The 60th edition of the Jazz nad Odrą festival is scheduled for 23-28 April 2024. On this occasion, Culture Zone Wrocław will organise several dozen concerts and accompanying events at three locations. The main stage will be one of the newest cultural spaces in Lower Silesia, Impart Centrum at Piłsudskiego Street (the old Philharmonic building), the festival club again will be Vertigo Jazz Club & Restaurant, and some concerts will also take place at Firlej.
Traditionally, Wrocław will be visited by outstanding Polish and foreign artists who will not only play their concerts, but will also take part in night jam sessions, which will take place every day at the festival club. There are also plans for an evening called Wrocław Jazz Night, dedicated to the local music scene. Once again, there will also be a contest held for young musicians, during which the title of Wojtek Siwek Jazz Individuality, the Rybotrąbka statuette, as well as cash and material prizes are currently being awarded. In addition, the concert of the Grand Prix winner will open the second day of the festival at the main stage. A permanent part of the festival programme is also the final exhibition of the Marek Karewicz photography competition, MK Jazz Foto. Next year will mark the sixth edition of this event curated by Lech Basel.
The position of the artistic director of the festival is held since 2022 by Piotr Wojtasik – a trumpet virtuoso, excellent improviser and composer who has been speaking his own unique musical language for over 30 years. The author of the poster for the anniversary edition is Lech Twardowski, a renowned painter and performer.
The first edition of Jazz nad Odrą took place on 7-8 March 1964 at the Pałacyk club and in the auditorium of the Wrocław University of Technology. Two bands won the competition ex aequo: Jazz Band Ball and Ryszard Kruza Quartet, and the first poster was designed by Aleksander Fleischer.
