Ahead of the event, programmer Ivo Martins stated that the festival “has more or less traveled through time and tries to bring together in the same series of concerts several formulas and formations that present as much different jazz as possible in its various approaches.”
Opening the festival at Centro Cultural Vila Flor (CCVF), Immanuel Wilkins presents his acclaimed ‘Blues Blood,’ in a concert where he will be “accompanied by a formation expanded by the contribution of three vocalists to honor the African-American musical tradition,” according to the organization.
Friday marks the return of Portuguese singer Maria João to Guimarães Jazz, 20 years later, accompanied by the Orquestra de Guimarães to celebrate the artist’s 40-year career.
On Saturday, it is the turn of American pianist Fred Hersch, while on the 13th, the festival welcomes Mark Turner’s quintet, followed by the trio composed of Craig Taborn, Tomeka Reid, and Ches Smith on the following day.
Closing the Guimarães Jazz on the 15th will be pianist Danilo Pérez with the Swedish Bohuslän Big Band.
The ‘jam sessions’ will be conducted by the Alex Hitchcock Quintet, who will perform on the 9th with the Orquestra de Jazz da Escola Superior de Música e Artes do Espetáculo (ESMAE), and again on the 15th.
The program will also feature several national names, from the Hugo Santos 5tet to bassist André Carvalho and pianist Clara Lacerda.
