Hipster jazz near Minsk Town Hall: in pictures
The traditional Jazz Evenings with BelVEB Bank kicked off on the cold and rainy evening of June 11 near the Old Town Hall in Minsk with a brief welcome speech by a city official. Afterwards, there was only music.
The Polish quartet led by pianist Krzysztof Herdzin was the first on the stage facing a difficult task: to warm up the audience that had just got out of warm blankets into the cold. Krzysztof once came to Belarus with the Polish jazz star Anna Maria Jopek. The band titled Mietek Szcześniak and Krzysztof Herdzin played mediative jazz covers of the hits by David Bowie, Joe Cocker and other legends but the public seemed to be longing for something more vigorous.
The rain again forced to open up umbrellas but the Minsk-based popular jazz band Apple Tea quickly rectified the situation by playing their own hits.
“We have waited for this day for so long," says Natalia who came to the concert along with her daughter. "The weather is as usual: when there is great music, weather is always the opposite. But this is not a problem. I used to attend similar evenings in Europe and now it feels as if Europe has come to us. This is just awesome!”
Well, bad weather still a factor: there are fewer people that when weather is warm during 'jazz nights.' But the loyal fans, dressed in multi-layer clothes like cabbage, are trying to catch every sound. Real fun begins when Apple Tea are joined by American vocalist Sachal Vasandani, a smiling hipster in a white shirt singing Latin American-influenced tunes .
“Yesterday, I had a graduation party so today I have slept till noon. I have managed to get here by the time Sachal began performing. Basically, it was my goal, confesses singer Sasha Zakharyk. "It is really cool. Very emotional. I feel very sorry for him, because being a vocalist I understand how difficult it is to sing in such a weather. But still it is great. Apple Tea are as always my darlings, but he is a great vocalist."
This time around, unlike in the previous years, fast food joints are stationed along the square perimeter. Animators will take care of your kids. A good weather is the only thing that is missing.
“A wonderful evening. Very well organized. Music is diverse and great. In other words, everything is at top level. I come to Jazz Evenings every year. I try not to miss a single evening. It is a good feeling to watch how the festival is developing. Well done! says Jazz Evenings regular Veranika.
Jazz Evenings will continue on June 18 and 25.
