BMW Welt Jazz Award finalists 2019 announced.

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After six spectacular matinees, the #BMWweltjazzaward 2019 enters its final round on 4 May, with a play-off between the Maciej Obara Quartet and Rudresh Mahanthappa Quintet. Taking to the stage in the auditorium of the #BMW Welt, they will perform their interpretation of this year’s theme, Saxophone Worlds, before the renowned jury decides which of them will take home the award. Created by #BMW Design, the accolade will be accompanied by prize money of €10,000 for the winner, with €5,000 for the runner-up.

Jazz fans have been experiencing first-hand the musical skills of this year’s performers in six free matinees between January and March. The audience award, presented by Schloss Elmau, will be handed over at the final, along with an invitation to play at the Schloss.

The finalists

Maciej Obara Quartet
On 27 January the Maciej Obara Quartet launched the competition for the #BMWweltjazzaward 2019 with their performance, wowing not only the audience but also the highly respected jury with their interpretation of the theme of Saxophone Worlds. Maciej Obara is a key figure in latest-generation European jazz. With his sixth album, Unloved (2017), the Polish alto and tenor saxophonist made his debut at ECM Records. His multi-faceted, lyrical music is delivered with breath-taking technique and accompanied by his compatriot Dominik Wania on the piano, and Norway’s Ole Morten Vagan and Gard Nilssen on bass and percussion. The resulting fusion that is the Maciej Obara Quartet left such an impression that made it through to the final.

Rudresh Mahanthappa Quintet
At the heart of the international acclaim for the jazz artist Rudresh Mahanthappa are his passion for Carnatic music and his Indian roots. The work of this talented musician is already well-documented by a string of awards. On 24 March Mahanthappa captivated his audience with a fusion of rhythmic structures and contemporary jazz. Accompanied by Rez Abbasi on guitar, Bobby Avey on piano, François Moutin on bass and Rudy Royston on percussion, the Rudresh Mahanthappa Quintet presented the successful Bird Calls album. Mahanthappa’s very personal, highly virtuouso interpretation of original compositions by saxophone legend Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker saw him reinterpret the arrangements, themes and solos of the godfather of modern jazz in a new context to reflect the theme of this year’s #BMW Welt Jazz Awards. Their inexhaustible joy at playing and their powerful output won the quintet a place in the final.

The jury

The respected jury, chaired by Oliver Hochkeppel (music and culture journalist with the Süddeutsche Zeitung), has proved its credentials in previous years and comprises:

• Roland Spiegel, music editor and jazz expert with the Bavarian broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk, BR-KLASSIK
• Andreas Kolb, editor-in-chief of JazzZeitung.de and nmz – neue musikzeitung
• Heike Lies, musicologist in the Music and Musical Theatre Division of the City of Munich’s Department of Culture
• Christiane Böhnke-Geisse, Artistic Director of the international jazz festival Bingen swingt. 

The finale

Like the Sunday matinees, the finale will be introduced by Beate Sampson, jazz editor with BR KLASSIK. The award, created specially by #BMW Design, will be handed over by Dr Nicolas Peter, #BMW AG Board Member. Representing the City of Munich will be cultural adviser Dr Hans-Georg Küppers. 

The final concert and award presentation will be held on 4 May 2019 at 7 pm in the Auditorium of the #BMW Welt. Tickets are available from München Ticket and the #BMW Welt.

This year’s #BMWweltjazzaward is once again presented with the support of BR KLASSIK, nmz, Schloss Elmau and the City of Munich’s Department of Culture.