Mark your calendars from August 31 to September 2 for the first Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival

Over the years, Lopud has blossomed into a remarkable cultural hub, where the Ponta Lopud project has served as an exceptional platform for the exchange of creative ideas among film professionals.

Following three consecutive years of engaging interactions at the Ponta Lopud Film Festival, where prominent filmmakers gathered, either as lecturers or participants, to share insights, and gain invaluable knowledge and inspiration for new projects, the end of summer will welcome the musical counterpart to this captivating tale.

Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival will take place from August 31 to September 2 in the inspiring environment of peace and the exceptional beauty of this island, which will serve as the backdrop for this unique gathering of jazz professionals, who will have the opportunity to participate in discussions about the music industry with some of the greatest jazz musicians from around the world and enjoy live performances by international artists, including award-winning jazz musicians from the US, Mexico, Japan, Australia, Croatia, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and more.

A series of master workshops and lectures will be held on Lopud, providing young professionals with the opportunity to hone their skills and exchange creative ideas with world-class musicians.

One of them is Grammy award-winning saxophonist Joe Lovano, who will serve as a master. Other distinguished jazz musicians will deliver lectures, including Grammy-winning Mexican drummer Antonio Sanchez, who is well-known to the Croatian audience from the second edition of the Ponta Lopud Film Festival, where he performed live to accompany the screening of the Academy Award-winning film BIRDMAN. The festival’s artistic director Thana Alexa, American-Croatian jazz vocalist, composer, and arranger, will also be among the festival lecturers. The accomplished musician has received numerous awards and Grammy nominations throughout her career. “For years, I dreamed of being able to attend a world-class jazz festival in the Dubrovnik region. After experiencing the first year of the Ponta Lopud Film Festival, I was so impressed by the high level of production, organization, and international reach achieved by Tilda Grossel Bogdanović and Miro Purivatra that I approached Tilda with the idea of organizing our own jazz festival. Having spent nearly 20 years living and working abroad, I have been fortunate to find inspiration and guidance from the finest jazz musicians in the genre. Organizing this festival allows me to share my knowledge and contribute to the vibrant music scene in our region. Above all, considering the hardships artists have endured during the pandemic, my aim is to provide exceptionally talented and motivated artists with an experience of musical, intellectual, and spiritual well-being through meaningful interaction.” said Thana Alexa, the artistic director of PL Jazz.

The lectures will be also delivered by artists such as Japanese pianist BIGYUKI, Australian bassist Lex Sadler, Puerto Rican saxophonist David Sánchez and bassist Ricky Rodriguez, Venezuelan pianist Luis Perdomo, Croatian drummer Lada Obradović, and French pianist David Tixier.

Each festival evening, in the beautiful setting of the Grand Hotel garden, one of the following bands will perform live: Antonio Sanchez and Bad Hombre, Obradović and Tixier Duo, and David Sanchez Group, providing an unforgettable experience for all jazz enthusiasts who appreciate the freedom of expression that connects people around the world. Furthermore, all concerts will be a generous gift, free of charge. Following each evening’s performance, a jam session will unfold, welcoming visiting artists, participants, and musicians from Dubrovnik.

“Is there a greater compliment than when people with taste and sensibility acknowledge your work, effort, and dedication? This feeling resonates deeply as I thank the exceptional, sophisticated, and accomplished jazz singer-songwriter, Thana Alexa. Thana chose Lopud and our team, thus acknowledging the remarkable achievements of my colleague, Miro Purivatra, and myself in launching the Ponta Lopud Film Festival two years ago. Having personally experienced the film festival, she recognized the potential for a new and exciting venture. Throughout the process, countless discussions, brainstorming sessions, and combinations have led us here—to announce the first Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival, which will be inaugurated at the end of summer with the support of numerous Lopud residents, Lopud enthusiasts, and art lovers, who have entrusted us with their full trust. The Ponta Lopud platform reaffirms its purpose, reason, and goal, building upon itself and growing as a creative hub where artists are at the forefront, creating new projects together,” concludes Tilda Grossel Bogdanović, the co-founder of PL Jazz.