FREEKIND

Saturday, 9th November 2019

CS “Svilara”, 7pm

JAZZ MARATHON OF THE NOVI SAD JAZZ FESTIVAL

Concerts of jazz orchestras from the cities – European Capitals of Culture,

supported by the Novi Sad 2021 Foundation and the Serbian National Theatre

MARIBOR – Slovenia

FREEKIND

SARA ESTER GREDELJ, voice, keyboards

NINA KOROŠAK SERČIČ, drums; PETER SMRDEL, double bass

KARIN ZEMLJIČ, backing vocal; LOVRO MIRTH, backing vocal

FreeKind is a new musical neo soul chapter writ- ten by Croatian pianist and vocalist Sara Ester Gredelj and Slovenian, drummer Nina Korošak Serčič. The philosophy the ladies live and share with the world through their music is noted in the very name of their band: be free, be kind. Deep lyrics that carry a strong message are given wings by groove, soul, R&B and jazz music, all while paying homage to the ladies’ musical role models such as Noname, D’Angelo, and Common. You can expect a heavy dose of modern, original soul written by two inspiring artists, all in the ‘Be Free, Be Kind’ spirit. Notable performances: the Festival Lent (Maribor, SL, 2019), the Ljubljana Festival (2019), Hangar Bar (Izola, 2019), Downtown Vibes (Vinipeg, 2019), Le Cypher (Montreal, 2019), Cameron House (Toronto, 2019)([email protected])

Maribor

The field of action of the European Capital of Culture refers to culture in its most comprehensive sense: the culture of living, the culture of dialogue, cultural identity of the environment that defines us in the broadest possible terms. The quest for common stories, the interaction between creativeness and development, between the present, past and the future represent a unique opportunity for many connections that can be made in a society.

The integration of different fields or art, cultural events for the majority and the minorities was perhaps the most important aspect of the entire project. The project left a permanent mark in the micro and macro geographic and cultural area by motivating, simply by way of its running motif, many creators and institutions to become aware of their cohabitation. A stunning range of events and creations made participants and visitors grow and become aware of new horizons, while performances and exhibitions allowed artists to present themselves to the people of the cities in all of Slovenia and Europe. The project refused to limit itself to just a single city, refused to crown just a single town as the centre of European culture, opting instead to link the mystical town of Slovenj Gradec, modern Velenje and beautiful Novo Mesto with the ancient city of Ptuj, multicultural Murska Sobota, and, last but not least, placed Maribor, the second largest city in Slovenia, at the centre of this process of connecting.

Maribor is the second largest Slovenian city and the cultural, economic and university centre of the north-western part of Slovenia. Maribor offers tourists plenty of experiences of the highest quality in the field of culture, which was especially true in 2012. Guests appreciate the excellence in congress-business tourism and the plethora of great shopping and gaming options. Maribor and its greater area offer a diverse range of sports and recreational activities and exercise options amidst natural and cultural treasures, made possible due to the city’s exceptional relationship between culture and nature. Guests are often enthralled by the original treasures of the city and its mountain wellness centres, as well as its natural features and ecological rural products, which contribute to health and well-being, including the most precious commodities of today, such as healthy drinking water and a pleasant climate with lots of sunshine. Moreover, the town is renowned for its rather calm and cheerful way of life led by local inhabitants, who are well-known for their open and friendly nature. Top Events in Maribor: With more than 25 years of tradition Festival Lent is one of the oldest and largest open-air festivals in central Europe, which turns Maribor into a giant open-air stage and a buzzing meeting place for people from all over the globe. Each June the medieval Lent district at the Drava River, the historic squares, picturesque streets of the Old town and even the mighty city park emerge as festival venues bursting with art, culture and creativity. It’s a huge, vibrant, cross-cultural and multi-genre event where everyone can easily find something for themselves. Choose between pop, rock, jazz, classical and world music concerts, open air ballet and opera performances, musicals, folklore, contemporary dance, street theatre, stand-up comedy, circus, cabaret, children’s shows, exhibitions, arts & crafts workshops, open-air meditation and yoga classes, or just stroll along the picturesque river banks and enjoy an al’ fresco dinner at one of the numerous festival’s pop-up restaurants! The history of the classical music festival Festival Maribor spans over half a century, mainly focusing on Baroque styles in its beginnings and gradually extending its repertoire to post-modern transformations. It evolved from Festival of Baroque Music and later Music September, an international chamber music festival, inheriting its refined programming, stellar performance standards and unorthodox organizational style. The festival invites acclaimed musicians from Slovenia as well as abroad, who perform carefully selected programmes according to the content cue of the festival in various ensembles – from chamber to orchestral ones. The Old Vine Festival concludes the series of events from the old vine pruning to St Martin’s Day. The event is organized in honour of the old vine, the oldest vine in the world, which symbolizes the rich wine culture of Maribor and the surrounding wine regions. The Maribor Theatre Festival is the central, oldest and most prestigious theatre festival in Slovenia. At the end of the festival, the jury hands out the awards for the best performance, actors, directing and other artistic achievements. The annual Golden Fox competition offers an unforgettable sports experience on Pohorje. The Women’s World Cup race attracts over 20,000 visitors who support both Slovenian and foreign slalom and giant slalom competitors. The event organization, which follows the strict FIS criteria, is exceptional, as confirmed by the best female skiers in the world.