic.

Coca-Cola Space This stage of the Festival is dedicated to emerging artists. Located on the Paseo de la Zurriola, next to the beach and the terraces of the Kursaal, it is the perfect place to discover new talents.

Nauticool It is located in one of the most picturesque places in San Sebastian: the terrace of the Yacht Club (Club Náutico), with La Concha Bay and the Harbour at its feet. The sunsets are unforgettable. A superb setting for concerts in reduced format, promoting a close relationship between musicians and the audience, and very large times, from evening until dawn.

Altxerri The veteran Altxerri Jazz Club organises concerts throughout the year and midnight shows during the Heineken Jazzaldia.

Eureka! Science Museum (Planetarium) This science museum sponsored by Kutxa has an incredible planetarium, which is a suggestive offer for concerts with images.

Basque Culinary Centre The BCC, ascribed to the University of Mondragon, is a cookery study centre contributing to place San Sebastian as a worldwide culinary reference. This stage is the newest incorporation to the Heineken Jazzaldia.

Donostiako Jazzaldia Award

Since 1994, the Heineken Jazzaldia gives an award to an outstanding person in the field of jazz performing in the festival. The award recognises the contribution of the artist to jazz and the influence on the following generations of musicians. The award consists of an engraved plaque with the most characteristic stage of the Festival, Trinity Square.

The list of winners is a list formed by some of the most important talented artists in the field of jazz. Awarded artists so far are:

External links

- San Sebastian Jazz Festival official website (Heineken Jazzaldia)

Bibliography

TORQUEMADA, Jesús. 40 Años/ Urte Jazzaldia Festival de Jazz Donostia-San Sebasián. Donostia-San Sebastián: Donostiako Jazzaldia-Festival de Jazz de San Sebastián, 2004.ISBN 84-609-5730-6

References

  1. ↑ http://www.diariovasco.com/jazzaldia/noticias/heineken-jazzaldia-bate-nuevo-201307291330.html
  2. ↑ http://elpais.com/diario/1977/04/03/cultura/228866412_850215.html
  3. ↑ http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1966/09/10/040.html
  4. ↑ http://elpais.com/diario/1977/07/21/cultura/238284008_850215.html
  5. ↑ http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1981/07/19/088.html
  6. ↑ http://www.kursaal.com.es/kursaal/de/antony-and-the-johnsons-madeleine-peyroux-y-bobby-mcferrin-estrellas-de-jazzaldia-en-el-auditorio.asp?Cod=4133&nombre=4133&sesion=14