Curtis Stigers, American jazz singer;
Credit: J. Schlenker
The cultural centre Opderschmelz and the City of Dudelange have announced the twelfth edition of the Like a Jazz Machine festival, set to take place from Wednesday 8 to Sunday 12 May 2024 at the St Martin Church, CCRD Opderschmelz and at the Kantin in Dudelange.
The 2024 festival is open to music enthusiasts ready to venture on a journey into the world of jazz, with a focus on new creations, emerging talent and “adventurous” crossovers. Nineteen bands featuring over 70 musicians from all over the world will stage their current projects over five consecutive days. The festival will present various kinds of jazz, from its more traditional to its most innovative forms.
Speaking to Chronicle.lu, Patricia Jochheim, responsible for booking and administration at Opderschmelz, shared some highlights for the upcoming festival, including internationally renowned jazz organist Barbara Dennerlein, American singer Curtis Stigers, guitarist Dominic Miller, British saxophonist and composer Andy Sheppard and Jazz trumpeter Airelle Besson, as well as Cuban drummer Lukmil Pérez, British drummer and composer Sebastian Rochford and jazz pianist and singer Gregory Privat.
For this year’s artist residencies, visitors can expect to discover Luxembourg-based artists such as Claire Parsons, Daniel Migliosi and Pascal Schumacher, among others. On Friday and Saturday, the focus will be on the national scene with seven different ensembles performing in two different venues, Patricia Jochheim added. An after-party with DJ Gea Russell will also take place at the Kantin on Saturday night.
Discussing the booking process and choice of artists, Patricia Jochheim noted that Opderschmelz aims to offer the public art outside the mainstream: “Jazz is niche music and its audience is limited. Therefore, one of the criteria is that the project is a new one with which the musician has not recently performed in the Greater Region. Also, I try to put together an exciting mix with both famous and lesser-known musical acts. Another important part is to support and promote the national scene by inviting musicians as 'artists in residence' every year. We offer them the opportunity and professional conditions to plan, rehearse and finally present their new project at the festival.”
She concluded: “Like a Jazz Machine 2024 offers a wide range of contemporary jazz music, with an emphasis on original creations and rising talents, focusing as well on cross-border incursions in other musical styles.”
A day ticket for Wednesday costs €25, with other day tickets costing €40; the full festival pass costs €85. More information on the lineup and tickets are available via the website: https://jazzmachine.lu/
