With 481 delegates from 40 countries, the 9th European Jazz Conference that took place in Marseille, France, between 14 and 17 September 2023, has been the most attended event of this kind so far. During four intense days promoters, programmers, artists, agents, managers, cultural leaders, journalists and academics exchanged views and ideas on the future of the creative music sector in Europe and beyond.
The title of the Conference this year was ILLUMINATIONS, referring to the role that music education, in all its forms, can play in addressing some key issues of contemporary society. The keynote speech by Nicole MItchell (US), renowned artist and former president of the AACM in Chicago, raised some important questions that were later discussed in six parallel discussion groups leaded by Julia Payne (UK), Matti Nives (FI), Sophie Blussé (NL), Kevin Le Gendre (UK) and Davide Grosso (IT). The plenary panel debate of the following morning continued the discussions on the theme, presenting some concrete examples and ideas on how music education and music projects can cross barriers and borders. The debate was moderated by Anna Umbima (UK) and involved Kanilya Joubran (PS/FR), Fabrizio Cassol (BE) and Raphaël Imbert (FR). Finally, the Conference wrap-up by Francesco Martinelli (IT), provided some final insights on how we are all illuminated by each other.
In addition to the conference programme, fifteen concerts, between showcases, fringe programme, special events and a gala concert, took place in the beautiful venues of the Palais du Pharo and of Théâtre La Criée: Michel Portal & Guests (with Yazz Ahmed and Eivind Aarset), NOUT (winners of the EJN Zenith Award for emerging artists 2023), Poetic Ways (opening concert), Orchid Big Band, Naïssam Jalal & Claude Tchamitchian, Enzo Carniel & House of Echo, Papanosh, Sarāb, FUR, Ludivine Issambourg Antiloops, Yessaï Karapetian Quintet, Louise Jallu, Marion Rampal, Obradovic-Tixier Duo & Dowdelin.
The Conference was co-organised by EJN and Marseille Jazz des Cinq Continents, and was supported by the Centre National de la Musique (CNM), in partnership with Association Jazzé Croisé (AJC), La Sacem and the Creative Europe programme of the European Union, that is funding EJN through its network strand for the period 2022-2024.
The next European Jazz Conference will take place between 12 and 15 September 2024 in Ghent, Belgium.
