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Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival Highlighting Grammy Award-Winning Performers Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival

Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival Highlighting Grammy Award-Winning Performers

Written by  Jul 30, 2024

This year’s festival will bring together top-tier artists, including three exceptional performers: Linda May Han Oh, Nicole Zuraitis, and Thana Alexa, who is also the co-founder and artistic director of the festival.

The second edition of the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival promises an unforgettable musical experience for all visitors, featuring performances by three remarkable artists whose talent and passion enrich the world of jazz. The festival program includes three resident bands – Linda May Han Oh & The Glass Hours, Nicole Zuraitis Quartet, and Thana Alexa featuring Antonio Sánchez and Michael League. This impressive group of internationally acclaimed artists will stay on the island as performers and mentors throughout the festival. This festival not only celebrates music but also connects cultural diversities and promotes artistic collaboration on a global level.

Linda May Han Oh is an outstanding bassist, composer, and educator. Her innovative expressiveness and top-notch improvisations have made her one of the most dynamic rising stars on today’s jazz scene. She began her musical career playing piano, bassoon, and electric bass guitar before starting double bass at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in 2002, where she graduated with top honors. Oh was a finalist for the James Morrison Scholarship in 2003, became a member of the IAJE Sisters in Jazz in 2004, and received the ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award in 2008. Grammy-winning bassist and composer Linda May Han Oh performed at the 30th anniversary of the Jazz.hr festival at the Music Academy in Zagreb in 2020. That same year, for the third consecutive time, she topped the International Jazz Journalists’ list in the bassist category. As an associate professor at Berklee College of Music and a member of the Institute for Jazz and Gender Justice, Linda has released five critically acclaimed albums. 카지노총판

"I am very excited to come to the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival in Croatia from August 29 to 31. I look forward to socializing and playing with all the musicians. I will hold a masterclass and am very happy to share my experiences with all participants. Also, I hope visitors will enjoy the concert of my band, The Glass Hours," emphasized Linda May Han Oh.

Nicole Zuraitis is a Grammy-winning and two-time nominated jazz singer, songwriter, pianist, and arranger based in New York. As the winner of the prestigious American Traditions Vocal Competition in 2021, Nicole is known for her extraordinary musical expressiveness and original music. She conquered the music world this year by winning a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album with her album "How Love Begins." This award is just one of the highlights of her vibrant career. In fact, Nicole and her husband, drummer Dan Pugach, earned a Grammy nomination in 2019 for their jazz cover of Dolly Parton’s song "Jolene."

"I am incredibly happy to bring my band from New York. We will celebrate my Grammy-winning album 'How Love Begins' in a great atmosphere and enjoy the natural beauties that adorn Croatia," said Nicole Zuraitis.

Thana Alexa is the co-founder and artistic director of the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival in Croatia, which aims to connect the wealth of musical talent from the Balkans with some of the most renowned jazz artists from around the world. Her album "ONA" was twice nominated for a Grammy and is inspired by the intergenerational and intercultural stories of Croatian women from her family and has developed into an exploration of the experiences of contemporary women worldwide. One of Thana's most important and ongoing collaborations is with her husband, four-time Grammy winner Antonio Sánchez. Together, they have recorded over six albums with their own ensembles, as well as projects by other artists. During the coronavirus pandemic, Thana co-founded the "Live From Our Living Rooms" initiative, which raised significant funds to help socially disadvantaged musicians.

Admission to jazz concerts is free for all visitors, and during the festival, from August 29 to 31, a free boat transfer for the audience from Dubrovnik is organized by the Argosy boat, departing daily from Gruž harbor (across from the market) and from Lopud in front of the Lafodia hotel.

The creative platform Ponta Lopud hosts and represents three summer cultural programs in 2024 and warmly welcomes all art lovers, primarily film, music, and literature enthusiasts. The Ponta Lopud summer projections, the first of the three events celebrating film art, took place from June 27 to 29. The second event, which will attract music lovers to the island from August 29 to 31, is the popular Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival. This year’s novelty of the creative platform is the launch of a new, third summer festival, Ponta Lopud Book Bridge, which will run from September 27 to 29, wrapping up the summer events and closing the cultural and artistic season of Lopud.

For more information on the program, schedule, and performances, visit jazz.pontalopud.hr and the social media pages of the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival!

 

The Voice of Dubrovnik

THE VOICE OF DUBROVNIK


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