Do you like music? Does the Jazz literally force you to swing your legs and dance? From 20th of October till the 1st of December 2011 the popular beer brand Voll Damm is sponsoring a spectacular music event. The annual Festival Internacional de Jazz is going into its 43th round.
This event represents one of Europes longest and most popular Jazz sessions. Day after day different artists playing different sub-styles of Jazz are being featured in various locations, from major clubs and hotels to public parks. A wide scale of individual experiences is offered during this event. Whether you want to dance the night or just take a drink in some relaxed Jazzy atmosphere there will be something there for you.
Book your Barcelona Apartment Rentals now to see the event and experience the Jazz in Spains largest seaside city. Who knows, maybe some of the bands will even stick around the for a little and you can get the chance to meet some of the most famous modern Jazz artists
November: the month for Jazz in Madrid.
Jazz performers from all corners of the world will be together in Madrid for the XXVII Jazz Festival, which takes place from 2 to 20 November at the Teatro Fernán Gómez and the Teatro Circo Price
The main program includes 20 concerts, introducing typical klemzer, flamenco, Turkish and Indian styles of jazz. This great festival feature international jazz stars such as Wayne Shorter, Joe Lovano, Kenny Garrett Christian Scott, The Bad Plus,Baptiste Trotignon, Rebekka Bakken and BaBa ZuLa. Some of the Spanish big names will also be part of this important festival mixing jazz and flamenco: José Mercé, Miguel Poveda and Marina Heredia (12th Nov), and Estrella Morente (13th Nov). One of the highlights promises will be the performance Afrocubism (11th Nov) which is a delight mix of Cuban styles with African beats.
As usual, two other Madrid jazz festivals will take place in parallel: the Jazz Festival San Juan Evangelista, known as the “Johnny”, and the Jazz Festival in Ciudad Lineal. To complete the program, “La Noche en Vivo” organizes 100 concerts that will be held in different music clubs around the city, allowing jazz fanatics a daily dose of excellent music.
If you are traveling to Madrid during November and you love these rhythms, check the festival’s calendar at Madrid’s tourism website and do not forget to check out our nice apartments in the center of Madrid at www.rent4days.com.
Barcelona – What’s happening in December in the city?
1-3 December 2009: EIBTM Global Meetings and Incentives Exhibition
The meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) industry convenes at Fira Gran Via, Barcelona, for the EIBTM. Visitors can get advice from expert panellists, discuss industry trends, make and renew contacts and learn how to drive their business forward.
Almost 8000 meeting planners and marketers are updated on the industry’s sustainability efforts in 2010, with top names in MICE airing their views.
- Where: Fira de Barcelona – Gran Vía venue
- When: all day
- Cost: free
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18 October – 6 December 2009: Barcelona International Jazz Festival
As the sizzling summer heat dies down, Barcelona chills out with the Barcelona International Jazz Festival. Big band, bebop, gospel and Latin-jazz concerts take place at venues across the city, including the Palau de la Música Catalana and L’Auditori.
In 2009, catch live music from the Wayne Shorter Quartet, Chucho Valdés & Concha Buika, Cassandra Wilson and Imelda May, among others.
- Where: L’Auditori
- When: Concerts begin at 7pm/9pm/9.30pm
- Cost: €22-€54; prices vary depending on artist
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10 November – 20 December 2009: World Press Photo Exhibition
The Contemporary Culture Centre of Barcelona takes its turn at hosting the World Press Photo exhibition. Regarded as the world’s most important display of photojournalism, the award-winning snaps appear at galleries and art centres in some 100 cities worldwide.
Each year an independent international jury selects winners from photographs submitted by photojournalists, agencies, newspapers and photographers from all over the world. Eleven competitive categories include news events, current affairs, sport, arts and entertainment, portraits and nature.
Expect the photos to make shocking and poignant political statements, as well as offer up unexpected moments of beauty in sport, nature and daily life.
- Where: Contemporary Culture Centre of Barcelona
- When: all day
- Cost: free
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28 November – 23 December 2009: Fira de Santa Llucia
Dating from 1786, the Fira de Santa Llucia is a Christmas fair held every December outside Barcelona Cathedral. Around 300 market stalls sell seasonal goodies, while nativity scenes, musical parades and exhibitions add to the fun.
