A TWO-DAY musical feast awaits Bahrain's jazz fans later this month with performances by four popular international jazz acts. American vocalist and pianist Karen Edwards and Polish jazz band the Jarek Zmietana Trio will take to the stage at the La Fontaine Centre of Contempo-rary Art in Manama on April 18.
Meanwhile, Dutch trumpeter Saskia Laroo and American pianist composer and vocalist Warren Byrd will perform at the venue on April 19.
Both concerts form part of the fourth Gulf Jazz Festival that will feature performances in Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar.
The festival, which is in its fourth consecutive year, will run from April 15 to 21.
Born in West Greenville, South Carolina, Karen Edwards was influenced by the soul and musical preferences of her father, who was music director of a local church.
She garnered Grammy Award nominations for her emphatic jazz performances and has worked with a number of renowned musicians including Stevie Wonder, Peabo Bryson, Tony Bennett, Pharoah Sanders and Prince.
Ms Edwards performed at clubs and theatres across the US and Europe before she agreed to teach jazz at Germany's Munchen Richard Strauss Music Conservatory.
Ms Edwards also worked with Polish jazz guitarist Jarek Zmietana and his trio at concerts across Europe and released an album entitled Everything Ice last March .
Mr Smietana is considered one of Poland's premiere and critically acclai-med jazz performers.
He was named the winner of Poland's 1998 Fryderyk award for his album Songs And Other Ballads and was also honoured with President of Cracow Prize for Eminent Cultural Achievements.
From 1975 to 1981, he led the Polish jazz group Extra Ball before joining a slew of other bands including Sounds, the Symphonic Sound Orchestra, the Polish Jazz Stars Band and the NamysBowski - Zmietana Quartet.
The musician has played at major festivals and concerts across Europe, the US an and India and has participated in worksho ps that showcased his unique style of composing.
His career has seen him perform and record with artistes including Art Farmer, Freddie Hubbard, Eddie Henderson, Joe Zawinul, Gary Bartz, Carter Jefferson, Vince Mednoza, John Abercrombie, Hamiet Bluiett, Idris Muhammad, Ronnie Burrage, Harvie Swartz, Mike Stern, Jack Wilkins, Zbigniew Seifert, Cameron Brown, Andy McKee, Greg Brandy, David Gilmore and Dave Friedman.
Meanwhile, pianist, composer and vocalist, Warren Byrd found success on the international scene after years of playing jazz across the US.
Mr Boyd was introduced to performing as a member of his local church choir with his siblings and continued there into his teen years.
His first album as a bandleader, Truth Raised Twice, was released in 2000 and laid the groundwork for the success of his future international tours and musical contributions to duo albums, four ensemble albums, and work with David Chevan and the Afro-Semitic Experience.
Dutch trumpeter Saskia Laroo is considered one of the Netherlands' most recognisable stage acts.
Ms Laroo first took up the trumpet while just eight years old and opted out of a mathematics course at Amsterdam University to pursue a career as a professional jazz performer.
After years of playing on the double bass, she convinced her peers that she could carry on a concert as a trumpeter and gradually gained a fan following.
She has since performed at numerous festivals and concerts in a number of European, North American, South American, Asian and African countries and her albums have all met with critical acclaim.
Shows will start at 8pm on both nights.
Dinner concert tickets will cost BD25 per night and concert-only tickets BD20.
Meanwhile, dinner concert tickets for both nights will cost BD45 and concert only tickets for both nights BD36.
Contact the centre on 17230123 for more information.
