Swing, blues, soul, funk, Latino – these are just some of the styles the International Jazz Festival in Bansko (8-13 August) had to offer. For years one of the biggest music forums in this country has offered its stage to orthodox jazz musicians, but also to ethno, pop and rock bands. The 18^th edition of the festival that has just ended was no exception. Here are some of the highlights of the 30 concerts or so from the festival programme.

The Swiss boogie pianist Silvan Zingg usually performs solo. In Bansko he came with his trio and the audience gave them a big round of applause. Silvan is the only European musician to have been part of the farewell ceremony for B. B. King in May; Silvan says the blues musician was his idol. He took part in the 2011 concert in Montreux alongside Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin.

Carmen Souza from Cabo Verde presented her new album, recorded while she was touring Great Britain, Portugal, USA. The album comprises songs she composed together with Theo Pascal, bass guitarist in her band and her mentor and producer.

Having musicians of Shelly Berg’s standing is a real honour for any festival anywhere in the world. He is equally successful in classical music and in jazz and is dean of the prestigious music school in Miami. He has been involved in a number of projects, has several Grammies and Grammy nominations to his name; he has been nominated for the prestigious award twice for his arrangements.

Jazz Eagles Big Band – this is the name of the big band of Turkey’s air force with conductor Murat Aksoy. The superb orchestra performed in Bulgaria together with renowned Bulgarian-born jazz singer Yildiz Ibrahimova who has been living in Turkey and has been working towards deepening relations between the two countries. Yildiz Ibrahimova:

“Together we present famous jazz standards and pieces with Turkish folklore elements, arranged for a big band by Murat Aksoy. We recorded part of our programme at the national radio in Ankara. In April we performed together at the opening of the Ankara International Jazz Festival. We have also toured many towns across Turkey together.”

The festival programme also featured Incognito, Mungo Jerry and many others.

The audio file contains music and interviews with Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick from the headliners Incognito, Ray Dorset from the Mungo Jerry Blues Band and US pianist Shelly Berg.

English version: Milena Daynova