A meeting between Japan and Denmark. For Japan Now!, Aarhus Jazz Festival has asked the Danish saxophonist and composer Julie Kjær to assemble a band of like-minded Japanese musicians. Thus, we will be dealing with an exciting new constellation, which will be performing at Hotel Carmel. The music is an exploration of traditional Japanese folk music, explosive Japanese free jazz, brooding Danish folk, and improv – in a meeting of three virtuosic musicians from different cultures. Noritaka Tanaka and Daysuke Takaoka are both active on the Japanese jazz and experimental music scene but have also performed with international jazz artists such as Peter Brötzmann, Axel Dörner, and Jakob Bro from Denmark. After having lived in London for the past seven years, Julie Kjær has become deeply attached to both the Danish free jazz and London improv scenes. She has drawn attention to herself on the European experimental jazz scene, especially with her trio Julie Kjær 3, where she plays alongside seasoned Brits John Edwards and Steve Noble. Of all places, Julie Kjær 3 toured Japan in the Spring of 2017, and now it's time for a Japanese trio to journey the opposite way. We look forward to opening new doors to unknown musical territories with this performance. With the mini festival Japan Now!, Aarhus Jazz Festival moves into the new venue Hotel Carmen in order to celebrate Aarhus as European Culture Capital and the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Denmark and Japan. On this day, Hotel Carmel will also host concerts by Makiko Hirabyashi Trio, GOAT and Turtle Yama. We would like to thank EU Japan Fest, Toyota-Fonden and Augustinus Fonden for their support for Japan Now! and with support from DJBFA – Composer and Songwriters Production Pool and Kodas Cultural Funds”.

Read more about Noritaka Tanaka / Daysuke Takaoka / Julie Kjær – Japan Now!