site.btaPlovdiv Jazz Fest Unveils Summer and Autumn Programme

Plovdiv Jazz Fest's summer edition opens on Tuesday night with a concert by acclaimed Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasyan and his band at the Orpheus Open Air Movie Theatre in Plovdiv, organisers Blue M announced. The festival's summer edition is being held for the sixth time.

Hamasyan is widely regarded as one of the most distinctive jazz-rock pianists of his generation. His virtuosic style seamlessly blends powerful jazz improvisation, progressive rock and the rich traditions of Armenian folk music, the organisers said.

Born in Gyumri, Armenia, in 1987, Hamasyan began playing the piano at the age of three and had already won numerous competitions by the time he was 11. In 2003, at just 16, he won the piano competition at the Montreux Jazz Festival. A year later, he released his debut album, World Passion, and in 2006 won the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition. Since then, he has received numerous awards, including Victoires de la Musique, France's equivalent of the Grammy Awards, as well as awards for his albums Shadow Theater and Luys i Luso. In 2021, he received the Deutscher Jazzpreis in the international piano category.

Hamasyan's discography includes World Passion, New Era, Red Hail, A Fable, Mockroot, An Ancient Observer, For Gyumri, Revisiting the Film, and StandArt. In 2024, he released the concept album The Bird of a Thousand Voices, inspired by an Armenian folk tale and combining folk traditions with rock influences. His latest album, Manifeste, released in 2025, explores rhythmic complexity and spiritual depth while blending Armenian folk music, progressive rock and choral mysticism. Hamasyan has recorded for the French labels Plus Loin Music, Universal France and Naïve, as well as Nonesuch and ECM.

Just three days later, on July 31, the festival will welcome legendary Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek. He will perform with the band he founded in 1979, now featuring renowned Indian percussionist Trilok Gurtu, German pianist Rainer Brüninghaus, a long-time collaborator, and Brazilian bassist Yuri Daniel.

Over a career spanning more than five decades, Garbarek has established himself as one of the defining figures of European jazz. His music, often described as lyrical, vocal-like, ethereal, meditative and unmistakably Scandinavian, has influenced countless musicians around the world, Blue M said. He has released more than 30 albums and collaborated with international stars including Keith Jarrett, Ralph Towner, Terje Rypdal, Bobo Stenson, Charlie Haden, Bill Frisell, Manu Katché, Marilyn Mazur.

In August, Plovdiv Jazz Fest will present Markovo Music Summer, featuring two garden concerts and the now traditional free concert in the village centre. This year's openair performance will feature Stefan Valdobrev and The Usual Suspects.

The first event in the August series, Jazz and Baroque, will take place on August 19, featuring mezzo-soprano Svetlina Stoyanova, Hristo Yotsov’s jazz trio, and the Pilekadone wind quintet. Miroslava Katsarova Trio will perform in Markovo on August 21.

Stefan Valdobrev and The Usual Suspects will perform on August 22 at Markovo's central square. The band includes two recipients of the Plovdiv Jazz Fest Grand Prize – bassist Veselin Veselinov - Eko and percussionist Stoyan Yankoulov - Stundzhi.

The line-up for the festival's autumn edition, to be held from November 6 to 8, has also been announced. Continuing its focus on European jazz, the programme will feature Aaron Parks and his trio, Elina Duni, Shai Maestro, the Antonio Forcione and Cenk Erdoğan duo, as well as Roko Zahariev with a tribute concert dedicated to Miles Davis.

The summer and autumn editions of Plovdiv Jazz Fest are supported financially by the Culture Ministry as part of the 2026 National Cultural Calendar. Both events also receive funding from the Municipality of Plovdiv and are included in the city's Cultural Calendar.

Markovo Music Summer is organised in partnership with the Markovo mayoralty and the Rodopi Municipality.

The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) is a media partner of the events.