Folkestone Ethno Jazz Festival – 2022

Opening night CARMEN SOUZA QUARTET + ABANICO BLUE

We are delighted to announce that the Folkestone Ethno Jazz Festival – 2022, will be taking place 27th, 28th, 29th October at The Tower Theatre.

In celebration of musical ethnicity, we have invited exquisite world artists to share sounds from Western to Southern Afro, Latin, British, European and American Jazz.  Do join us and indulge in the diversity of styles and influences that Jazz can offer.

EMBRACE, PARTICIPATE, ENJOY.

CARMEN SOUZA QUARTET
The release concert for the new album ‘INTERCONNECTEDNESS’

After the critical acclaimed tribute to Horace Silver – The Silver Messengers, released in 2019, Carmen Souza comes back with a new album called INTERCONNECTEDNESS.The award-winning singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist, presents her 10th album focused on humanity and the way we are all Interconnected.

“This music is a result of everything that has happened to me in the past 4 years and the World in the past 2 years. The experience of loss has changed my perspective of life and consequently it changed me and my music.”

The pandemic challenged and questioned values, morals, humanity, and everything is still so uncertain and vulnerable, this music exposes exactly that vulnerability. Interconnectedness was recorded and produced by Carmen Souza and Theo Pascal between Lisbon and London with different formations, morphing into another chapter of this duo musical partnership.

“Extraordinary voice” Jazzwise (UK) 
“The poetic voice is as original as the musical one” The Independent (UK)
“Gravity-defying voice” Songlines (UK)
“Irresistible” Télérama (FR)
“Ella Fitzgerald du Cap-Vert” Les Inrockuptibles (FR)
“Carmen Souza, Recipe for Artistic Success” Downbeat Magazine (USA)

Visit CARMEN SOUZA for more infornation about the artist

ABANICO BLUE
The melodic sound of Josh Kemp’s soaring saxophone provides a rich lyrical tone to accompany the mesmerizing voice of Francesca Mondi who transports the listener from the performance stage into the heart of the music. The rhythmic backbone and cross-rhythms created by Andy Martin and Peter Bakaja add a refreshing take on a classic sound.

Musicians from London’s jazz and World music scenes come together to breathe new life into the sounds of classic Bossa Nova, Swing and Latin jazz.  With their eclectic experience and expertise in these afore mentioned styles, Abanico Blue brings a contemporary edge and lyrical improvisation to the Jazz song book, with fresh arrangements and original works.

With original works by Hilary Cameron, the perfect blend of jazz harmony and a South American flavour gives Abanico Blue its signature sound, with the music sitting comfortably next to other performed works by Chick Corea, Astrid Gilberto and Chu Chu Valdes.

Evening tickets £17.50 | Click to book 3 Day Festival Pass £55
Doors from 6.30pm| Unreserved seating

A PortCaia production in association with The Tower Theatre