The8thedition of Cairo Jazz Festival (CJF) is scheduled to take place between 20-22 October at the GrEEK Campus in Cairo's downtown.

This year's edition will host international musicians from Bahrain, Portugal, Austria, Switzerland, Japan, Germany, Holland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary.

An array of Egyptian artists will also perform at this year's edition, including Hamza Namira, the Noha Fekry & Amro Salah Trio, Shady Al Qaseer group,and HOH, a collaborative project between musicians Hany Adel, Ousso Lotfy, and Hany El-Dakkak.

All main events take place at downtown's GrEEK Campus, which has two stages; the outdoor main stage and the indoor stage, located inside the library building.

Founded by Egyptian musician Amro Salah in 2009, Cairo Jazz Festival has become one of the city’s most anticipated annual events.

With its aspiration to create a jazz audience in Cairo, the festival has for the past eight years provided the space for a fervent introduction of such musical genre, hosting many national and international jazz musicians and bands.

Speaking to Ahram Online in a 2015 interview, Salah said that the festival’s aim is “to inform people of what jazz is about, especially that there exists a major misconception -- in the whole world -- that looks at jazz as a sophisticated genre that not everyone can access and listen to.”

This year’s edition will also include workshops and open jam sessions, in addition to jazz-themed activities catered to children and sponsored by Art Mania.

“It’s important to me that these children grow up to remember the festival,” Saleh said in his 2015 interview with Ahram Online.

“So that when a child is photographed playing an instrument in 2015, and looks back at the picture in 2030, he will be happy remembering this moment. We’re building history, and there also has to be something that connects you to here [Egypt], some sense of belonging,” he added.

The festival also comprises the Jazz Beyond Stage programme, taking place in parallel to the festival and held at the Cairo Jazz Club.

Last year’s edition of CJF hosted a wide array of musicians including Lebanese singer Rima Khcheich, Iraqi oud player Naseer Shamma and Algerian singer Souad Massi.

Thursday 20 October


Main stage:
7pm: Ala Ghawas & Likwid (Bahrain)
9:30pm: Carmen Souza & TheoPascal Trio (Portugal)
10.30pm: Tania Saleh (Lebanon)

Library stage:
8:15pm: Rom – Schaerer – Eberle (Austria/Switzerland)

Friday 21 October

Main stage:
5.30pm: Saori Yano Trio (Japan)
8:30pm: Andromeda Mega Express Orchestra (Germany)
10pm: H.O.H (Egypt)

Library Stage:
1pm: Jazzinino (Kids activities powered by Art Mania)
2.30pm: Workshop
4pm: Open jam session
4.30pm: Shady Al Qaseer group (Egypt)
6.45pm: Tara Fuki (Czech)
9pm: Hermine Duerloo & Rembrandt Frerichs Trio (Holland)

Saturday 22 October

Main stage:
5.30pm: Pan - African Jazz Project (Panama/Egypt)
8pm: Hamza Namira (Egypt)
10pm Karmen Roivassepp Quartet (Denmark)

Library stage:
12.30pm: Jazzinino (Kids activities powered by Art Mania)
2.30pm: Workshop
4pm: Open jam session
4.30pm: Noha Fekry & Amro Salah Trio (Egypt)
6.45pm Atom String Quartet (Poland)
9pm: Jazzical Trio (Hungary)

*Free admission for children up to 15 years old

Address:
GrEEK Campus, 28 Falaki St, Bab El-Louk, Downtown Cairo

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