Festival

International Jazz Festival Prague (IJF) belongs among oldest jazz festivals in Europe. XXXII. International Jazz Festival Prague takes place in dates 24th November - 5th December 2008. You can look forward to every evening jazz shows in Retro Music Hall and other concerts in Reduta Club and Rock Café Prague.

This year festival introduces many international and czech artists, that play jazz, Blues, Gospels and gypsy rythms.

The main star of the festival is a band from Macedonia KOCANI ORKESTAR . Their music is based on Gypsy tunes from various parts of the Balkans and on Turkish/Bulgarian rhythms, with a sprinkle of Latin flavour. This band will open the festival in RETRO MUSIC HALL on the 24th November at 8 PM.

In Reduta Jazz Club will take place concerts of Vesna V. Caceres (CHR) and Steve White (USA), Krosly (SWE) and Jesse Ballard Band (USA). From czech jazz musicians and bands will present František Kop, Milan Svoboda Q, Emil Viklický (CZ), Jazz Q Martina Kratochvíla (CZ), Šavle meče (CZ), Volf Labband Big Band (CZ) and Gypsy Quartet of A. Gondolán (CZ).

In Rock Café will itroduce a bulgarian folklor of Theodosii Spassov (BG). Theodosii Spassov plays the kaval (special bulgarian flute) He has developed his own unique style of playing the instrument by synthesizing traditional folklore with jazz, fusion and classical music.

The XXXII. International Jazz F Praguee close  a gospel show of Cedric Shannon Rives (USA) in the Sv. Salvator Church.

A few names from festival's history:  Mr. ACKER BILK & HIS PARAMOUNT JAZZ BAND (1964 & 1982), DUKE ELLINGTON ORCHESTRA (1968), COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA & OSCAR PETERSON & BIG JOE TURNER (1974), BENNY GOODMAN (1976), DIDIER LOCKWOOD (1984), STÉPHANNE GRAPPELLI QUARTET (1988), B.B.KING (1990) , CHICK COREA ELEKTRIC BAND (1991), DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET (1996), TONY BENNET & RALPH SHARON TRIO (1997), NEW YORK VOICES (1998), MAL WALDRON, ALBERT MANGELSDORFF (2001), RHODA SCOTT (2006) and other.