Bansko Jazz Festival

8 August, Friday19:30h. Opening Ceremony - stage “Nikola Vaptzarov” 1. Big Band of Bulgarian National Radio conducted by Yanko Miladinov and vocals Vasil Petrov and Mery Taneva, Bulgaria 2. Tavijian Brothers, Macedonia 3. Camelia Todorova, Bulgaria9 August, Saturday16.00h. Hall at hotel Kimpinski – Keiko, Japan (piano, vocal)16:00h. Stage “Royal Towers”1.Stefka Onikian and George Borissov Sextet, Bulgari 2. Gerd Baier and Philipp Gutbrod duo, Germany - USA 3. Mind trips, Bulgaria19.30 h. Stage “Nikola Vaptzarov”1. Nona Yotova Band, Bulgaria 2. Soon Kim Quartet, Japan 3. Keiko, Japan 4. Joachim Mencel Trio, Poland 5. The Israeli Ethnical Ensamble – Israel10 August, Sunday16:00h. Stage “Royal Towers” 1. Diliana Gerogieva (vocal) , Simeon Shterev (flute), Antoni Donchev (piano), George Donchev (bass), Dimitar Semov (drums), Bulgaria 2. Rachel and Kink, Bulgaria 3. Ya-Ya, Bulgaria19:30h. stage “Nikola Vaptzarov”1. Denis Shulgin quartet, Russia 2. Freddy Cole, USA 3. Dirty Purchase and Amalia, Bulgaria11 August, MondayDay of a German and Austrain Jazz19:30 Stage”Nikola Vaptzarov”1. Swing Stars, Germany 2. Side Steps, Germany – USA 3. Merry Poppins, Austria 4. Eight Wheel Drive, Germany12 August, Thusday1. Milcho Leviev (piano), Bulgaria, Viki Almazidu, Greece 2. The Belgrade Dixieland Orchestra, Serbia 3. Orchestre International Du VETEX, Belgium 4. Tarana with special guests Theodosii Spassov, Turkey - Netherlands - Bulgaria13 August, Wednesday16:00 h. Stage “Royal Towers”19:30 h. Stage “Nikola Vaptzarov”1. Hilda Kazasyan (vocal), Theodosii Spassov (kaval), Petar Saltchev (vocal), Rumen Toskov (piano), Hristo Yotsov (drums), Veselin Veselino – Eco (double bass), Bulgaria 3. Giovanca, Netherlands 4. Palyrria, GreeceInternational Jazz Festival in Bansko is one of the biggest and most prestigious musical events in Bulgaria. It is also the oldest jazz festival in our country, whose international popularity has been growing progressively over the years. The festival is free of charge for the audience. Because of that, every evening a large number of spectators, typically 3000 to 5000, attend the event including not only local people but also visitors from the region, the country and numerous foreign tourists. This is one of the main goals of the festival – to foster the cultural tourism in Bansko, the fastest-growing resort in the country. Moreover, the festival helps in popularizing the art of music while promoting the cultural interaction among the countries and the exchange of experience among the musicians from different countries. The festival is being traditionally held every year from August 8 to August 13. During a period of six days the famous resort becomes the capital of jazz. Thousands of people get together at the central town square where an open-air festival stage is built. Apart from the main stage, jazz musicians also perform at several luxurious night clubs. After-parties, luncheon barbeques and jazz coffees are also being organized. Jam sessions are being held every evening where performers from several countries get together.Prominent musicians like Lucas Van Merwijk and Drums United (The Netherlands), Praful (The Netherlands), Yehia Khalil Band (Egipt), Denise Jannah (The Netherlands), Scot Hamilton (Great Britain), Sydney Ellis quartet (USA), Raul Paz band (France- Cuba), Mario Stanchev sextet (France), Eric Vloeimans, Tola Trio and Masha Bilsma band (Holland), Igor Bril quartet, Igor Butman (Russia), Silvan Zingg (Switzerland), Axel Zvingenberger, Jo Bohnsack, Thomas Gerdiken (Germany), Yahia Halil Band, Eftekasat Band (Egipt), Krakatau (Indonesia), Philip Catherine Quartet (Belgium), Djabe band (Hungary), IKS Big Band, Hot Four Creole Jazzband, Jazz Train (Germany), Vlatko Stefanovski (Macedonia), and Theodosii Spasov, Camelia Todorova,Vasil Petrov, Ivo Papazov – Ibriam and many others have performed at the stage of Bansko.Co-organizers and chief media partners of the festival are the Bulgarian National Television and the Bulgarian National Radio. They do reports, interviews and direct broadcasts as well as multiple broadcasting of records. During the festival there is a press center in which about 50 journalists from the leading Bulgarian media are accredited. The event receives active media support and, in addition, is accompanied by a large advertising campaign. Three televisions announce the event, several radio stations broadcast advertisement spots, posters are being made and a catalogue of the performers is being printed in a 10 000 issue. Over the last few years one can watch the festival live on-line at www.banskojazz.com.