Pula Jazz Season and Backstage Live

The Backstage Live Festival brings together eight concerts to the Croatian city of Pula. The festival spans from May until December and takes place at two of the city’s most iconic venues. In May and June, the Istrian National Theater (INK) with its excellent acoustics, will be used. In July and August, the festival ventures outside to the amazing setting and backdrop of Pula’s spectacular 2,000 year old amphitheatre.

The Christian McBride’s Big Band:

The six time Grammy winner and world’s finest double bassist Christian McBride will open the Jazz Festival with the seventeen piece ”The Christian McBride’s Big Band” on the 9th of May, 2018. The American Jazz virtuoso has recorded over 300 albums with leading world musicians of various genres. He has also recorded fourteen albums alone. During the Pula concert, ”The Christian McBride’s Big Band” will offer a live performance of the last and Grammy winning album entitled “Bringin ‘It”.

 

 

One of the worlds leading saxophonists with twenty solo albums, James Carter will delight the Pula crowd on the 26th of May, 2018. Often praised by world jazz critics the world-renowned multi-instrumentalist, he has recorded over fifty albums with numerous leading world musicians. At the festival, ”The New James Carter Outlet” will feature compositions by Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau and Gene Amonsa.

 

 

 

Playing the concert version of his latest album “1970” will be the Israeli bassist, singer, composer, and one of the most successful Israeli jazz musicians. He will bring his unique, signature sound which is a blend of Middle-Eastern, Eastern European and African-American musical idioms to Pula on the 28th of May, 2018.

 

 

 

The Grammy and multi award winning Elvis Costello will perform at Pula Arena along with his band, The Imposters, on the 8th of July, 2018. Costello is married to the Canadian jazz pianist and singer Diana Krall and is ranked in the top 100 greatest artists of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. His first three albums also appeared in the magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums. With a huge back catalogue to choose from, the band will play many of the classic tracks as well as tracks from the new album which is due for release later in the year.

 

Amira Medunjanin and Trondheim Solistene:

In August, the Bosnia and Herzegovina singer Amira Medunjanin will share the stage with the Trondheim Soloists. The musical ensemble of string players from Norway, along with Amira and her incredible voice, will perform at Pula arena on the 3rd of August, 2018.

Charles Aznavour:

With a career spanning over seventy years and with over 1,200 songs recorded and 180 million sales achieved, the legendary Charles Aznavour will grace the Pula coliseum on the 16th of August, 2018.With his unique tenor voice, he has has often been dubbed France’s Frank Sinatra.

 

 

In September, the incredible blues/jazz/folk and gospel singer Lizz Wright will delight the Pula audience with her angelic voice. With a wide variety of her own music plus renditions of fellow artists, this American vocalist is not to be missed on the 26th of September, 2018.

 

 

Often performing in both French and English, and playing tracks from her upcoming album ”Anthem” (due for release on the 31st of August, 2018 ) will be the American vocalist Madeleine Peyroux. She will be bringing her unique and expressive funk/blues and jazz style to Pula on the 10th of December, 2018.

 

Location: The Istrian National Theatre (INK)

9th of May, 2018 – The Christian McBride’s Big Band 

26th of May, 2018 – James Carter’s Elektrik Outlet 

28th of June, 2018 – Avishai Cohen 

26th of September, 2018 – Lizz Wright – Tickets 

10th of December, 2018 – Madeleine Peyroux

 

Location: Pula Arena 

8th of July, 2018 – Elvis Costello and The Imposters 

3rd of August, 2018 – Amira Medunjanin and Trondheim Solistene  

16th of August – Charles Aznavour 

Tickets are available for all these events here, and more information on Backstage LIVE can be found by clicking here.

 

Other festivals with their previews on Total Croatia News include:

Sea Star Festival in Umag – 24th of May – 27th of May, 2018

Seasplash Festival in Pula – 19th of July – 22nd of July, 2018

Dimensions Festival in Pula – 29th of August – 2nd of September, 2018

Outlook Festival in Pula – 5th of September – 9th of September, 2018

Other concerts with their previews on Total Croatia News include:

Roger Waters in Zagreb – 6th of May, 2018

Lado in Pula – 6th of July, 2018

Iron Maiden in Zagreb – 24th of July, 2018