New Generation #JazzLab

The tender for 2024 has ended. 143 bands from 23 countries and 5 different continents took part in the competition! The jury has come to a final decision and chosen its two winner bands - see below.
Detailed information on the #JazzLab, its basic ideas and archive material on previous editions can be found here.

The Idea

In a time of crises it's easy to just rely on old and reliable things. Yet innovation must always find its way. Therefore we are proud to announce that our promotional award will be back in 2024 together with our Presenting Partner Jaguar.

For many young artists entering the music business is riddled with obstacles. Besides talent and luck, it needs an enormous amount of energy, perseverance, persistence, and time, to get the proverbial foot in the door. The New Generation #JazzLab wants to make this step a bit easier.

Jury-selected acts will be invited to this year's Festival da Jazz. They get to play, they win a substantiell cash prize and last but not least, they get to work with our illustrious round of mentors.  

The Mentors 2024

At the centre of the New Generation #JazzLab is the collaboration of the winning acts with various jazz greats. These «mentors» are renowned professionals who support the young talents in many ways. The Festival da Jazz deliberately chooses artists who distinguish themselves by their multifaceted work and curiosity.

Robin McKelle

vocals, USA/France

Robin McKelle who studied classical and jazz piano, french horn, music theater and opera in her early years, is one of a few singers who straddle the line between classic rhythm and blues and traditional jazz with ease. Often compared to Ella Fitzgerald, Robin’s early influences came from Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Donny Hathaway and Nina Simone. McKelle has performed with many artists from the worlds of jazz, rock and pop, including Bobby McFerrin, Herbie Hancock, Pee Wee Ellis, Fred Wesley, Gregory Porter, Michael McDonald, Lee Fields, Henry Butler, Terence Blanchard, Wayne Shorter, BeBe Winans, and as soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra.

Aaron Goldberg

piano, USA

“For over 20 years, pianist Aaron Goldberg has set himself apart as one of the most scintillating performers in jazz,” hails JazzTimes. Goldberg is widely heralded as one of the art form’s most compelling pianists, both leading his own trio and collaborating with many of the Jazz titans. Simultaneously swinging and embracing risk, his stylistically fluid, singular voice reveals that jazz is a tradition of innovation. He performed in bands led by a cross-generational array of icons including Betty Carter, Al Foster, Ron Carter, Freddie Hubbard, Wynton Marsalis, Joshua Redman, Mark Turner, Christian McBride, Tom Harrell, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Joe Lovano, Peter Bernstein, Ravi Coltrane, Carl Allen, Madeleine Peyroux, Kurt Rosenwinkel and Guillermo Klein.

Reuben Rogers

bass, USA

Imbued with both groove and spirit from birth, Reuben Rogers combined the calypso and reggae rhythms of his native Virgin Islands with the gospel sounds of the church and the freedom and improvisation of jazz to create the unique chemistry that would make him one of the most distinctive and in-demand bassists in modern jazz. Rogers’ versatile mastery of both the acoustic and electric bass has led to opportunities on stages around the world alongside some of the music’s most renowned artists, including Charles Lloyd, Wynton Marsalis, Joshua Redman, Tomasz Stanko, Roy Hargrove, Marcus Roberts, Nicholas Payton, Mulgrew Miller, Jackie McLean and Dianne Reeves, among many
others.

Gregory Hutchinson

drums, USA/Italy

Jazz Magazine describes him as “the drummer of his generation” and indeed, Gregory Hutchinson is one of the most highly respected musicians of our time. His mastery of timing and expression of rhythms is at the core of his personal style. He is a musician’s drummer, soundly rooted in the jazz tradition he is able to approach all styles of music with supreme accuracy and imagination, decorating compositions with his natural feel and mind blowing innovation. Over the past 30 years Greg has been providing outstanding drumming for Red Rodney, Betty Carter, Ray Brown, Dianne Reeves, Wynton Marsalis, John Scofield, Roy Hargrove, Branford Marsalis, Charles Lloyd, Diana Krall, Harry Connick Jr, Joshua Redman, Christian McBride, Maria Schneider and many, many more.

And these are the winners 2024

A short movie about the 2023 edition here

Ciara Moser & Friends

Ciara Moser & Friends is a great jazz and fusion ensemble led by bassist Ciara Moser. With a focus on the theme of music and blindness, the group delivers a compelling message of inclusivity through their captivating compositions. Comprising musicians from South Africa, India, the Dominican Republic, the USA, Morocco, and France, Ciara Moser & Friends is a truly international ensemble. Formed at the prestigious Berklee College of music in Boston, each member brings their ethno-musical background to the table, infusing the group's music with a rich tapestry of natural global influences. They seamlessly blend world music with jazz and fusion, creating an extraordinary, unique and vibrant sonic experience that feels like going on a journey to discover our planet through its various wonderful colors - a true musical enrichment.

Aditi Malhotra, vocals
Salim Charvet, saxophone
Amaury Cabral, guitar
Warren Pettey, keys
Ciara Moser, bass
Lumanyano Mzi, drums

GTO Trio

The "GTO Trio" is the initials of Gadi (Lehavi), Tal (Mashach), and Ofri (Nehemya), all of whom are leaders of the band. The three have been inseparable since their teenage years, growing up together with a shared passion for jazz. Deeply rooted in the jazz tradition with a very strong knowledge of the past and in full command of the jazz language, each of them in his own right, the GTO Trio has been gaining momentum more and more over the last few years, grooving, swinging hard and above all creating their own band sound which is a delightful bundle of positive energy. Watching them enjoying themselves on stage, interacting with a lot of artistic freedom, telling their musical stories with a lot of passion and a smile on their faces is priceless. They will take their audience onto a flight that can go many places and there is not doubt, it will be adventurous and a lot of fun.

Gadi Lehavi, piano
Tal Mashiach, bass
Ofri Nehemya, drums