Yamaha Jazz Festival
Sunday October 22, Open 12:00- / Start 13:00-, ACT City Hamamatsu / Main Hall
Themed around the concept of "Encounters you can only have here," the Yamaha Jazz Festival has always maintained a focus on true jazz. In this, its 26th year, the festival places the spotlight on "the jazz of today." With mainstream jazz and its unique blend of tradition and constant evolution, bossa nova, which has taken on elements of jazz as it evolves, and jazz ensembles at the forefront of the genre, this event features three stages that offer you the chance to experience jazz as it is today.
- PART.1
Modern Tenor Madness! - "2 TENORS" featuring Toshio Miki and Eric Alexander
- PART.2
A refreshing breeze from Brazil - LISA ONO with Brazilian Friends 2017
- PART.3
Experience the cutting edge of jazz - Miho Hazama m_unit
Student Jazz Festival
Saturday October 14, Open 12:00- / Start 12:30-, ACT City Hamamatsu / Concert Hall
Featuring nine junior and senior high school big bands chosen from throughout Japan. Japan's preeminent student jazz festival will be held again this year, welcoming Nobuo Hara from the former leader of "Sharps and Flats", and jazz trombonist Yuzo Kataoka as instructors. Let's hope these young musicians have the fortitude to take on the future of jazz in Japan.
Seeing things through "Jazz-eyes" with Masahiko Sato — The composers who heard George Gershwin
Sunday October 15, Open 13:30- / Start 14:00-, ACT City Hamamatsu Seminar and Exchange Center Music Workshop Hall
Jazz experts with find a lot to laugh at in Masahiko Sato's jazz foray with this unique new event. Enjoy a fascinating mélange of tunes from Gershwin, who broke new ground with his fusion of classical music and jazz, along with pieces from Ravel, Debussy, and Schoenberg, and other contemporaries. This knowledge-filled, humorous foray into the passage of time from a jazz perspective is a must-see.
Jazzy Night! Famous classics to enjoy with Jazz
Monday October 16, Open 18:00- / Start 19:00-, Porte Theater
Enjoy jazz versions of beautiful melodies that everyone has heard at least once! Gifted young jazz flautist Makiyo Sakai leads some extremely talented musicians through jazz improvisations based on famous pieces. Enjoy the intoxicating mood of a jazzy, sophisticated evening.
JAZZ Lecture — the 100th anniversary of the beginning of jazz recordings: Enjoy 100 years of jazz hits
Thursday October 19, Open 18:30- / Start 19:00-, Tournez La Page
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first recording of what is known as "jazz." Listen to and compare famous songs and hit tunes created during that period, and gain an appreciation for the noted recordings made over the past 100 years. Shinya Takagi, a renowned music critic friendly with musicians around the world, explains the attractions of jazz in an easy-to-understand manner. To close, Mr. Takagi will introduce those parts of this year's Yamaha Jazz Festival you should be sure to take in.
Family Jazz Concert
Saturday October 21, Open 13:30- / Start 14:00-, Create Hamamatsu / Hall
Familiar children's songs take on a whole new life with jazz! Hirotaka Nakagawa, composer of "SEKAIJU NO KODOMOTACHI" (Children around the world) joins his jazz aficionado friends MCQ, along with the must-see Keropons and their "EBI&KANI" for an event featuring picture books, dancing, magic tricks, and jokes that is guaranteed to be filled with fun! So, let's see who is going to sing and dance the most this year!
Street Jazz Festival
Sunday October 22, Open 11:00-, Hamamatsu Station North Exit Plaza (Kitara), ZAZA City Hamamatsu Central Plaza, Soramo, Kaji-machi Yamaha hall, Act City Sunken Plaza, etc.
Free concert events held concurrently in open spaces on street corners in downtown Hamamatsu fill the town with jazz. Talk a walk downtown and enjoy the enthusiastic performances from local bands and ensembles!