A much-loved feature of this festival is the giant caga tío, a huge, smiley-faced “log”. Much like a Mexican piñanta, the caga tío drops out, or ‘caga‘ (‘craps’), presents when kids beat it with a stick.
The caga tío is a character in Catalan mythology relating to Christmas tradition and many families keep one in their homes during the festive season (small versions are on sale at the Fira de Santa Llucia’s market).
- Where: Barcelona Cathedral
- When: all day
- Cost: free
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26-27 December 2009: Ben Hur Live!
An ancient arena is recreated at Barcelona’s Palau Sant Jordi for Ben Hur Live. The show, which was 15 years in the making and coincides with the 50-year anniversary of the film, features over 400 performers and 100 animals.
A spectacle of light, sound, water, wind and pyrotechnic effects, the show is based on the novel, Ben Hur – a Tale of Christ, by Lew Wallace. It tells the story of the life and destiny of the Jewish prince Judah Ben Hur at the beginning of the 1st century. The soundtrack is created by Hollywood composer Klaus Badelt and the 400 performers as well as animals including horses, camels, donkeys, chickens, falcons and eagles.
The highlight of the production is the famous chariot scene, where five quadrigas compete in a neck-and-neck race around the arena floor. The thoroughbred horses – the stars of the scene – have gone through 12 months of intensive training.
Premièring in London in September, the show tours Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Portugal, Austria, Hungary and France, before arriving in Spain.
- Where: Palau Sant Jordi
- When: Daily 9pm; 27 Dec also 4pm
- Cost: €35-€110
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Madrid – Madrid Jazz Festival, 4-22 November 2009.
Madrid receives the XXVI Jazz Festival anniversary, starting on 4th of November, and will extend until 22th of November.
Enjoy the festival in Madrid in one of our Rent4Days apartments!
There are 17 foreseen concerts over 4 halls: 12 will take place in the Fernan Gómez Theatre, 2 in the Circo Price Theatre; one concert in the Carlos Amberes Foundation, and the Nicolás Salmerón Cultural Centre will receive 2 free recital, and the 17 other clubs gathered together for La Noche en Vivo Association.
The Fernan Gómez Theatre, at the Colón Square, will be the principal venue of the Festival. Vocal jazz will be presented by Richard Bona, Diane Schuur and Cassandra Wilson. Furthermore, instrumental music and recitals will have virtuous as W. Muthspiel, S. Grigoryan en R. Towner; and the pianists Brad Mehldau, Larry Willis, and Polo Ortí. They will also show a lot of promise in music with the Muestra de Grupos Jóvenes de la AMEMM, planned on the 15th of November.
On the other hand, the Kind of blue concert, will bring a tribute according to the 50th anniversary of Miles Davis famous recording, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Wynton Kelly, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb; this last one it will be planning on 6th November.
The Circo Price Theatre will host important artists such as the Kike Perdomo y Eric Marienthal, the virtuous saxophonists, who will open a “double session” on the 12th of November.
This double session will be closed by Marcus Miller, clarinet & bass player, with Tutu revisited concert. Also present will be host to the vocalist and acoustic guitar player Madeleine Peyroux, on 13th November, with Bare bones.
The Carlos de Amberes Foundation will recur for second time to Roy Hargrove Quintet concert on 6th November.
The Patricia Kraus and Edith Salazar free concerts will extend the Jazz music throughout the city and spread its contagiousness among the citizens of Madrid. These concerts will be played in the Nicolás Salmerón Cultural Centre on 27 and 28th November, respectively.
In addition, the Live Music Concert Halls Association (La Noche en Vivo), will offer up to 200 concerts distributed among 15 concert halls, such as the Café Central, the Clamores concert hall, the Segundo Jazz or the Berlín Café.
You can also enjoy the cinema and jazz music cycle with a special programme with 15 films. This cycle will be based on 3 programmes: the German artists Jurgen Kneiper for Win Wenders, 50 years of music of Nouvelle Vaguecinema with Michel Legrand, Pierre Jansen and Antoine Duhamel and, finally 20 years of Lets get lost, a tribute ofChet Baker.
If you would like to enjoy the best Jazz in Spain, come to Madrid! Look for the best accommodation and lodging in our Rent4Days Apartment in Madrid-section. Enjoy your time in the city!