Kulturarena Jena | Marialy Pacheo Trio & Rasha Nahas

In the organizer's words:

When she sits down at the piano, it usually only takes a few bars for the spark to ignite: Cuban pianist and composer Marialy Pacheco is one of the most outstanding voices in contemporary jazz. Having grown up in Havana and with deep musical roots in Afro-Cuban traditions, she masterfully combines Latin American rhythms with elements of modern jazz music. The fact that Pacheco was the first woman to win the prestigious Montreux Jazz Piano Solo Competition in 2012 means much more than this mention would suggest: Few female pianists ever manage to make a name for themselves in this scene. No other woman has ever won this prize before.

Since the exceptional artist left Cuba in 2005, no fewer than twelve albums have been released under her pen. The music by no means sounds like a compulsory program or career plan, but rather like curiosity, energy and a great love of storytelling - sometimes powerful and rousing, sometimes subtly playful and touching. Her latest work RELOAD also embodies this special musical identity - even more mature and even more moving. Her companions, the Colombian musicians Juan Camillo Villa and Miguel Altamar on bass and drums, have an amplifying effect on her heartfelt project of Latin American music and classical music.

This musician is also opening a new chapter with her latest work: the Berlin-based Palestinian artist Rasha Nahas. The singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and actress is releasing a new album this year - a project that is considered to be her most ambitious and multi-layered to date.

But even without the forthcoming release, there is a lot to tell about her. Rasha Nahas grew up in the Israeli port city of Haifa. The city, with a mixture of industrial and academic character, unfolds on the slopes of the Carmel Mountains down to the Mediterranean coast - an extraordinary setting of mountains and sea, which also brings with it an extraordinary cityscape. Haifa has often been described as an example of a comparatively peaceful coexistence of different communities - and is at the same time a place full of ups and downs, not only geographically. The roots of Rasha Nahas' artistic identity lie precisely in this area of tension. Like her homeland, her music is characterized by contrasts: by breaks and transitions, by intensity and subtle nuances, by highs and lows - and by unconditional beauty and love.

Their cross-genre works inspire with a powerful electric guitar sound, rock, folk and remarkably strong lyricism. We look forward to immersing ourselves in sound, emotion and expression: intense, authentic and much else - except ordinary.

Price information:

Advance booking: € 12.00 Box Office: € 17.00