The 3rd JazzQ Festival, founded by the acclaimed St. Petersburg-born musician Andrei Kondakov, will be held in the city's Peter and Paul Fortress. It looks set to continue to live up to its motto, Jazz Quality, with this year's lineup featuring internationally acclaimed performers such as the Dutch guitarist Jan Akkerman, a founder of the icon band Focus, and the bands led by the American bassist Marcus Miller and the percussionist Dave Wackel.
Kondakov's trio is to appear together with the legendary American vocalist Mark Murphy, whose album "Stolen Moments," released in the 1970s, became an instant classic.
Elisabeth Kontomanou of France will be the festival's special guest this year. She began her career as a jazz singer by performing with Michel Legrand's big band. In 2004, she won the prestigious Jazz Mobile award.
Among the projects to be presented at the festival, there are all-Russian ventures, like Alexander Rostotsky's Jazz Bass Theater, and international ones, like the Lithuanian-Russian-German trio of Petras Vyshniauskas, Vladimir Volkov and Klaus Kuegel, collaborating with St. Petersburg-based trumpeter Vyacheslav Gaivoronsky.
Along with performances by international stars, St. Petersburg's jazz lovers will also be treated to non-stop outdoor jam sessions.
