Written by 
If you are planning to visit Valencia this summer, don’t miss out on attending one of the most important Spanish Jazz Festivals. Starting in mid June and continuing throughout the whole of July with a choice of 20 superb different styles and diverse format concerts. With a wonderful mix of International big Jazz names mixed with some outstanding jazz musicians from the local scene.
“ As a jazz lover, It will be difficult whatever his/her taste, not to find at least one concert that touches him/her. Jazz is diverse and we wanted to reflect it in our programs”, explains the Festival’s coordinator, Enrique Monfort.
One of the biggest events will take place at the outdoors free concert in the Turia River Gardens. Trumpet player David Pastor will conduct the Micaela Chalmenta Big Band which will perform a funk and rock repertoire through a special approach to Jazz swing. Usually, there is just one outdoors concert, but this year the producers wanted to make the Festival more inclusive and demonstrate to Valencia’s inhabitants and tourists their best musicians. Therefore, there will be another open concert with the Banda Municipal de València.
Trumpet player David Pastor will conduct the Micaela Chalmenta Big Band
This Festival will also be a meeting point for great international Jazz figures, like the historical bassist Ron Carter, who at 81 years young leads his trio in a way few can emulate. Pat Metheny will present his famous jazz fusion with his quartet which includes the groove of drummer Antonio Sánchez.
Don’t miss the double session with Kenny Garrett Quintet and Al Di Meola Opus Tour, two intense highly experienced jazz musical personalities. Brad Mehldau Trio will bring his rhythmic and harmonic sensitivity and, if that is not enough, the legendary saxophonist Benny Golson enlarges the lineup of these big names leaving one with a sense of the quality and prestige of this well-known international Jazz festival in Valencia, Spain.
An exciting performance is sure to be the Valencian saxophonist Perico Sambeat, who will present his free form provocative repertoire of the charismatic Frank Zappa. Yet there is plenty of more traditional Jazz music including performances from the Portuguese singer and musician Salvador Sobral, the flamenco jazz saxophonist Antonio Lizana and the copla soul of Buika.
Valencia has had a long love affair with Jazz music and this year will also feature various musicians from the local Berklee València Faculty. Notable the musicians will be led by the pianist Polo Ortí, Voro García Quintet, Ximo Tébar Band, with many concerts in different neighbourhoods of the city plus numerous jam sessions complete the rich agenda of the Jazz Festival of the Palau de la Música in Valencia.
This summer you have a unique opportunity to live Valencia and let yourself go with this great jazz programme, one of the most remarkable festivals of the Spanish music panorama.
For more information and tickets go to the official: Jazz Festival Palau de la Música de València (Spain) website.
Text: Marta Ramón
Photo credits: Palau de la Música de València – and (c) info: all rights go to original recording artist/owner/photographer(s).
Last modified: July 3, 2018
