Baltic Visitor

The name ‘Christmas Jazz‘ (Joulujazz in Estonian) may well strike fear into your heart: surely not a festival of Christmas carols performed in a jazz style? Or some kind of Wizzard-meets-Miles-Davis fusion fest?

Thankfully not. Christmas Jazz is simply a jazz festival which takes place in the run-up to Christmas, and what’s more it has a commendably inclusive definition of jazz. The headlining act this year is South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, whose Zulu singing styles do not make them an obvious choice. They are, nevertheless, hugely popular and their December 4th concert has already sold out.

Other performers are drawn from Tunisia, Sweden, Finland, Germany and of course Estonia, with concerts held in Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu, Viljandi, Jõhvi and Rapla. There are some intriguing items in the line-up: a performance bringing together Tunisian vocalist and oud player Dhafer Youssef and Estonian choir Vox Clamantis, known for its Gregorian chant, promises a ’symbiosis of old music, Tunisian ornamental improvisations and jazz’.

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