Southern festival vibes at Gent Jazz

Southern festival vibes with Rodrigo y Gabriela, Eliades Ochoa, Cimafunk, Zap Mama & more
  
The mercury is set to rise at the charming Bijloke site on 14 July. Gent Jazz will take on a Southern glow thanks to international stars such as Rodrigo y Gabriela, Eliades Ochoa, Cimafunk and Belgian pride Zap Mama. Fancy a bustling festival packed with tropical rhythms? Well, we do too!
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​Do we even need to introduce Rodrigo y Gabriela? The Mexican guitar duo is known worldwide and a welcome guest at Gent Jazz, with a fantastic live show full of flamenco, rock and jazz. Their latest release, 'In Between Thoughts...A New World', once again proves their boundless creativity, this time with electric guitar!
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​Funk phenomenon Cimafunk will certainly party hard! He starts with Cuban rhythms and adds a few Afro-American vibes to create unique, modern funk. In August, he releases his new album and if the first singles are anything to go by, it is set to be a sumptuous summer tour.

​‘Chan Chan’ from Buena Vista Social Club is quite rightly one of the most popular summer tracks ever. It is the voice of legendary artist and founder member Eliades Ochoa that can be heard on the track from 1997. With his latest album ‘Guajiro’, Ochoa once again confirms his status as the most important Cuban musician of this century. Let yourself be swept away by the sultry atmosphere!

​After 25 years, Zap Mama is still synonymous with a full-on dance marathon. The group, which centres on Marie Daulne, recently proved this again during their Best-of concerts in a sold-out AB and De Roma. Ready for a sultry mix of soul, gospel, African rhythms and the best hits from a prolific career?

​On the main stage that Sunday, you can see world-renowned guitarist Lee Ritenour and jazz pianist David Grusin, who will perform jazz and classical compositions together, inspired by classical and South American music.

​On the Garden Stage, the spotlight will fall on mostly Belgian artists who bridge the gap between centuries-old traditions and modern sounds. Belgian-Bolivian Susobrino, for instance, promises to make it a top show with his mix of traditional South American percussion music and electronica. FC Atlaska will then take you on a dreamy trip full of sixties rock hooks and meditative strings. Nicolas Mortelmans Quartet mixes Indian music with Western genres including electronic, jazz and rock music, while giving the leading role to the sitar.

​Azmari conjures with complex jazz textures, oriental influences, Ethio Groove, darker funk and dub music. Finally, Kosmo Sound combines forces with Imane Guemssy to create an exciting fusion of traditional Gnawa-sounds and the typical deep groove style of the band. 

Line-up Gent Jazz