New York Winter Jazzfest 2020

In the midst of the winter season we are happy about the programme of the New York Winter Jazzfest, and we are listening to the new material all the participants have to offer. This year the festival once again offers a colourful palette of performers, and solidifies the already ongoing transformative musical processes. Bravely, and with a lot of pleasure we step into 2020 from 2019 with the first interesting event of the year. 

We always eagerly await each edition of the festival because it showcases the real development of the new and independent music. Each January, likeminded people gather in New York and share music and ideas, and inspire and charge each other. The festival is an image of the contemporary scene — alive and rebellious, full of new and different ideas. 

There are a few highlights from this years’ New York Independent Winter Jazzfest:

Firstly, focus on the London scene — the audiences, the solidified media for new music, and all of us have been paying extra attention to the developing London independent jazz scene. That spirit is alive this winter in New York, as contemporary jazz from North London and Manhattan blends together. During the festival, the London based dj, producer, and founder of the online radio www.worldwidefm.net Gilles Peterson is showcasing young musicians from London - the drummer Moses Boyd and Kokoroko, whom we have already written about here at MA.

Second of all: the host and lead musician is Mark Guiliana with known and new projects. The Grammy nominated artist in the contemporary music category is showcasing about ten projects, including already recorded things such as MGJQ and Beat Music. Together with Guiliana, we also have Billy Martin from Medeski Martin and Wood. 

Last, but not least: the opening and closing of the festival will take place at Nublu - Ilhan Ersahin’s club for independent music, a musical hot spot in New York, and a gathering place for the group of partners, that we have discussed time and time again on this page. The opening includes dj sets by both resident tastemakers of worldwidefm - Gilles Petersen, and the Belgian dj Lefto. To finish things of on January 18th at Nublu - Mark Guiliana, BigYuki, and Jason Lindner amongst others. 

Today we listen to some of the musicians representing the new music between January 8th and 18th 2020 in New York. 

We start with two projects by Guiliana.

Mark Guiliana - Jersey - inter are
Mark Guiliana's Beat Music: Spirit Animal
Followed by London’s Moses Boyd on drums, Nubya Garcia on the saxophone, Theon Cross on the tuba, and Kokoroko. 

Theon Cross - Candace of Meroe
Kokoroko - Uman
Marc Ribot and Ceramic Dog are also amongst the participants. Ceramic Dog - Red Bully

In the end we have the piano player Chris Davis with the project Diatom Ribbons. Kris Davis - Certain Cells.

If you think the music is too much or too energetic — imagine listening to it live!

This is just a small part of the music at this year’s edition of the New York Winter Jazzfest. 
January 2020
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Photo credit Nout Gons