A splendid assemble of stars and superb concerts at Targi Kielce Jazz Festival 2011

Leszek Możdżer, Stephan Becker Trio, Saskia Laroo, Anna Serafińska and Maciej Zakościelny are the artist who will be performing at this year’s Targi Kielce Jazz Festival, Organized by Targi Kielce and Kielce Culture Centre (KCK). The festival has been organised in Kielce for eight years; the event is held at the end of September on the anniversary of Miles Davis’ death in order to commemorate this outstanding artist who has been regarded one of the most prominent and innovative jazz musicians.

Targi Kielce Jazz Festival „Memorial to Miles” is one of the most important jazz events to be found on Polish map of international artistic shows. The event features both traditional jazz as well as the whole diversity of trends and types which have emerged in this music genre within the last few years.

- „Memorial to Miles” is not a hermetically sealed-off integrity; on the contrary, this is the event full of “musical openness” addressed at the whole spectrum of listeners representing a great diversity. The concerts in the framework of Kielce festival feature the biggest names of Polish and international jazz. The event also creates the chance for the local musicians to present their abilities and thus gives them the chance for further artistic development– says Andrzej Mochoń, a jazz lover and the Targi Kielce President of Board.

The artists, who performed at the previous editions of the festival were, among others; Lura z Wysp Zielonego Przylądka, Omar Sosa - Cuba, Lester Kidson - Canada, MARK Goldsbury Quartet – the USA, Nippy Noja - Thailand, Lena Ledoff - Russian. We also had the chance to play the host to the following Polish excellent musicians; Aga Zarjan, Włodzimierz Pawlik, Stanisława Soyka, Artur Dudkiewicz, Marcin Wasilewski, Krzysia Górnia, Dorota Miśkiewicz, Włodek Kiniorski.

For eight years each festival edition has been held in September – this date is associated with the anniversary of Miles Davis’ death; the genius trumpet virtuoso. An this year the “music letters” to Davis will be sent, inter alia, by STEPHAN BECKER TRIO (Germany), SASKIA LAROO (the Netherlands) – as she is called by European audiences "Lady Miles Davis", LESZEK MOŻDŻER and the artists of the music spectacle “Singing Jazz” CARMEN MORENO, ANNA SERAFIŃSKA, MACIEJ ZAKOŚCIELNY.


Another feature of the festival is the Miles David statue - one of the very few in Europe and undoubtedly the only one in Poland. The monument is located in front of KCK; it is a unique work of art devoted to the patron of musical happenings which accompany the festival.

KCK stages create vast array opportunities for music presentations, ranging form great music ensembles to small music bands creating cosy atmosphere. Galeria Winda (The Lift Gallery) is the venue for the events which accompany the festival; presentations of films, poster exhibitions or evening jazz sessions.