The seventh Intime Jazz Fest will be held from November 25 to 28, organized by the Banski Dvor Cultural Center in Banja Luka. The festival promises a series of exceptional performances by both international and local jazz artists.
From its inception, the festival has been conceptually designed as a chamber jazz event, focusing on small ensembles and outstanding soloists. This year’s lineup includes formations up to quintets, featuring renowned jazz bands and prominent artists who will perform in intimate, stripped-down settings for the audience at Banski Dvor.
The festival will open on November 25 at 8 PM in the concert hall of Banski Dvor with a performance by a top-tier Norwegian jazz trio, featuring Stig Vigestrand (violin), Frode Skeidsvoll (electric guitar), and Per Mathisen (double bass). The trio will perform compositions and selections of jazz standards famously played by Didier Lockwood. Vigestrand, a celebrated French jazz violinist, gained international recognition for his rhythmic improvisational style in the 1970s. Frode Skeidsvoll, initially trained as an operatic tenor, transitioned to guitar, where his improvisational and harmonic style was influenced by operatic melodies. Mathisen, one of Europe’s most talented bassists, has participated in over 45 studio albums across various genres and performed with significant names in the jazz world.
The second night, November 26, also at 8 PM, will feature the “Vladimir Kostadinović Band,” consisting of esteemed musicians Vladimir Kostadinović (drums), Strahinja Banović (trumpet), Branko Marković (double bass), Jaka Kopač (saxophone), and Bojan Cvetković (piano). The band will perform a program dedicated to the renowned jazz artist Ray Hargrove. Kostadinović, an award-winning drummer and composer, is celebrated for his dynamic style and deep emotional connection to the music. Accompanying him are distinguished musicians like Banović, a graduate of the Jazz Academy in Graz, and Kopač, a leading Slovenian saxophonist.
On the third evening, November 27, the “Vladimir Maričić Trio” will take the stage. Pianist and bandleader Vladimir Maričić, accompanied by Milan Nikolić (double bass) and Dušan Ivanišević (drums), will bring their refined sound to the audience. Maričić, with a career spanning decades and performances across Europe, is joined by accomplished musicians Nikolić and Ivanišević, both of whom have collaborated with numerous jazz legends.
The festival will culminate with the “Concert for Three Pianos” on the final evening, November 28. This masterful trio features Bojan Zulfikarpašić, Matija Dedić, and Vasil Hadžimanov, three pianists of international acclaim. Zulfikarpašić, awarded for his contributions to jazz in Europe, has performed over 2,000 concerts worldwide. Hadžimanov, known for blending Balkan ethno-music with Western genres, has collaborated with renowned artists such as David Gilmore and Chris Cheek. Matija Dedić, one of Croatia’s most celebrated jazz musicians, combines classical training with a profound understanding of jazz improvisation.
Tickets for the first three evenings are priced at 15 BAM, while tickets for the final evening are 20 BAM. The festival is supported by the Office of the President of Republika Srpska and the City of Banja Luka.
Source: Glas Srpske
