Woody Allen's clarinet opens the Barcelona Jazz Festival
Double date with the filmmaker and musician, the first of a series of artists who will perform in the city until the end of the year.
He is especially known for the films he makes, with which he has won the hearts of the public or, at the very least, the European public. But, still, Woody Allen has a second (or first?) love: jazz. You will have the opportunity to witness his passion for the clarinet during the two days of concerts (18th and 19th of September) with which the North American artist opens this year's edition of the Barcelona Jazz Festival.
The festival begins these days and will schedule performances in various venues, among which the Teatre Tívoli, yes, but also the Palau de la Música Catalana, the Auditori, Paral·lel 62, the room Luz de Gas or public spaces like the Moll de la Fusta, where on the 25th of this month they organise a new edition of Jazz & Food, a gastronomic and jazz event with guests such as Dàmaris Gelabert, or the Sant Andreu Dixie Band, among others.
However, everything will start with Woody Allen and His New Orleans Jazz Band, an artist and band making their debut at the Festival and who will bring to the Teatre Tívoli a repertoire that revives the great moments of the genre and that is influenced by the cinematic universe of Allen. Indeed, at some point during the concert, you will see the jazz guitarist Emmet Ray, a fictional character from the 1999 film Sweet and Lowdown (Sweet and Lowdown) who is modelled on the creator of jazz manouche, Django Reinhardt.
With Woody Allen and his clarinet, you will have on stage Simon Wettenhall (trumpet and musical direction, shared with the also pianist Conal Fowkes), Kevin Dorn(drums), Jerry Zigmont (trombone) and Josh Dunn (banjo). They will all offer you a sample of their unconditional love for jazz. Did you know, by the way, that the real name of Woody Allen is not "Woody" but Allan Stewart Konigsberg and that he precisely adopted Woody as a stage name in tribute to the clarinettist, saxophonist and orchestra conductor Woody Herman?
The performance by Woody Allen is just the first in a spectacular programme full of essential names. Kenny Barron (16th of October), Chucho Valdés (17th of October), Bebel Gilberto (26th of October), Michel Camilo (7th of November), José Mercé (10th of November), Clara Peya (15th of November), Andrea Motis (24th of November) or Ariel Roth with Kiko Veneno (1st of December) are just some of the many essential dates of the Barcelona Jazz Festival.
If you don't want to miss the performance of Woody Allen and want to know the full schedule of the Barcelona Jazz Festival, check their website.