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The largest gathering in the jazz field, the annual showcase festival and conference jazzahead!, has announced this year’s program. In the CLUBNIGHT program, Baltic countries have united their forces for the first time. Estonia will be represented by Kadri Voorand alongside Mihkel Mälgand. The beloved long CLUBNIGHT jazz night, which takes place on Friday evening, features approximately 35 concert venues each year. Clubs, bars, theaters, museums, churches, and hotels become lively spots for music. In the main program, where 40 artists are selected from hundreds of bands by a panel of experts, the Estonia-Sweden ensemble Tuulikki Bartosik and Svante Söderqvist Trio – The Rocket will perform this year.

Kadri Voorand is a versatile vocalist, pianist, and composer, whose passionate performances have gained widespread acclaim both at home and abroad. A significant testament to her talent is her latest album, released under the legendary ACT label. The broader jazz genre, as an improvisational style, appeals to Kadri Voorand through the high-energy output of spontaneous expression. In 2020, the Estonian Jazz Union recognized the duo Kadri Voorand in duo with Mihkel Mälgand with the title of Jazz Ensemble of the Year. Her concert tours have taken her to prestigious festivals worldwide, including Pori Jazz in Finland, Jazz Baltica in Germany, the EFG London Jazz Festival in the UK, the Cheltenham Jazz Festival in the UK, Tampere Jazz Happening in Finland, and the Beijing Nine Gates Jazz Festival in China.

The Rocket (SE/EE) seamlessly blends the Swedish Svante Söderqvist trio (pianist Adam Forkelid and drummer Calle Rasmusson) with the Estonian-Swedish accordion innovator Tuulikki Bartosik. Leading the ensemble is Svante Söderqvist, whose unique style is expressed through double bass, cello, and occasionally wordless vocals. His soulful compositions lay the foundation for the group’s musical explorations. Tuulikki Bartosik enriches these with expressive accordion techniques and nuanced electronic effects. By blending acoustic and electronic elements, bridging the old and the new, and weaving the familiar with the unexpected, these four versatile musicians create a dynamic new whole. The ensemble will also perform at the upcoming Tallinn Music Week jazz stage.

jazzahead! has been held annually since 2006 in Bremen, Germany, covering a fair, conference, and showcase festival program. From April 24–26, 2025, the jazz world will gather to network, exchange ideas, attend conferences and panels, and experience 38 showcase concerts in the official program as well as the CLUBNIGHT program. In 2024, the festival had nearly 3,000 professional participants from 66 countries and 15,000 general visitors. jazzahead! is considered the largest jazz event in the world, where all the main figures in the field come together – musicians, record labels, agencies, festival organizers, program directors, and media representatives. The full program can be found here: https://jazzahead.de/festival/#program.

The joint representation at the jazzahead! showcase festival is coordinated by Music Estonia and the Estonian Jazz Union, with the aim of continuing to promote Estonian jazz music internationally to create new export opportunities for Estonian jazz musicians and expand their global network. Baltic partners include the Latvian Music Information Centre and the Lithuanian Jazz Union. Partners of the CLUBNIGHT program include Zentrum für Kunst (ZkR) and Senatskanzlei Bremen (Bremen City Government). The CLUBNIGHT Baltic Night is part of the 40th anniversary of the partnership between Riga and Bremen. Estonia’s participation is supported by the Estonian Ministry of Culture and the Estonian Cultural Endowment. The reception is supported by Punch Club, with the tech area managed by Studio Sound and Valge Klaar.

CLUBNIGHT Program on April 25 at Zentrum für Kunst:
19:00–19:45 Kadri Voorand & Mihkel Mälgand
19:45–20:30 Baltic Reception
20:30–21:15 Matīss Čudars Trio (LV)
21:45–22:30 Weird Ugly Fish (LT)

Main Program on April 26 at HALL 7.1:
18:30–19:00 Svante Söderqvist Trio & Tuulikki Bartosik – THE ROCKET (SE/EE)

You can still join the delegation! Music Estonia offers a discount code, with a cost of 155 EUR + tax (19%). To receive the code, please contact the project manager, who will provide further information on how to join – Greete Paršin, greete@musicestonia.eu.