August the 7th, 2024 – Antonio Sánchez, who performed with Oliver Dragojević at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York in 2008, and Michael League, leader of Snarky Puppy, will join Thana Alexa, artistic director and co-founder of the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival, in this year’s edition.
The Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival, which will take place from August 29 to 31, offers a unique opportunity to enjoy world-class jazz on one of Croatia’s most beautiful islands. Under the famous Lopud palms, visitors will experience a jazz renaissance through top performances by internationally acclaimed musicians.
Antonio Sánchez, a four-time Grammy Award winner and one of the most distinguished drummers in the jazz world, brings his exceptional skills and innovative musical expression to Lopud. His career reached its peak in 2014 when he composed the score for Alejandro González Iñárritu’s film Birdman, which won four Oscars, including Best Picture. Sánchez won a Grammy Award and was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Score for his work on the film. His career was further enriched by composing the music for the HBO documentary series The Anarchists. Additionally, he has released over a dozen albums as a bandleader or solo artist, including the acclaimed The Meridian Suite and Three Times Three. This renowned musician has performed in Croatia several times, first in Dubrovnik in 1997 with the United Nations Orchestra, led by Paquito D’Rivera. He also played in Zagreb with Pat Metheny, Gary Burton, Dianne Reeves, and Kenny Werner, and at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival in 2015 with Thana Alexa’s band.
“My ‘Birdman Live’ performance at the second Ponta Lopud Film Festival in 2022 served as a bridge between film and jazz, paving the way for the announcement of the first Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival. Music is my life, and I approach it on a deeper, more spiritual level. It’s not the only thing that defines me, but it’s something I think about every day, fueling my curiosity and keeping me humble. Music is mystical, a higher force that continues to fascinate me with its ability to make people feel so deeply. As an artist, my primary role is to communicate with others through music,” said Sánchez.
Michael League perfectly fits the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival’s educational concept, as he is passionately dedicated to music education alongside his artistic career, having held masterclasses in over 200 schools worldwide. He is a five-time Grammy Award winner and the founder of the renowned bands Snarky Puppy and Bokanté. In 2017, he launched the GroundUp Music Festival, which has since become a platform for performances by renowned musicians.
“I am incredibly excited to perform at the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival alongside my long-time friend and exceptional musician Thana Alexa. I am particularly looking forward to participating in the masterclasses and sharing my passion for music with the wider jazz-loving community,” said Michael League.
At this year’s edition of the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival, Sánchez and League will perform with singer Thana Alexa as part of the group Bad Hombre. These artists, along with other talented musicians such as Fabian Almazan, Will Vinson, Sara Serpa, Dan Pugach, Mark Whitfield II, Antonio Mazzei, Idan Morim, and Sam Weber, are redefining contemporary jazz through creative collaboration and dedication to musical development. They will showcase their innovative approach to the audience at the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival.
Admission to the jazz concerts is free for all visitors. During the festival, from August 29 to 31, free boat transfers will be organized for the audience from Dubrovnik. The Argosy boat will depart daily from Gruž Port (across from the market) and from Lopud in front of the Lafodia Hotel.
Ponta Lopud Creative Platform hosts and presents three summer cultural programs in 2024, welcoming all art lovers, especially those passionate about film, music, and literature. Ponta Lopud Summer Screenings, celebrating the art of film, was the first of three events held from June 27 to 29. The second event, which will attract music lovers to the island from August 29 to 31, is the popular Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival. The third, new addition to the creative platform is the Ponta Lopud Book Bridge, a festival running from September 27 to 29, rounding off the summer festivities and closing Lopud’s cultural-artistic season.
For more information about the program, schedule, and screenings, click here and follow the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival on social media.
