Bansko Jazz Fest 2015 7th To 13th August: The Programme

Bansko Jazz Fest 2015 starts on Friday 7th August and ends Friday 13th August. It’s the eighteenth year of the Jazz Fest. Once again it’s free. 2015 is the best year I’ve ever known for live events in Bansko (see Bansko Beat music festival on July 10th and 11th).

There are more good reasons than ever to visit Bansko; apart from the opportunity for the rejuvenating effects of the fresh and clean mountain air.

Take a look at this Jazz programme; it’s one of the best in recent years…

Mungo Jerry back (Saturday 8th August) and Jam Station (Sunday 9th August) are two I’m especially looking forward to.

Needing a transfer to Bansko? Then you can book here or best of all on the Bansko App (free download for iOS and Android mobile devices).

Prices from €13.95 per person per direction.

Combine your trip to Bansko with time in Sofia

Sofia is emerging as the most eclectic and vibrant capital cities in Europe. Take a listen to these three audio podcast episodes. They explore by foot the sight and sounds (and history) of Sofia (subscribe in iTunes for more)

Part 2

Part 3

The concerts start at 19:00

The stage is on Nikola Zaptarov Square, Bansko. Keep an eye on the weather. Thunderstorms are a possibility!

August 7th, Friday

1. Christina Kirova Quintet (Bulgaria) – Christina Kirova – vocals, Angel Nikolov – piano, Alexander Vasev – keyboard, Stefan Vratchev – double bass, Issak Benbassat – drums

2. Newstalgia Project International (Bulgaria, Romania, Italy, Slovenia) – Tsarina Marinkova (piano, Bulgaria ), George Dimitriu (guitar, Romania ),Mattia Magatelli (double bass, Italy), Kristijan Krajnčan (drums, Slovenia)

3. Acid Folk Five (Bulgaria) – Ekaterina Angelova – vocals, Georgi Petrov – piano, Ivo Paunov – bass, Filip Ernsting – drums

4. Magi Alexieva “MEY” & Lolas Quartet (Bulgaria) – Magi Alexieva “MEY” – vocals, Lubo Tsanev – piano, Radoslav Slavchev – bass, Bogomil Enchev – drums

PLUS… Extra stage Grand Hotel Bansko

Starting at 20:30

“100 years Frank Sinatra”

Vassil Petrov & Big Band Blagoevgrad (Bulgaria) – Boris Yanev – conductor

August 8th, Saturday

1. Vassil Petrov & Big Band Blagoevgrad (Bulgaria) – Vassil Petrov – vocals, Boris Yanev – conductor

2. Shelly Berg Trio (USA / Bulgaria) – Shelly Berg – piano, Radoslav Slavchev – bass, Bogomil Enchev – drums

3. Leonid Ptashka – (Israel / Bulgaria) – Leonid Ptashka – piano, Stefan Vratchev – double bass, Issak Benbassat – drums

4. Mungo Jerry (UK) – Ray Dorset – guitar, lead vocals, Jon Playle – bass, backing vocals, Toby Hounsham – keyboards, backing vocals, Bob White – drums

August 9th, Sunday

1. Dimitrov / Georgiev jazz project quartet (Bulgaria / USA) – Matt Marantz – saxophone, Alex Goodman – guitar, Georgi Georgiev – bass, Dimitar Dimitrov – drums

2. Silvan Zingg Trio (Switzerland / Portugal) – Silvan Zingg – piano , Nuno Alexandre – double bass, Valerio Felice – drums

3. The Jazzbones (Germany) – Manfred Schmelzer – trombone, Dominik Michael – drums, Willy Haasz – saxophone, clarinet, Jürgen Aschoff– banjo, Christoph Schneichel – trumpet, Max Hütten – guitar and vocals, Reinhard Gries – piano, Rien Kolkman – double bass

4. Jam Station (Serbia) – Mihailo Tatić – guitar, vocal, Lazar Petrović – lead guitar, Mihajlo Ivanović – bass guitar, Želimir Maršnjak – drums, Milan Jovanović – piano, Filip Stipsić – saxophone, Nikola Stanojević – trombone

August 10th, Monday

1. Vesela Morova & Dandalunda Brazil project (Bulgaria) – Vesela Morova – vocal, Kalin Zhechev – piano, Mihail Josifov – guitar, Radoslav Slavchev – bass, Atanas Popov – percussion, Vassil Voutev – drums, Vladislav Michev – trombone, Georgi Stoykov – trumpet .Amazonia Dance Project: Elena Bali, Larissa Franklim, Maria Cossa, Harita Asunami

