Contacts: Teatro de Vila Real | Alameda de Grasse | 5000-703 Vila Real | Phone: +351 259 320 000/2
Fax: +351 259 320 009 | E-mail: geral@teatrodevilareal.com | Web: www.teatrodevilareal.com
When the vintage season returns, jazz is on top at the Douro region and Trás-os-Montes province, as a result of the connection established since 2004 between Douro Jazz International Festival and the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. Joining the vintage festivity spirit with a musical aesthetics refined as the best wines, Douro Jazz aims to mark the Portuguese agenda with quality artists, some of them worldwide renowned.
The 2007 edition of Douro Jazz International Festival takes place at five spots in the north of Portugal. 37 shows will happen in Teatro de Vila Real, Solar do Vinho do Porto (Régua), Centro Cultural de Chaves, Teatro Municipal de Bragança and Cine-Teatro João Costa, at São João da Pesqueira.
Two mythical names must be highlighted on the festival's fourth edition: Donald Harrison and Billy Cobham.
Donald Harrison, two Grammy awards winner, is considered one of the greatest improvisers of today's jazz. He will be playing in Douro Jazz with four known Portuguese musicians, with whom he will record a CD.
The legendary drummer Billy Cobham, part of music history, will close the festival in an exclusive concert in Portugal. Cobham, who has an incomparable style, has played with celebrated artists such as Miles Davis, John McLaughlin, George Benson, and Herbie Hancock, among many others. He will be playing at Douro Jazz with musicians from England, France and the United States.
After winning this year the second prize at the Montreux Jazz Guitar Competition, in Switzerland, young Brazilian guitarist Diego Figueiredo will play at Douro Jazz's stages with his trio.
Two important formations from Madrid's scene will represent Spain at this year's edition. Clear & Better Swingers will propose a walk around jazz golden years — the swing age —, playing themes from legendary composers and musicians such as Count Basie, Cole Porter, and Duke Ellington. Javier Arroyo y El Lusitania Jazz Machine find on Iberian popular music, as well as on music from Africa and Latin America, the revitalizing springs that sustain his jazz inspiration.
Groups as Desbundixie (Portugal), Edu Miranda Trio (Brazil), Bossa In Jazz (Brazil) and Gustavo Rivero y su Quinteto (Cuba) will bring to the festival notes from funny and festivity styles such as dixieland, chorinho, bossa nova, or Latin rhythms.
As in the preceding editions, the festival's programme includes a range of complementary activities, trying to cross and consolidate different audiences. The 2006 vintage of Douro Jazz wine will be presented on 22nd September. On the 1st of October, International Music Day, a jazz guitar workshop will be oriented by musician Artur Caldeira. On 20th October will be presented Terra Sem Coroa, a book from poet Manuel de Freitas. Finally, In the same day, “Portonic”, a promotional action on tonic port, will be organized by Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto at Teatro de Vila Real.