21st JazzNoJazz Festival
The Zurich Festival is now in its 21st year and starts tomorrow with another impressive line-up. Charles Lloyd opens proceedings with his group Kindred Spirits which features longtime Cassandra Wilson guitarist Marvin Sewell, Gerald Clayton on piano, Harish Raghavan on bass, and Eric Harland on drums. The first day of the festival (October 30th) also presents the group Rymden, consisting of pianist Bugge Wesseltoft and former Esbjörn Svenssion bassist Dan Berglund and drummer Magnus Öström. UK pianist Ashley Henry will also be part of the evening, presenting his debut album for Sony Music.
The second day of the festival (October 31st) has legendary Brazilian group Azymuth and equally legendary pianist Chucho Valdés in a duo setting with Italian pianist Stefano Bollani. Another UK-based artist, keyboardist Kamaal Williams, will add to the funky Fusion sounds of that particular evening.
Friday, November 1st, has The Brand New Heavies playing music from their recently released new album which features new lead vocalist Angela Ricci (there are also a lot of guest vocalists on the album which is a welcome return to form). And among the artists of the final night, Saturday, November 2nd, are Level 42, Rickie Lee Jones (who is also back with a fantastic new album “Kicks”) and Al McKay’s Earth, Wind & Fire Experience. Al was the group’s guitarist from 1973 to 1981, during their prime years.
