Jazzing up Prishtina

Prishtina Jazz Festival kicked off on November 1, promising a week of saxophone blasts, drum beats, and deep bass sounds.
Prishtina Jazz Festival has been growing, and screaming for more international jazz stars to come to Kosovo, to entertain an enthusiastic audience and mix with local musicians and artists. And this year, the organizers say, it’s going to be an extra special program – because everybody wants to be here.
This year marks the fifth coming of the annual jazz gathering, and organizers say that they did not expect the event to grow into such an important date on the country’s cultural calendar.
Festival director Ilir Bajri said that reaching the fifth year was a milestone he had set for the event to demonstrate that a jazz festival could work in Kosovo.
He said: “Only in this way we would prove that a decent jazz festival can be organised in Kosovo and, more importantly, to prove that there is a need for such a festival.
“Prishtina Jazz Festival, acclaimed as one of the most important cultural events in the country, has managed to bring famous and important artists from across the world and has stimulated and encouraged the development and improvement of the local jazz scene.”
Bajri added that his ‘baby’ has also found its place in the network of European and world jazz festivals.
Over the years, the festival has hosted world famous musicians such as Uri Caine, Reggie Washington, Giulio Martino, Hans-Joachim Roedelius, Robin Verheyen, Aki Rissanen, Peppe La Pussata, Tim Story, Francesco D’Errico, Yiotis Kiourtisoglou and many others. According to Bajri, besides delivering extraordinary performances, the world stars also became dear friends of the festival and are promoting it throughout the world.
He also sees the festival as a good opportunity for Kosovar musicians to discover new influences, and opportunities to present their music on foreign stages.
“We are convinced that we’re on the right path and that the future Prishtina Jazz Festival will continue to get better and more fruitful,” explained Bajri, adding that the event would not be possible without generous donors.
“Jazz brings people together, and that’s the fundamental point of this festival,” said Bajri.