Nattjazz swings into action in late May every year, and in the course of 11 nights 100 concerts are presented. Since its 1973 début, Nattjazz has brought to Bergen many of the world's greatest artists; from Stan Getz, Herbie Hancock, James Brown, Van Morrison, The Band, Pharoah Sanders, Art Blakey, Dexter Gordon and Al di Meola, to St Germain, Gipsy Kings, Macy Gray and Gotan Project.
But Nattjazz is not merely a festival about great names, it's about who we don't know and who we should know. Since its inception, Nattjazz has been committed to getting unusual combinations of musicians playing together, and to exploring the potential of new collaborations. Thus, both Bugge Wesseltoft's New Conception of Jazz and Supersilent were premiered at Nattjazz.
Curiousity is a permanent state for both Nattjazz and it's audience. People see the festival as a chance to find some new favourite artists or experience different types of jazz while wandering the industrial grounds of Verftet USF.
Nattjazz is also an opportunity for local audiences to see their own artists in an international context, and the festival carefully selects the most exciting talents from the Bergen rock, jazz and electro scene.
Nattjazz is an essential meeting point for jazz curiousity seekers and professionals who endeavour to keep ajour with the current state of contemporary jazz. In the course of the last 10 years Nattjazz has achieved recognition both nationally and internationally as one of the most important festivals and showrooms for contemporary jazz in Europe. Thanks to a consistent billing and an attractive atmosphere, Nattjazz is happy to recognize the growing interest from national and international media and audiences, and is confident that this trend continues in 2007 and in the years to come.
