In the rhythm of jazz

Belgrade did not see John Scofield in 1986. Opting for the uncertainty of a solo career instead of a secure job in the Miles Davis band, the guitarist showed courage that bore fruit - twenty years later, Big Sco finally arrives in Jazz City, hailed as one of the main characters of contemporary music, whose various lineups during were sovereignly on top of the jazz planet for decades

When we opened a new chapter in the history of the festival last year, the feeling of enthusiasm was mixed with the feeling of uncertainty - until the night when the audience in the packed Great Hall of Dom omladine showered the music of the Dave Holland Quintet with a standing ovation. We looked forward to his Grammy this year, feeling truly part of the world, and then understood that we had imposed on ourselves the obligation to continue on the same path this year.

We wanted to go out now to the prestigious city spaces: from the Union House, where exactly a quarter of a century ago Duke Ellington opened the first Newport Jazz Festival; through Kolarc, which reminds us that we were an important European capital and nurtures the hope that we will meet again in the community of European nations; to the Bitef Art Cafe, which for years has been the best example of a city that loves to live and enjoy the night. The facility of Dom Omladine - the former Dancing Hall - witnessed the famous jam sessions in the 70s, and now it opens its heart to hot intersections of jazz and other genres: from primitive blues, through inspirations from Balkan music, to DJ culture. When the young musicians from the RTS Big Band, fed up with the success of Montreux, play the first beats Blouse march in honor of the legendary Benny Golson, the WHOLE CITY will dance to the rhythm of jazz. The meeting of tradition and futurism, which we promoted last year and which we continue to nurture, ensures that this rhythm has both an ancient flavor and is modern, and that the variety of sounds we hear take us on a journey around the world in a century of permeating influences and exploring exciting new expanses.

The Belgrade Jazz Festival 2006, the 22nd in a row, proudly welcomes many great stars of world jazz to its city for the first time. John Scofield, first of all - in the company of the legendary bassist Steve Swallow and Bill Stewart, the drum wizard; Dave Douglas – undisputedly the best jazz trumpet player in the world in recent years; Jon Hassel – the forefather of electronics and new age; James Blood Almer – the last great explorer of blues heritage; DJ Luciano Kantone - the world's biggest promoter of neo bose; Soweto Kinch - a kid who definitely put together the jazz tradition with the music of the new century, bebop and hiphop... Presenting three recent winners of the European Jazz Prize - Wolfgang Matschpil, est-Esbjorn Svensson Trio and, our own, Bojan Z - we know that we are keeping pace with Europe. Many friends from abroad - musicians, journalists and amateur lovers - convinced us of this, looking through the catalog from last year's festival. In the second year of its new life, the Belgrade Jazz Festival has already become a strong regional festival, attracting the attention of jazz lovers far from the Balkans. With the artists who wanted to participate in the festival this year, but who are not in the program, several more strong regional festivals could be put together. But, faced with limited financial possibilities - which is similar to all previous editions of the Belgrade Jazz Festival - we had to stop somewhere and wait.

Along with the Belgrade City Assembly, without whose patronage this manifestation would not have been held, this year we collaborated with embassies, cultural centers and non-governmental organizations of Austria, Denmark, France, the USA, Switzerland and Sweden, which will provide an opportunity to get to know the greatest jazz achievements from different parts of the world. We dream that Belgrade will become a mandatory stop for artists who shape the current jazz moment, as well as for travelers looking for real excitement. We are getting ready. We match the step. In the rhythm of jazz.