2021

Trinitate Plaza Keler hosted 10 concerts over 5 consecutive evenings, when the audience completely packed out the venue.

First up were Dave Douglas and Franco D’Andrea, with a concert featuring the North American trumpeter and the Italian pianist as they engaged in an imaginative and marvellous musical dialogue. Closing the evening was Cécile McLorin Salvant, one of the most interesting female Jazz voices, accompanied by the magnificent Sullivan Fortner on the piano.

On Thursday, July 22, we were treated to a fantastic Cuban soirée during which two pianists prevailed over San Sebastian’s persistent drizzle, known locally as sirimiri. The evening opened with Gonzalo Rubalcaba, in great form on the piano, and Aymée Nuviola with her impressive voice. The second concert began with presentation of the Donostiako Jazzaldia Award to Chucho Valdés. The Cuban pianist, moved to receive the same Donostiako Jazzaldia Award as had been presented to his father, Bebo Valdés, 18 years ago, went on to give a concert proving that he continues to hold a place among the best Latin Jazz pianists.

On Friday, July 23, we had the enormous pleasure of listening to two virtuosos on the piano. The evening kicked off with Marco Mezquida, bringing us his latest project, Talismán. The Menorcan was on top form and, as always, exuding talent. Next up was a genius on the piano, the master of masters Kenny Barron, with a marvellous Jazz performance, accompanied by an equally inspired Steve Nelson on the vibraphone, a magnificent Peter Washington on bass and the colossal Jonathan Blake on the drums.

The varied and exciting evening of Saturday, July 24, was put on for us by two female performers. First on stage was Naïssam Jalal with her Rhythms of Resistance, filling the air with heartfelt magic and exquisite serenity, a marvellous balance between the music of East and West. The second concert of the evening revolved around the incomparable voice of Noa, accompanied by the guitar of Gil Dor and featuring the piano of Iñaki Salvador as special guest. Together they delighted an audience who brought the concert to a close singing along to Txoria Txori and La vita è bella.

Finally, on July 25, two absolute leading lights of the Jazz world with their respective trios: the pianist Brad Mehldau, lyrical and extraordinary, and the guitarist Bill Frisell, with his accomplished and unique sound. The perfect icing on the cake for an edition at which Jazzaldia’s most symbolic stage once again offered unforgettable moments of the very finest artistic quality.

Audiences in the Kutxabank Kursaal Auditorioa enjoyed 5 great concerts given over the same number of days.

On Wednesday, July 21, José James and his spectacular voice, loaded with style and charm, set the bar way up high right from the very beginning.

The next day, Buika and her hugely personal style enchanted an audience who, eager to see and hear the singer from the Balearics, had already snapped up all tickets several days previously.

On Friday 23 Jorge Pardo and Niño Josele took to the stage to pay an emotional tribute to their friend, recently deceased: the great Chick Corea.

On Saturday 24 it was the turn of the young and brilliant Italian pianist Giovanni Guidi, also paying his own homage, this time to the Argentine sax-player Gato Barbieri – whose excellent performances at Jazzaldia were very special moments – fronting a stellar sextet featuring American and Transalpine musicians who gave a concert considered by some as one of the best at this year’s Jazzaldia.

Finally, on July 25, one of today’s finest voices, at the height of her maturity, Sílvia Pérez Cruz performed some of her most recent numbers with the Farsa Circus Band in a delightfully sensitive, delicate and subtle yet intense concert.

On Wednesday July 21, at 12:30, La Locomotora Negra received the Donostiako Jazzaldia Award before launching into a fantastic concert celebrating their 50th anniversary and proving that, even if they have decided to retire, they’re still on great form.

From the 22nd to the 25th, also at 12:30, Jazzaldia hosted the seventh edition of JazzEñe, a festival organised by the SGAE Foundation with the focus on internationally presenting and promoting the careers of Spanish Jazz musicians. The event came with 4 double performances given by the crème de la crème of Spanish Jazz: on Thursday 22, the Ariel Brínguez Quintet and Camerino Quintet; on July 23, the trios of two fabulous pianists, Daniel García and Chano Domínguez; on the 24th, the Catalan quintet Smack Dab and the Galician trio Sumrrá; and, finally, on Sunday 25th, the trumpeter Alba Careta and the Andalusian duo Manolo y Curra.

At 11:00 every morning aficionados flocked to the cloister of San Telmo Museoa to attend the sold-out performances for 120 people where they were able to enjoy unplugged solo piano concerts in a unique setting with a warm and intimate atmosphere.

Franco D’Andrea, maestro of Italian Jazz, equally versed in traditional and avant-guard language, charmed us with his elegance on July 21. On the 22nd and 23rd, with two different programmes, Poland’s innovative and different Marcin Masecki paid tribute to the great Thelonious Monk on the first day while taking a trip down the ragtime memory lane on the second, two concerts that will remain in the memory of all attendees. The brilliant Marco Mezquida brought the audience to their feet for a resounding ovation on July 24. And, finally, on Sunday 25th, Iñaki Salvador treated us to a varied programme full of nods to his admired composers, including Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Bach and Duke Ellington.

This year there were two concerts in Chillida Leku, on an incomparable stage, surrounded by art and nature, where the audience enjoyed music sitting on the cool green grass as the sun went down.

On Sunday July 18, in a festival warm-up performance, singer Cécile McLorin Salvant and pianist Sullivan Fortner delighted attendees with music perfectly suited to the setting’s bucolic atmosphere. On the 24th, with his Ceramic Dog trio, Marc Ribot did completely the opposite, with a magnificent and energetic concert showing the unpredictable guitarist and singer’s most spirited and combative side.

25 concerts were held in the Frigo Gunea and Guuk Gunea, 5 a day, all free and with a great turnout of attendees who often filled all available 800 places.

Here the audience were treated to the performances of 10 local groups selected for the edition, of the 4 groups selected on the Katapulta Tour and the 5 selected for having released an album in the last two years. Added to the aforementioned were the quintets of Jean Toussaint and Éric Séva.