From now until December 12nd, jazz lovers will enjoy artists and bands like The Bad Plus, Human Feel or Shai Maestro Trio.

49 Voll-Damn Barcelona International Jazz Festival began on October 17th with Diana Krall’s brilliant performance at Barcelona Forum Auditorium. Until December 12nd, Music-overs will enjoy world’s top jazz musicians and discover how Catalan bands sound like in a series of concerts that’ll leave you open-mouthed. As every year, they are scheduled at several hotspots of the city as Palau de la Música, Montjuïc Magic Fountain and, obviously, the Gran Teatre del Liceu,Barcelona’s opera house.

Liceu’s main stage to welcome artists like Human Feel (November 27th), The Bad Plus (November 28th) or Shai Maestro Trio (November 11th). Flamenco artist Carles Benavent ft. jazz bassist Antonio Serrano on November 29th is one of the most awaited shows. They’ll tribute music legends like Paco de Lucía, Jaco Pastorius (dead 30 years ago) and Toots Thielemans: “Three fundamental beasts for our generation”, according to Benavent.

It is as obvious as a saxophone that live music is (much) better than recorded music but concerning jazz, there is an enormous difference. Performances are not repetitions of what you’ve previously heard through the headphones (in which you know what’s next) but a constant impro between musicians and their ability  surprise starting from a beat.

Jazz is a complete discipline. That’s why the 49th Voll-Damm International Jazz Festival in Barcelona edition  includes lectures, exhibitions and film screenings related to this style. As you see, there is more in jazz than lift’s ambient music and lobby bars.