IX International Jazz Festival “Jazz May Penza – 2019” came to conclusion

For three days modern jazz musicians from Russia and abroad were demonstrating their compositions in Penza region in the framework of IX International Festival “Jazz May Penza – 2019”. This major cultural event was attended by over 12 thousand Penza residents and city guests.

The official closing took place on May 19th at “Penza” concert hall. The audience witnessed a unique performance of a famous Austrian musician David Helbock – a jazzman to see, according to critics.

Each David Helbock’s concert Random\Control is a sort of intellectual show. Three musicians of his band create a musical atmosphere using 20 instruments, including piano, flugelhorn, tuba, didgeridoo, saxophone, clarinet, flute, various percussions, etc. 

The second headliner of the final day was Jazz Bass Theatre of Alex Rostotskiy (Moscow). Alex Rostotskiy’s discography constitutes 30 albums, his artistic portfolio features collaborations with vanguard musicians including an Indian violin player Lakshminarayana Subramaniam, French bass players Linley Marth and Dominque Di Piazza, drummers Billy Cobham (USA), Paco Sery (Cote d’Ivoire) and others.

In general, during the three days of the festival over 40 bands performed on Penza’s stages including on the outdoor Yubileynaya square.

The regional philharmonic hall had “sold-outs” on a German drummer Benny Grab with his “Benny Greb moving parts”, a quintet of a saxophonist Yuriy Psyanchin, a trio of a British pianist Anthony Strong, a Moscow band “Kle2go”. The honour to open the musical forum was given to a jazz band “Express Band” from Penza.