The grand finale of the 49th Jazz Juniors Festival and the entire Kraków Jazz Week brought the world premiere of Soheil Shayesteh’s composition Perceptual Dialogues. This unusual work by the Iranian artist, presented at Kraków Philharmonic, combines the musical traditions of the Near East, jazz, electronics, as well as orchestral grandeur – all this in the unequalled interpretation of legendary Norwegian trumpeter Nils Petter Molvær (the Jazz Juniors artistic director and artist-in-residence), joined by the composer himself and by Sinfonietta Cracovia under the baton of Paulina Porszke.
The international Jazz Juniors Festival and Competition, held in Cracow for nearly half a century, occupies a special place in the improvised music scene. For many decades it has proved a major point in the lives of would-be leading jazz figures, serving as a springboard for their careers. Jazz Juniors is also a space for extraordinary concerts and an opportunity to meet recognised artists.
Jazz Juniors artistic director and artist-in-residence
This is the second year of eminent Norwegian trumpeter Nils Petter Molvær’s tenure as Jazz Juniors artistic director and artist-in-residence. He is a household name to jazz fans. Though his trademark is the fusion of club electronics and jazz, he has not rested on his laurels but has remained constantly on the lookout for new and intriguing artistic directions. One of the strategies he follows in his explorations is to build collaborations with artists who think outside the box.
Soheil Shayesteh is certainly one of such artists. This Iranian-born, Amsterdam-based audiovisual artist and violinist currently focuses on playing the Persian kamancheh, composing his own music, as well as live electronics and electroacoustic music projects. As a versatile artist, exploring regions where few musicians have ventured, he seems to make an ideal stage partner for Molvær.
Soheil Shayesteh (kamancheh), the composer of Perceptual Dialogues
Shayesteh wrote his Perceptual Dialogues (for trumpet, kamancheh, orchestra, and live electronics) specially for the final concert of the 49th Jazz Juniors.
Shayesteh describes his new work as follows: ‘Perceptual Dialogues’ is built like a multi-layered painting with overlapping textures and motifs. Melancholy string textures fuse with the pure and precise trumpet part. The lyrical moaning of the kamancheh, heard against the background of the electronics, is extensive and elaborate, with transformations occurring in time. In ‘Perceptual Dialogues’, acoustic sound combines with electronics processed in real time as the kamancheh and the trumpet enter into a dialogue with sounds generated by means of processors specially designed to match both the instruments and Nils Petter Molvær’s performance style. The resulting captivating textures represent a combination of traditional Persian and Nordic sound.
The Sinfonietta Cracovia performing under the baton of Paulina Porszke
The members of Sinfonietta Cracovia have frequently proven that they do not shun challenges. They venture beyond the safe world of academic classical music with genuine involvement. Paulina Porszke seems to be the best person to conduct the orchestra in this context. This former student of Leszek Kułakowski brings together various musical concepts and genres in her own compositions and is therefore capable of appreciating Shayesteh’s and Molvær’s ideas not exclusively as a performer, but also as a composer.
It was truly hard to imagine what the resulting fusion would sound like. The effect proved extraordinary, and the music captivated the audience entirely during its world premiere performance at the Kraków festival.
The world premiere of Perceptual Dialogues was greeted by the festival audience with a prolonged standing ovation
The listeners awarded the artists with a prolonged standing ovation.
This year’s edition of Jazz Juniors abounded in unforgettable musical events. On 2nd October, six excellent bands entered the final auditions of the Jazz Juniors Competition. An international jury chaired by Nils Petter Molvær and an International Partners Board consisting of representatives of the main jazz venues, festivals and record labels joined forces to further the young musicians’ international careers. The Grand Prix went to the Slovenian trio Birds of Unknown, but the majority of the finalists also received prizes or concert offers.
On the following nights, the Jazz Juniors festival stage was taken over by eminent artists who provided the audience with an unforgettable musical experiences. One can already say that the performance by Kasia Pietrzko Trio has made history for the festival. After ten years’ absence, the pianist has returned to the Jazz Juniors stage as a bandleader, once again winning the audience’s hearts.
The magical performance by Nothing Personal – a trio of women singers from Norway – brought an extravaganza of melodies, colours, oneiric sounds, and fascinating improvisations. Their captivating collage of sounds and animated graphic designs will stay in our memory for a long time.
The next concert, by the duo of Piotr Damasiewicz (trumpet) and Dominik Wania (piano), was an absorbing jazz meditation. The two brilliant virtuosi have met after many years to perform their interpretations of songs by Artur Olender.
The solo performance by Norwegian drummer Erland Dahlen proved a genuine revelation and a display of artistic power. The artist, who has played with the jazz and pop greats, is known for his characteristic beat as well as for collecting and constructing various instruments. He combines technical mastery with enormous sensitivity and precision in an impressive and uncommon manner, turning musical clichés into something of an infinitely greater calibre.
On two successive nights, one of Poland’s most recognisable DJ’s, Sebastian Filiks (aka DJ Feel-X) produced beats for the audience gathered at Hevre Club in the Kazimierz district.
The Kravchenko & Clees duo
The 49th Jazz Juniors festival’s last event and epilogue was the late-night concert by the Kravchenko & Clees duo, Jazz Juniors Grand Prix winners from 2023. This Ukrainian-Luxembourgian band played a programme of pieces from their debut album, released this year in collaboration with the Berlin-based sax player Wanja Slavin.
‘For next year’s 50th jubilee edition of the Jazz Juniors Festival and Competition, we are preparing many special treats and attractions. We will look back in retrospect at those fifty years of Jazz Juniors extraordinary history, co-created by outstanding personalities of the Polish jazz scene. We will also focus on further expansion of our international partnership network, which is a key benefit for the young musicians who take part in the Jazz Juniors Competition. All these events will he held again under the artistic direction of Nils Petter Molvær, who will certainly take care to prepare a unique and surprise-filled programme for our jubilee,’ comments Tomasz Handzlik, managing director of Jazz Juniors Competition and Festival.