Liv Andrea Hauge + Andy Sheppard & Aaron Parks

The Jazz communities will, once again, gather at Centro Cultural de Belém, Lisbon in the 22nd edition of Festa do Jazz.

In this vibrant new jazz trio, pianist and composer Liv Andrea Hauge collaborates with Georgia Wartel Collins on bass and August Glännestrand on drums, embracing an innovative approach within the classic piano trio format. Hauge’s compositions prioritize groove, simple yet melodic themes, and spontaneous interaction among the musicians. Each piece offers ample space for improvisation, with the music unfolding dynamically in response to the shared energy between performers and audience.

Inspired by the rich tapestry of modern Piano Jazz, the trio has, since their debut in summer 2022, released two albums, toured extensively across Europe, and won awards, including a selection for Jazzahead 2024 and the prestigious Zenith Award in 2024. Audun Vinger from Jazzny praised their debut album, “Live from St. Hanshaugen”, as “brilliant-sounding” with “melodic and robust compositions.” Their second release, “Ville Blomster”, was widely acclaimed, with the French magazine Qobuz recognizing the trio as one of the “10 Jazz Artists to Follow in 2024.”

Festa do Jazz brings Andy Sheppard and Aaron Parks together on stage for the first time, marking the world premiere of this duo featuring two of the most respected artists currently signed with ECM and Blue Note, respectively.

As an ECM artist, Andy Sheppard stands as one of Europe’s leading saxophonists. In the words of ECM’s iconic producer and founder, “I only need to hear one note to know it’s Andy.” It’s Sheppard’s distinct sound and unique approach to the saxophone that has led him to perform, collaborate, and record with many jazz greats, including three seminal composers of contemporary jazz: Carla Bley, George Russell, and Gil Evans.

As a bandleader, Sheppard has released acclaimed albums across various labels, including Antilles/Island Records, Blue Note, and Verve, and he is currently signed with ECM. His accomplishments have garnered numerous accolades over the years, from winning Best Instrumentalist at the British Jazz Awards in 1989 to being named European Jazz Musician of the Year in 2016. Sheppard was also awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Bristol in 2019.

Meanwhile, Aaron Parks’ Blue Note debut was hailed by the BBC as “one of the great albums of 2008”; JazzTimes praised him as “a new visionary,” and San Jose Mercury News named his release “Alive in Japan” the best jazz album of 2013. His latest project, “Aaron Parks Little Big”, was celebrated by PopMatters as “what jazz can be in the new century.” The follow-up album, “Little Big II: Dreams of a Mechanical Man”, was released in May 2020 to critical acclaim. Later that year, Aaron was selected as one of six composers to join the Sundance Institute’s Film Music and Sound Design Lab.

In 2022, he released two collaborative trio albums with Matt Brewer and Eric Harland, and in 2024, he returned to Blue Note with “Aaron Parks Little Big III”.