Jazz swings on at Musikhuset

The popular and free Ridehuset Swings concerts continue in a new setting and with more stages. Now it’s Musikhuset (The Concert Hall), that will be swinging to the max over four days during the jazz week

When one door closes, a new one usually opens. This is also the case for the traditional Ridehuset Swings event at Aarhus Jazz Festival.
Officerspladsen is currently a construction site for ARoS art museum’s “Next Level” extension above and below ground. That means there’ s not enough room around Ridehuset and no space for big concerts.

Expanding a Great Collaboration
However, good advice comes cheap when you have a good partner with a heart and room for jazz nearby, like the organizer Aarhus Jazz Orchestra did.
Since Aarhus’ first jazz festival in 1989, The Concert Hall has staged several jazz concerts, and it has become a tradition to have an opening concert with Aarhus Jazz Orchestra and a major international soloist – this year it’s the Brazilian pianist and singer Eliane Elias. But Aarhus Jazz Orchestra is usually to be found on stage at The Concert Hall anyway throughout the year.

– We already have a good collaboration, so it was only natural to continue and expand, so this year and the next two or three years we will move the Ridehus concerts here under the name Musikhuset Swinger (Musikhuset Swings), says Musikhuset’s artistic director Jeppe Uggerhøj and head of Aarhus Jazz Orchestra Anders Ørbæk.

Similar – but Different
This should reassure everyone who loves the Ridehus concerts during the jazz week. Just go next door to find them, and from Wednesday to Saturday there will be concerts with both small ensembles, guest big bands, and – every night – Aarhus Jazz Orchestra led by an excellent soloist. This year, harmonica virtuoso Mathias Heise will join the band to present music by Toots Thielemans.
In other words, a familiar concept in a new setting, with additions and improvements.

– In the Concert Hall, we can host music on three different stages adapted to each band and audience size. The big band concerts will be played in the South Foyer, while the smaller concerts will take place on the Café Stage and outdoors by the Mirror Pool, says Jeppe Uggerhøj.

But can the foyer host as many people as Ridehuset?
Jeppe Uggerhøj’s answer is yes. There may even be considerably more, and in addition, the foyer will be opened up so that people can also listen in from the square outside.

More Concerts and Greater Variety
– The additional smaller stages allow for a bigger program with more variety. There will be something for every jazz fan, both the more familiar and the experimental, including late-night concerts where various musicians from Aarhus Jazz Orchestra present their own exciting projects, says Anders Ørbæk.
As examples, he mentions the concert with Kati Brien and guests, Michael Bladts Clash, and Lars Vissing in the company of KALEIIDO and Rumpistol.

In terms of big bands, he highlights the fact that there is also room left for young jazz talents. Look out for concerts by Danish Youth Jazz Orchestra and the International Youth Big Band Camp, led by the charismatic conductor of the DR Big Band, Miho Hazama.

Visit the Jazz Container
As a new addition, the KISSA jazz container in front of Musikhuset will be part of the event. Inside and around it you can attend jazz talks and fun jazz activities for children or listen to the concerts in the Concert Hall on headphones. The Jazz Container also serves as an info booth for Aarhus Jazz Festival.

SEE ALL THE CONCERTS IN THE JAZZFESTIVAL PROGRAM