Enjoy Jazz – 11th International Festival for Jazz and More

Enjoy Jazz – 11th International Festival for Jazz and More
2 October to 11 November 2009
Heidelberg / Mannheim / Ludwigshafen

After an outstanding jubilee last year, Enjoy Jazz now goes into its 11th round. The Festival for Jazz and More will take place from 2 October to 11 November this year in Heidelberg, Mannheim and Ludwigshafen. With around 60 events it will again cater for an autumn full of musical highlights in the Rhein-Neckar region.

Enjoy Jazz is a festival that fulfils highest artistic demands and enjoys international credence, generated not only by its time-span but also by its artistic breadth. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung praised the festival as the “most extensive jazz festival worldwide”.

In the past years jazz giants such as Charlie Haden, Brad Mehldau, Jan Garbarek, Ornette Coleman, Herbie Hancock and Archie Shepp have performed in the festival region at various venues in Heidelberg, Mannheim and Ludwigshafen. In addition, artists not necessarily immediately associated with jazz such as Thievery Corporation, Bajofondo Tango Club and Nightmares on Wax have also played at the festival.

This year’s Enjoy Jazz programme again offers a variety of top-class artists and jazz formations. The American saxophonist Charles Lloyd and his New Quartet will hold the opening concert on 2 October at the Heidelberg Castle, which already served as the traditional opening venue before its renovation. Wayne Shorter, another great saxophonist, will hold the closing concert on 11 November in the Heidelberg Stadthalle. The six weeks of festival between these events include further outstanding jazz musicians such as Richard Bona, Branford Marsalis, Joshua Redman, Cassandra Wilson and Jan Garbarek. Besides hosting international stars, Enjoy Jazz also offers a platform for young talents and upcoming newcomers. Concerts by the young Norwegian singer Kristin Asbjørnsen and the Canadian musician Mocky, for example, are thus keenly awaited.

Enjoy Jazz’s motto is on the programme: to enjoy the joy of jazz! This means taking time for the music, daring to experiment and getting positively inspired and this is why only one concert per evening and festival city will be presented.

Innovation and openness is the recipe for success with which Enjoy Jazz has become a nationally and internationally valued festival by guests and critics alike. The continuous increase in visitor numbers to over 20,000 in the last years show Enjoy Jazz’s mounting popularity and make it an integral part of the festival landscape without which something would surely be missing. Its mix of perfection and pioneering spirit has drawn the attention of national feuilletons as well as radio and television broadcasting. This has let the festival develop into an event that combines tradition and global openness in its very own and special way.

Another essential part of the festival’s longstanding success is the result of a modern sponsoring concept. The festival has especially been made possible by the cultural commitment and engagement of the regional industry. Only a small part is maintained though public funds. We particularly thank our main sponsor SAS, the sponsor BASF SE as well as the Rhein-Neckar festival region for its support.