Goethe-Institut Ljubljana v sodelovanju z mrežo evropskih kulturnih institutov v Sloveniji EUNIC vljudno vabi na nastop Koncertne džez skupine mreže EUNIC, ki bo v petek, 18. julija 2025, v Bovcu.
V okviru uradnega kulturnega programa Evropske prestolnice kulture 2025 – Nova Gorica in Gorica predstavlja Koncertna džez skupina mreže EUNIC izjemen glasbeni projekt, ki slavi bogastvo in raznolikost evropskega džeza. Ta mednarodni ansambel združuje sedem priznanih džezovskih glasbenikov iz sedmih različnih držav, ki s svojimi edinstvenimi glasbenimi izrazi ustvarjajo močno sporočilo kulturnega sodelovanja in umetniškega dialoga.
Koncertno džez skupino mreže EUNIC sestavljajo:
Nastopi Koncertne džez skupine mreže EUNIC so del uradnega programa Evropske prestolnice kulture Nova Gorica – Gorica 2025. Koncerti ne predstavljajo le vrhunske džez umetnosti, temveč simbolizirajo tudi moč kulturne izmenjave in enotnosti onkraj meja.
Prisrčno vabljeni!
VORO GARCÍA Trumpet (Spain):
Voro Garcia began to play trumpet at 8 years old in a symphonic wind band from his hometown (Sueca). He studied classical trumpet in Valencia untill 20 years old, then started to study jazz with Jesús Santandreu.
He had an scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music (Boston) where he graduated magna cum laude in Professional Music (2007).
After coming back from the states, Voro moved to Barcelona for 2 years, then he was offered to teach jazz in the conservatory of Valencia.
Voro had played in most of the best jazz festivals in Spain such a San Sebastián, Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid, San Javier; also Montreaux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), Cerdeña (Italy), Lisbon and Porto (Portugal), Campeche (Mexico), Manila (Philippines)
He contributed with the great flamenco singer Miguel Poveda and his “Coplas del querer”
Voro has also played with Perico Sambeat, Jorge Rossy, Peter Berstein, Bob Gullotti, George Garzone, Bill McHenry, Albert Sanz, Leo Genovese, Mick Coady, Ze Eduardo, Marc Miralta, among others.
Igor Lumpert Tenor Sax (Slovenia):
Igor Lumpert’s music creates a singular mixture of the hypnotic rhythms and modal melodies of his native Slovenia and the bold sense of adventure of the contemporary jazz tradition.
His recordings have received wide-spread acclaim. National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Master Todd Barkan has said, “Igor’s free jazz direction is grounded in a tremendous knowledge of the entire music tradition. His compositions evoke echoes of Ellington, Roscoe Mitchell, and Bartók. His playing reflects his understanding of Coltrane and Ben Webster.” His album, I Am the Spirit of the Earth, has been described in New York City Jazz Record as “A perfect blend of cerebral and visceral inclinations.” His newest recording Song from the highest tower, features the highly acclaimed Leo Genovese. It will be released in late spring.
Reto Ruhner Alto Sax (Switzerland):
The saxophonist Reto Suhner performs in different formations, from Duo to Jazz orchestra. The unplannable moment of musical dialogue, which is based on improvisation, is important to Suhner. That’s where suspense is created, where new sounds evolve and stories are told. Reto Suhner, born in Herisau, graduated from the Jazz School, where he studied with Carlo Schoeb and Lester Menezes. Additionally, he took workshops with Jerry Bergonzi, Art Lande, Ed Neumeister, Bela Lakatos and Julio Barreto – in 1999 he stayed in New York and took private classes with Dick Oatts, Billy Drewes, Rich Perry and Bob Mover. In 1998 and 2007 Suhner received the culture award o Appenzell Ausserrhoden. He leads different groups of his own and gave concerts with Mats-Up, Zurich Jazz Orchestra, Swiss Jazz Orchestra, Lauer Large feat.Peter Evans and Tyshawn Sorey, Martin Streule Jazz Orchestra, Wolfgang Muthspiel's Large Ensemble feat. Ambrose Akinmusire, Guillermo Klein, Michael League/Bill Laurence, Scott Robinson, Noldi Alder, Colin Vallon, Lester Menezes, Johannes Lauer, Steffen Schorn, Rainer Tempel, Bert Joris, Spittin' Horns, Composers Collective, Adrian Frey, Herbie Kopf, Pius Baschnagel, Max Frankl Quartet, Peter Eigenmann and Béatrice Graf.
Matyas Papp Trombone (Hungary):
He began his musical studies at the age of 6 on tenor horn and later on trombone. After graduating from high school, he moved to Vienna to continue his jazz studies at the city’s University of Arts.
