The inaugural edition of Leopolis Jazz (then called the Alfa Jazz Fest after its title sponsor, Alfa Bank) was held from June 3-5, 2011. Its headliners were several musicians and bands from the United States including Spyro Gyra, John Scofield, Ron Carter, Bill Evans, and Jeff Lorber.
The first festival was a big success so it was decided to make it an annual affair. Since then, it has grown to become one of the most important music event in Ukraine with an annual attendance over 40,000 that features renowned jazz musicians from around the world. Past performers at the Leopolis Jazz Festival include Kenny Garrett, Richard Bona, Cassandra Wilson, John Patitucci, Gino Vannelli, John McLaughlin, Avishai Cohen, Till Brönner, Al Di Meola, Bobby McFerrin, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Herbie Hancock, Paquito D’Rivera, and other jazz legends.
Leopolis Jazz features three open-air stages, two are free and one requires a ticket. Free stages are located at the Rynok Square, the central square of Lviv, and in front of the Potocki Palace in the historic district of the city. The main stage is located in the Bohdan Khmelnytsky Park of Culture and Recreation. It was named the Eddie Rosner stage after a famous Polish and Soviet jazz trumpeter, violinist, conductor, composer and arranger. Seating tickets to performances on the main stage are paid, but the entrance to the park is free so everyone can listen to music and watch the performances on large LED screens installed in the picnic area of the park.
Alongside performances, the program of Leopolis Jazz features autograph sessions with world class jazz musicians, workshops and masterclasses for emerging performers, jam sessions, street performances, free open-air film screenings, and other exciting events and activities for musicians and listeners alike.
The festival also features the Leopolis Jazz Music Awards, an annual award ceremony designed to honor the artists who have made significant contributions to the development and popularization of jazz music. The winners are selected by a jury consisting of music critics and journalists, producers, entrepreneurs, public figures, government officials, and other distinguished individuals. The first musician to receive the award was the English guitarist, bandleader and composer John McLaughlin.
Photo: Leopolis Jazz
