The popular Happy Big Band Weekend returns
Text Mark Taylor Photo Silver Gutmann
This weekend, the popular Happy Big Band Weekend will return. Although the majority of the festival will take place at the Estonian National Museum in Tartu, there will also be a concert in Tallinn. The star guest for the jazz-filled weekend will be the internationally famous conductor, drummer, and composer Roger Johansen.
On March 2 and 3, the Estonian National Museum in Tartu will be filled with the sound of big band jazz as part of the Happy Big Band Weekend, which is celebrating its 10th birthday this weekend. The festival is part of Tartu’s European Capital of Culture 2024 programme.
Roger Johansen, from Norway, is famed for his contributions to the jazz scene. That don’t just include a career as a conductor, drummer, and composer, but also an event organiser.
Big Band Tartu will perform compositions by Johansen on Saturday, March 2, at a concert starting at 3 pm, with the famous conductor at the helm. Joining the lineup on Saturday are City Jazz Riga jazz school Big Band from Latvia, led by saxophonist Karlis Vanags and trombonist Karļis Alfreds Feldbergs.
Sunday’s concert, which starts at 1 pm, has more of an Estonian feel with the Uku Konsap Big Band and Eller Big Band gracing the stage in Tartu.
The event isn’t just restricted to Tartu, with a concert also taking place on March 3 at the Kaja Cultural Centre in Tallinn. There audience members will be treated to performances from the Horre Zeiger Big Band and the Tallinn Technical University Big Band.
Admission to all of the concerts at the Estonian National Museum in Tartu is free.
To learn more about this and similar topics
Big Band Weekend
Estonian National Museum
Happy Big Band Weekend
jazz
Live Music
Roger Johansen
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