Plovdiv Jazz Fest Opens with Tribute to Miles Davis, Features Bulgarian and International Musicians

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The 12th Plovdiv Jazz Fest opened in Plovdiv on Friday, featuring Bulgarian and international jazz musicians. The three-day festival runs until November 8.
In her welcoming address, jazz singer Miroslava Katsarova, the festival’s organizer and artistic director, said this year had seen three editions of the festival for the first time. She noted that jazz audiences in Bulgaria were becoming younger, while the festival continued to bring together long-time listeners as well.
Katsarova read a greeting from Culture Minister Evtim Miloshev, who said jazz held a special place in world musical heritage through its improvisational freedom, stylistic diversity and ability to unite individual artistic expression. He noted that Plovdiv Jazz Fest helped sustain this tradition, enrich the city’s cultural life and strengthen Bulgaria’s presence in the international jazz scene.
The opening concert was a special programme, “100 Years of Miles Davis”, created for the festival by Rossen Zahariev All Stars. It marked the centenary of the birth of the American trumpeter and composer, tracing his musical development from bebop to hip-hop and covering the periods between his albums Birth of the Cool and Doo-Bop.
Alongside Zahariev, the line-up featured pianist Steve Hamilton, double bassist Vasil Hajigrudev, drummer Borislav Petrov, tenor saxophonist Petar Momchev and beatboxer Alexander “SkilleR” Deyanov.
The first evening concluded with a performance by pianist and composer Aaron Parks and his trio. Trumpeter Vili Stoyanov hosted the opening night.
On November 7, the programme features British jazz singer Emma Smith and her quartet, and Turkish guitarist Cenk Erdogan and his trio. Erdogan is known for his work on fretless guitar and tambura, combining Anatolian musical traditions with contemporary jazz.
The festival closes on November 8 with performances by the quartet of Swiss-Albanian jazz singer and composer Elina Duni and the band led by pianist Shai Maestro.
A special award for lifetime contribution to jazz music in Bulgaria will be presented to jazz singer Hilda Kazasyan during the festival.
Plovdiv Jazz Fest is organised with the support of Plovdiv Municipality, as part of the city’s 2026 Cultural Calendar, and the Ministry of Culture.
The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) announced the establishment of a national jazz press club on April 30.

Plovdiv Jazz Fest Opens with Tribute to Miles Davis, Features Bulgarian and International Musicians THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-11-06 13:05:38

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