INTERVIEW TO ROSA GALBANY, DIRECTOR

How did JAZZ I AM come about?
Over my career I have spent many years dedicated to the management and internationalization of jazz bands, based mainly in Barcelona. For years I have been wanting to organize a meeting just like the one held 10 years ago at L’Auditori, Meet Catalan Jazz, organized by the Institut Català de les Indústries Culturals (ICIC), in conjunction with the Institut Ramon Llull, as part of the Festival de Jazz de Terrassa.

How did Taller de Músics get involved in this Project?
In September 2017 I began work in the Internationalization Department of Taller de Músics. That was the moment that I found myself part of an organization with the resources to put on an event of this magnitude. I proposed the idea that had been floating around inside my head for years: to create an event specializing in jazz music. The reaction of our President, Lluís Cabrera, was incredibly positive from the very beginning.

How does the creation of JAZZ I AM meet the needs of the scene?
JAZZ I AM meets a clear and present need: making the jazz sector more visible internationally, given that at general music fairs this type of music tends to get a little sidelined. It’s a very specific sector and it can be difficult to make it stand out at such events.

What is JAZZ I AM inspired by?
Our points of reference are other European fairs and meetings such as Jazzahead, inJazz, Belgian Jazz Meeting and Amersfoort among others. We have invited them to attend our meeting and we are very glad of their kind support: many of them will be joining us at this first edition of JAZZ I AM.

Who is JAZZ I AM aimed at?
Our target audience are those professionals, both in jazz and in other musical styles or artistic disciplines, who are interested in the world of internationalization. We also expect to attract jazz aficionados, as we will be putting on twelve concerts in showcase format and a further four concerts as part of OFF JAZZ I AM, Jazz Clubs Route, and all for the price of 50€.

What will we find there?
This year the principal themes are clearly defined: internationalization, how to establish alliances, and mobility. We’ll hold practical conferences on the mobility of artists, share knowledge on how international fairs work, present projects which could inspire us to create alliances with other countries and attend speed meetings in order to speak directly with international events producers, etc. There will also be a session dealing with gender parity in the music industry, which will involve leading women presenting interesting and much needed national and international initiatives. In short, we’ll bring together the national and international jazz over three days at Fabra i Coats.

Do you think JAZZ I AM would be of interest to music professionals from outside jazz?
For sure, the tools we need for our work are the same for jazz musicians as they for people working in the pop sector, and even for performing arts.

Tell us about the showcases. What will we see? Do you think they are representative of the jazz of today?
I really think that the jury have done a great job selecting a varied and eclectic range of musicians, from free jazz to classic; from the more traditional formations – jazz trio- to the more unconventional, such as the Giulia Calle Ensemble, and the surprising combination of flute, double bass and vocals that is Inhumankind, to name but a few.

What are your hopes for this first edition?
The intention is for JAZZ I AM to become an annual event and for it to grow steadily and organically. In future editions we would love to be able to shine a light onto international musical acts. We hope to achieve our goals and to continue to collaborate with those individuals and groups who have supported us with this edition, as well as bringing new institutions and companies into the fold.