In 2012, he won 1st prize in the instrumentation category at the VI. Hungarian Jazz Federation’s Competition for Composers and Instrumentalists in 2012, and in 2016 he was awarded 3rd prize at the Riga Jazz Stage international jazz trombone competition.
A year earlier, in 2015, he founded his band “The Coquette Jazz Band”. In 2019, he participated in the Modern Art Orchestra’s “Masterclass” programme and together they performed 3 of his own compositions.
He is now the member of the Modern Art Orchestra directed by Kornél Fekete- Kovács. In 2024 he was rewarded with the "Junior Príma" artist prize in Hungary.
Oliver Kent Piano (Austria):
Born in Innsbruck in 1969, he moved to Vienna in 1987 and began devoting himself entirely to jazz piano, strongly influenced by hard bop pianists such as Bobby Timmons, Horace Silver, and Ray Bryant, and a few years later, Bill Evans, Wynton Kelly, and McCoy Tyner.
In the mid-1990s, he moved to New York City. This musically immensely valuable time was characterized by public and private jam sessions, as well as concerts and tours with Valerie Ponomarev and Eddie Henderson.
Back in Europe, Swiss tenor saxophonist Roman Schwaller heard him, and a collaboration began that continues to this day, including numerous tours and CD productions in various ensembles.
In 2002, he was appointed professor at the former Vienna Conservatory, now the Vienna Private University of Music and Arts, and has been professor of jazz piano, improvisation, and ensemble performance there since 2010. From 2008 to 2009, he was a visiting professor of jazz piano at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz.
In 2008, he won the "New German Jazz Prize" with the Johannes Enders Quartet. In the following years, he won the Austrian "Hans Koller Prize" twice for Sideman of the Year, as well as for CD of the Year, "Daydream," in a duo with Herwig Gradischnig. He was a member of the Marianne Mendt Jazz Young Talents Program, which
existed from 2006 to 2020, where he accompanied and musically mentored hundreds of young talents as a pianist and arranger.
Oliver Kent played with a variety of internationally well nown musicians such as: Sheila Jordan, Leo Wright, David Friedman, Hannibal Marvin Peterson, Mark Murphy, Howard Johnson, Lou Tabackin, Clark Terry, Allan Praskin, Delfayo Marsalis, Concert Jazz Orchestra Vienna, Jazz Big Band Graz, Thomas Gansch, Nuguyen Le, Ron McClure, Bobby Shew, Pete Yellin, Ingrid Jensen, Alvin Queen, Ack van Rooyen, Vincent Herring, Bobby Watson, Jim Pepper, The New York Voices, Take Six, Ed Neumeister, Warren Vache, Zipflo Weinrich, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Harry Stojka, Harry Sokal, Don Menza, Patti Austin, John Hollenbeck, Theo Blackmann, Kurt Elling, Jon Hendricks, Bennie Maupin, Mark Turner, Grant Steward, John Marshall, Bernd Reiter, Andy Haderer, Dusko Goykowich, Benny Bailey, Bert Joris, Luis Bonilla, Dzihan & Kamien, Adrian Mears, Jim Rotondi, Steve Davis, Doug Weiss, Rick Margitza, Marianne Mendt, Flip Phillip, Jimmy Cobb, Johnny Griffin, Paulo Cardoso, Johannes Enders, Andy Scherrer, Tony Lakatos, Franko Ambrosetti, Benny Golson, Ferdinand Powell, Jorge Rossi, Jesse Davis, Joe Magnarelli, Azar Lawrence, Andy Middleton, Piero Odorici, Dick Oatts, Gary Smullian, John B. Williams.
Marc Abrams Bass (Italy):
Marc Abrams was born in New York in 1958. He has performed with Chet Baker, Karl Berger, Joe Chambers, Al Foster, Steve Grossman and Steve Lacy. Marc has been teaching in the Italian conservatories since 2007 and is presently teaching in Padova at the “C.Pollini” conservatory of music.
Matthias Gmelin Drums (Germany): Matthias Gmelin: Drums
Active on the Munich and international jazz scene for over 30 years he has played with the Bavarian State Youth Jazz Orchestra, the German Federal Jazz Orchestra, and the NDR Big Band. He studied at the New School in New York City with John Riley, Ralph Peterson, and Billy Hart. He is known for his collaborations with Peter O'Mara, Johannes Enders, Johannes Faber, Thomas Stabenow, Miles Griffith, Jean Marie Machado, the NDR Big Band, Cecil McBee, Marc Abrams, Joe Chambers, and others.