2. Klezmafour (Poland) – Andrzej Czapliński – violin, vocal, Rafał Grząka – accordion,Wojciech Czapliński – clarinet, vocal, Gabriel Tomczuk – double bass, electronics, Paweł Maruszak – drums

3. RON (Italy) – Ron – vocals, piano & guitar, Giovanna- cello, Mattia Del Forno – keyboard, Emiliano Mangia – guitar

4. Dirty Purchase (Bulgaria) – Hristoslav Galileev – Galio – bass guitar, Nikolai Danev – drums and percussion, Liudmil Stoinev – keyboard, guitar and violin, Ivan Letchev – guitar and violin, Mihail Iosifov – trumpet, Velislav Stoyanov – trombone, Emil Mintchev – vocal

August 11th, Tuesday

1. Yildiz Ibrahimova & Jazz Eagles Big Band (Bulgaria / Turkey) – Yildiz Ibrahimova – vocals, Murat Aksoy – conductor

2. Bágyi Balázs New Quartet (Hungary) – János Ávéd – saxophone, Dezső Oláh – piano, Péter Oláh – bass, Balázs Bágyi – drums

3. Carmen Souza “Live at Lagny” (Portugal) – Carmen Souza – vocals , acoustic guitar, rhodes or wurlitzer, Theo Pas’cal (Musical director) – bass, double bass, backvocals, Eliaz Kacomanolis – drums/percussion, Aidan Glover – acoustic piano

4. Eftekasat World Jazz (Egypt)- Amro Salah – piano, keyboards, Samer George – bass, Ahmad Hesham – drums, Sherif Alaa – guitar, Mohamed Medhat – violin, Hany Bedair – percussion

August 12th, Wednesday

1. Lesní zvěř (Czech Republic) – Jiří Hradil – piano, Hammond, synth, koncovka flute, Martin Čech – drums, Miloš Rejsek – vocals, melodika, delay, guest Marek Steyer – trumpet

2. Monty Alexander Trio (USA) – Monty Alexander – piano, Hassan Shakur – bass, Obed Calvaire – drums

3. Jazz Connection & special guest : Angela van Rijthoven (Holland) – Angela van Rijthoven – vocals, Jurgen Feskens – тrumpet, flugelhorn & vocals, Peter van- тrombone, Rob Henneveld – тenor & Alto Saxophone, clarinet, Bart Wouters – вass & vocals, Bart Maassen – рiano, Ad Hoendervangers – drums

August 13th, Thursday

1. David Helbock Trio (Austria) – David Helbock – piano, Raphael Preuschl – bass ukulele, Reinhold Schmölzer – drums

2. Miroslava Katzarova – “Blue Moon songs of Billie Holiday” (Bulgaria) – Miroslava Katzarova – vocals, Vesselin Vesselinov “Eko” – double bass, Hristo Yotzov – percussion,Miroslav Turijski – piano,
Guests: Dennis Popstoev – alto sax, Bojidar Dimitrov – trombone
Special guest: Nikolay Karageorgiev – guitar

3. Snow Own (Columbia, USA, Bulgaria) – Juan Garcia-Herreros – bass, Roberto Quintero – percussions, Jeremy Powell – saxophone, Jonathan Powell – trumpet, Stoyan Yankulov – drums, Alejandra Maria – violin, Marko Crncec – piano

4. Incognito (UK) – Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick – band leader, rhythm guitar, Francis Hylton – bass, Matt Cooper – keyboard, Joao Caetano – percussion, Francesco Mendolia – drums, Vanessa Haynes – vocals, Katie Hector – vocals, Tony Momrelle – vocals, Sid Gauld – trumpet, Nigel Hitchcock – saxophone, Alastair White – trombone, Francisco Sales – guitar

Here’s What to do in Bansko

Take a listen to one of the most popular shows of my Bulgaria Now podcast show, “It’s Summer, It’s Bansko. And Here’s What To Do”

Contact us using the pop up form bottom right of this page to book activities such as horse riding, 4×4 safari, tours to Rila Monastery, tour to Melnik (wine tasting) and for car hire.

Bansko events in 2015

• Pirin Run:                                21st June
• Bansko Bohemi Folk Fest:   27th & 28th June
• Summer Theatre Festival:   1st to 7th July
• Bansko Beat:                           10th to 11th July
• The Road To Nowhere:         24th to 26th July
• Bansko Jazz Festival:            7th to 13th August
• Opera Fest:                              27th to 29th August
• Film Festival:                          15th to 30th November

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