The French band Daoud won the grand prize at the Jazz in the Park 2024 international competition!
During a weekend full of festivals across Romania, a special event took place in Cluj-Napoca: the Jazz Competition organized by Jazz in the Park. This contest, held in the city’s Central Park, focused on talent, discovery, and the civic spirit of the community eager to support new bands.
Efforts to organize this festival-competition began more than six months ago. At the beginning of the year, the Jazz in the Park team launched a global call that attracted 246 applicants from 39 countries. After three weeks of listening and debating, the jury selected 13 finalists from 9 European countries, including 3 from Romania. The organization of the festival was a success, attracting tens of thousands of participants, reminding us of the 2019 edition when Jazz in the Park won the Best Small Festival in Europe award.
This year’s edition was won by the French band Daoud, a group that impressed the audience from the first chords. They won a prize of 5,000 EUR and an invitation to perform at the Jazz in the Park festival from August 30 to September 1, which will take place in the Ethnographic Park of Cluj-Napoca.
The other awards were:
- Second Place: Lyder Røed Quintet (NO), a band that successfully represented classic jazz, will receive 3,000 EUR.
- Third Place: Berliners from Magro (DE), a band that bridges electronic music and jazz.
- Audience Award: Zouratié Koné Trio (BE), who delighted the entire park with their African sounds, received 1,000 EUR.
- Best Romanian Band: Nonconformist Anthology from Timișoara, a name that will make waves in the Romanian market, won 1,000 EUR.
- Best Composition: Ukrainian band Jazz Family Trio “Shekband,” a family of three brothers, the youngest contestants, who were perhaps the most passionate band in the competition.
There were also 5 honorable mentions awarded to musicians who stood out: the drummer of the Abel Marton Cosmic band, the bassist of the Zouratié Koné Trio, the young pianist from Shekband, the clarinetist of the Nonconformist Anthology band, and in a spontaneous gesture, the jury decided to give an encouragement mention to the David Luca Quartet, the local contestants. Each mention includes a prize of 500 EUR.
In addition to the contest bands, special guest performers also took the stage in the park: Roberto Fonseca Group, Elena Mîndru Quintet, and last year’s competition winners, the Polish band Klawo!
Jazz in the Park is a festival of music and community, supported by BRD – Groupe Société Générale and DIGI.
Next up is the 12th edition of the Jazz in the Park festival, the event that closes the summer in Cluj-Napoca, from August 30 to September 1, in the “Romulus Vuia” Ethnographic Park. Tickets are available here. See you there!
