The 10th installment of the Jazz in the Church festival is scheduled to take place at the Lutheran Church in Bucharest from May 8 to 11, 2025. This event will showcase both established performers known for their significant impact on European jazz and emerging talents.
Standing out among the prominent artists scheduled are Switzerland’s Nik Bärtsch and Greece’s Tania Giannouli, both renowned for captivating European crowds through their distinctive styles. They merge Nik Bärtsch’s minimalistic rhythmic approach with Tania Giannouli’s nuanced lyrical expression, which draws inspiration from Greek folk traditions.
Each artist boasts an outstanding history of accomplishments. Bärtsch has produced seven albums for ECM, while Giannouli has seen rising acclaim across borders recently. Together as a pair, they have graced prominent festival platforms with their captivating shows, delivering performances marked by spontaneity and deep engagement—music emerges organically through collaboration and real-time interplay between them.
The festival also features Argentinian musician Javier Girotto, known for composing more than 500 pieces, often in partnership with acclaimed artists worldwide. Raised in Córdoba and educated at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in the United States, his compositions showcase a distinctive fusion of Argentine heritage, extensive jazz expertise, and inspirations drawn from Italian and Mediterranean cultures. At the event, attendees can enjoy "Aires Tango," considered his standout work as per information provided by the organizers. News.ro .
Drawing inspiration from the transformation initiated by Astor Piazzolla, Girotto reinvents Argentine tunes and beats into emotional and spontaneous instrumental compositions, collaborating with Alessandro Gwis on piano and electronics, Marco Siniscalco on bass, and Francesco De Rubeis on drums. Notable is the participation of Luca Ciarla, recognized as one of today’s most intriguing contemporary violinists.
To conclude, the group Ill Considered promises to be a highlight of the festival. This British ensemble leads the way in modern improvisational music, crafting all their pieces spontaneously during performances. Their energetic sessions blend an extensive array of styles such as Electronica, Drum & Bass, Afrobeat, and spiritual jazz, with maintaining rhythm being central to their approach.
The first eight iterations of the festival were all sold out, and you can now purchase your tickets on Eventbook.
The schedule is as follows:
Thursday, May 8, at 7:00 PM:
- Shuteen Erdenebaatar & Nils Kugelmann – Mongolia/Germany (pianist, double bass player, clarinetist, contralto clarinetist)
- Fergus McCreadie Trio from Scotland (piano, bass, drums)
Friday, May 9, at 7:00 PM:
- Arve Henriksen & Michele Rabbia – from Norway and Italy (trumpet, percussion)
- Nik Bärsch & Tania Giannouli – Switzerland/Greece (keyboards)
Saturday, May 10, at 7:00 PM:
- Vlad Năstase – Romania (organ, piano)
- Javier Girotto Aires Tango & Luca Ciarla – Argentina/Italy (Javier Girotto: saxophone, Alessandro Gwis: piano, Marco Siniscalco: double bass, Francesco De Rubeis: drums, Luca Ciarla: violin)
Sunday, May 11, at 7:00 PM:
- The Charlotte Reinhardt Trio from France consists of Charlotte Reinhardt on piano, Juliette Serrad on cello, and Franck Agulhon on drums.
- Ill Considered – England (alto saxophone, double bass, drum set)
radu@romania-insider.com
(Photo credit: Jazz.ro on Facebook)