An opportunity to immerse yourself in jazz improvisation

Limassol is set to enjoy a weekend of jazz and world music this December 9 and 10 as the 9^th edition of the Cyprus Jazz & World Music Showcase takes place at Rialto Theatre. In addition to the festival’s official programme of performances and parallel events to happen across the old town, a jazz improvisation workshop will also take place.

On the morning of Saturday 10, Dimitris Vassilakis, President of Jazz Democracy NPO, artistic director and founder of RIJF, adjunct lecturer and researcher at the Laboratory of Music Acoustics and Technology Department of Music Studies – National and Kapodistrian University of Athens will lead the workshop, focusing on the different elements of jazz improv.

Starting at 10am at Dance House Lemesos, the workshop will touch upon the concepts of the democratic nature of jazz through improvisation as presented by Vassilakis at the United Nations. The participants will be introduced to the latest developments regarding jazz and technology, with a special focus on artificial intelligence. Vassilakis will also present his research work at Athens University, Demokritos and Georgia Tech.

On a more practical level, participants will have the opportunity to talk about jazz improvisational styles and how the jazz language has evolved over the course of time. The individual needs of participants regarding instruments will be considered, with references to special saxophone techniques such as circular breathing and harmonics.

Jazz Improvisation Workshop

Led by Dimitris Vassilakis, part of the Cyprus Jazz & World Music Showcase. December 10. Dance House Lemesos, Limassol. 10am. www.cyprusjazzworldmusicshowcase.com. Tel: 7777-7745