Written by Bill Frisell with Eyvind Kang? Magnificent!
Kneebody, the wild American quartet? Pretty great!
Kennedy Administration (“My Name is Kennedy, I am your president tonight!”)? Infectious joy!
Donny McCaslin and Band? Absolutely electrifying, with all that energy!
“Jazz is Punk” was proclaimed as the motto for the 2026 festival in the Estonian capital, Tallinn.
By Angela Ballhorn
However, for me, the highlights of the 37th Jazzkaar festival lay not (only) with the big names:
Home Concerts have been an integral part of the festival for many years; anyone whose apartment is large enough to accommodate up to three musicians and 20 listeners can apply to host a concert. This year, musicians themselves opened their doors. Electric bassist Janno Trump and vocalist Marianne Leibur performed in the apartment of a classical double bassist; the father-daughter duo of Marek (guitar) and Rahel (piano) Talts played in the ultra-modern apartment of singer Liisi Koikson; and Marten Kuningas performed in an apartment in the historic Kalamaja district—characterized by its old wooden fishermen’s houses—hosted by a married couple (a singer and a journalist) for whom he had previously performed at their wedding.
The scene outside the apartments remained consistent: piles of shoes—for in Estonia, one enters (other people’s) homes in one’s socks. And the hosts treated their guests to refreshments; strawberries, snacks, coffee, and sparkling wine turned the concerts into a culinary experience as well.
The festival program—which, as always, took place in the Telliskivi Creative City across the Von Krahl Theater and Fotografiska—was opened by double bassist Mingo Rajandi with a “Lady Sapiens” program featuring an unconventional lineup. At this opening concert, two double bassists, a cellist, and a violinist/vocalist incorporating electronics worked their way through a chamber-music-style program rich in spoken text. Equally complex was the new work *Odüsseia* by pianist Kirke Karja, performed with Annabel Soode & Raw Fish. Jazz could hardly get any more contemporary.
Taking the stage with a more accessible sound and plenty of energy were Some Times; the band—featuring Mikk Kaasik (keyboards/vocals) and Marten Männa (drums)—fired off modern fusion sounds. The two youngsters had already demonstrated their versatility a few days earlier when serving as the opening act for a jam session. Joined by saxophonist Nikita Korzoun—recipient of this year’s Young Jazz Musician Award from the Estonian Jazz Union—the duo performed hard bop in an acoustic setting, playing as if their lives depended on it.
Composer and conductor Bianca Rantala, who was awarded the Jazz Composer of the Year prize last year, presented her new program *Gigil Marathon* at Jazzkaar. The work was composed specifically for the UMO Helsinki Big Band and harpejji virtuoso Valter Soosalu (the harpejji is a hybrid instrument—somewhere between a guitar and a piano—that is played by “tapping” and is capable of producing a vast array of sounds).
Valter Soosalu has clearly moved past the “look, anything is possible on this instrument” phase, integrating himself perfectly into the big band sound as a musician dedicated to serving the composition. Bianca Rantala’s *Gigil Marathon* is dedicated to the online world: capturing “clickbait rage” as funk, “inspirational DanceToks,” and—in a very Finnish twist—”budget-friendly propaganda” as wild death metal. When do you ever get to hear a big band with double bass drums and death growls?
A few more highlights and standout moments:
Saxophonist and vocalist Antonio Lizana—not only during his concert but even more extensively in his masterclass—described the origins of flamenco and shared his passion for the music of his homeland, as well as the challenges involved in fusing it with jazz elements.
Then there was Kneebody featuring Nate Wood, who seems to have taken the term “drum ’n’ bass” quite literally; in this quartet alongside saxophonist Ben Wendel, he plays both drums and bass simultaneously—a truly unique experience.
Pianist Joel Remmel presented new compositions, as did trumpeter Jason Hunter, who had curated a “Miles 100” program featuring pieces from every era of Miles Davis’s career—including *Bitches Brew* and the *Tutu* era. Guitarist Johannes Laas took the opportunity to showcase a new album, as did vocalist Kadri Voorand, who brought her latest release, *Songs To Hold You*—created in collaboration with the magnificent duo Puuluup—to the festival’s main stage.
Saxophonist Donny McCaslin and his band provided a rousing finale to the festival’s penultimate day. Titled *Lullabye Of The Lost*, his new program saw the quartet—comprising Jason Lindner (keyboards), Rob Mullarkey (bass), and, above all, Zach Danziger (drums)—propel their compositions to previously unimagined energetic heights.
The perfect conclusion to the festival was delivered by the Lexsoul Dance Machine. This captivating ensemble—brimming with groove, wit, and soul—would have made for a brilliant finale (and the ideal party band for the Telliskivi Creative City anniversary celebration) all on its own; however, the band took things to the next level by inviting pop icon Anne Veski to join them on stage. The audience—whose average age was barely half that of the now 70-year-old singer—went wild, singing along to every hit from the 1980s and clamoring enthusiastically for encores.
Jazzkaar in Figures
A few more figures regarding Jazzkaar 2026:
- 49 concerts in the main program, including 3 house concerts, 5 concerts outside Tallinn, and 12 concerts as part of the “Day of Free Concerts”.
- 99 “Jazz in the City” concerts featuring more than 193 young musicians. “Jazz in the City” also reached Rakvere and, for the first time, crossed Estonia’s borders to reach Helsinki.
- More than 150 musical events across Estonia.
- Over 26,800 concert attendances.
- 389 musicians from 15 countries.
- Five broadcasts and recordings by Klassikaraadio: Mingo Rajandi’s “Lady Sapiens,” the Antonio Lizana Quintet, Villu Veski’s “Nordic Ballads,” the Joel Remmel Trio’s “15!,” and the Jason Hunter Sextet’s “Miles Davis 100”.
- Four album releases: ITIRA’s “New Chapter,” Johannes Laas’s “Passenger Seat,” Kadri Voorand in a duo with Mihkel Mälgand—”Songs to Hold You”—and Erki Pärnoja’s “Himmelbjerget 10”.
- Nine new programs and projects conceived specifically for Jazzkaar: The Naissoo Freeform Quintet with a U2 tribute, Mingo Rajandi’s “Lady Sapiens,” Kadri Voorand & Mihkel Mälgand’s “Songs to Hold You” feat. Puuluup, the Joel Remmel Trio’s “15!,” Marten Kuningas & Miljardid’s “Anton Corbijn,” Kirke Karja’s “Odyssey” feat. Annabel Soode & Raw Fish, the Family Concert: Sven Grünberg / Lotte, Naksitrallid, and Anne Veski & Lexsoul Dancemachine.
- 120 volunteers helped organize the festival.
And—most importantly! – Over the course of the week, the festival artists and team members consumed 65 kilograms of freshly salted cucumbers backstage (among all the specialties Estonian cuisine has to offer, this is an absolute must!)
For more information on the Jazzkaar Festival visit: www.jazzkaar.ee
Last modified: May 26, 2026
