Open Air | Eröffnung: Jazz hinter dem Eisernen Vorhang

In the organizer's words:

Opening of the open-air summer stage in the courtyard of the Kultur: Haus Dacheröden

In his "Sinews of Peace" speech on March 5, 1946, Winston Churchill spoke of an iron curtain that had descended over Central and Eastern Europe, separating the communist countries of Europe from the West. This separation had a dramatic impact on musical culture and the cultural and personal contacts that were possible between musicians. On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of his famous speech, the project "Jazz behind the Iron Curtain" examines the different relationships that shaped the lives and work of jazz musicians in the GDR, Czechoslovakia and Poland from a comparative perspective. The jazz musicians will be invited to Erfurt for a concert and will also talk about their experiences of making music under state socialism.

Among them is Laco Deczi: the Slovakian trumpeter, composer and bandleader is a true jazz legend. When Louis Armstrong's widow heard him, she gave him the mouthpiece of Armstrong's trumpet. He is considered a pioneer of hard bop in the former Czechoslovakia. In the 1960s he was a member of several important jazz formations and at the end of 1967 he founded his own ensemble, Jazz Celula. Since 1985 he has lived in the United States, where he is the leader of the band "Jazz Celula International". Laco has performed throughout the United States with a number of the finest jazz musicians, including Elvin Jones, Bill Watrous, Junior Cook, Dave Weckl and Sonny Costanzo.

With his band "Celula New York" (Laco Deczi - trumpet, Vaico Deczi - drums, Michael Krásný - bass guitar, Walter Fischbacher - piano and Petr Kroutil - saxophone) he will play original compositions from the entire span of his career.

Admission for pupils and students: €10

The event in the courtyard of the "Kultur: Haus Dacheröden" is part of the "Jazz behind the Iron Curtain" series, in which various concerts and programs take place at different locations.

Price information:

Advance booking: € 22.00 / € 20.00 reduced Box Office: € 25.00 / € 23.00 reduced