Jazzfruit 2024

This is the fifteenth year of the Jazzfruit competition and each time we try to present the best young Czech and international talents performing the best jazz and pushing the boundaries of what we consider as jazz, for example by combining it with other genres, such as r’n’b, hip hop, soul, etc. The Jazzfruit competition has two categories – Czech and International. The finalists of the international category will not only receive a financial prize of 1000 EUR, but also a high quality recording of their performance and the opportunity to perform in the Czech Republic. The winner of the Czech category will receive a concert abroad in collaboration with the Czech Centres, professional recording of their live performance, a concert in the Czech Republic, and the opportunity to play alongside the finalists of the International category. This will give them a chance to win the International category as well. The finals will take place in the famous Jazz Dock club in Prague.

Jazzfruit 2024

PRINCIPLE OF THE COMPETITION

The competition is divided into two categories – Czech (Junior Locals) up to 26 years and International up to 35 years.
The International category is open to projects from Czechia, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Germany and Hungary.
Applying for the competition is possible until 14th of July 2024 by filling in the entry form.
We are searching for projects that go beyond jazz into other genres, that are inspired by jazz and those that interpret jazz in their own original way.
Bands that have participated in the past but did not win are also encouraged to apply.
More in the terms and conditions of the competition.

COMPETITION PROCESS

From all the entries received, an expert jury will select one best project from the Czech category and the three best projects from the international category, which will then go directly to the finals. This will take place on 25th of September 2024 in Prague. By submitting an application to the competition, the band commits to participate in the final if selected. Selected finalists will be notified of their progress by 20th of August 2024 via email and on the festival website.

FINALS

The three finalist projects will compete for 1000 EUR and a concert in Czechia on 25th of September 2024 in Jazz Dock club in Prague. The winner will then be decided by an expert jury and a vote of the audience.

This years’ finalists of the International category are: Sedno (PL) and Kota No Uta (DE)

And the finalist of the Junior category are: Renegatz (CZ)

PRIZES

1st place Czech category (junior locals): participation in the finals with finalists from the International category

Participation in the finals with finalists from the international category

The winner of the Czech category will get the opportunity to participate and win in the International category by means of a “wild card”.

Concert abroad (in collaboration with the Czech Centres) and Czechia

Performance abroad. This prize is awarded in cooperation with the Czech Centres. The performance in Czechia at Mladí ladí jazz or elsewhere.

Recording of live performance

Help with band promotion

Media presentation with partner media.

1st place in the International category:

Financial reward of 1000 EUR

Concert in the Czech Republic

Performance at Mladí ladí jazz or elsewhere.

Promotion

Newsletter and press release sent to media partners.

2nd and 3rd place International category (International):

All finalist bands will receive a recording of a well produced live performance and high quality promo photos from the concert.

Reimbursement of travel expenses

International bands that make it to the finals and do not win the 1st place and have to travel to the finals from a location outside the Czech Republic will receive a travel allowance of 150 EUR for airfare or car travel, or 200 EUR for train travel (we support eco-friendly ways of travel). Reimbursement will be based on proof of travel.

15-year tradition of the competition

The Jazzfruit competition introduces young Czech and foreign talents playing the best jazz or, on the contrary, musical projects pushing the boundaries of this genre. Jazzfruit gives bands the opportunity to make their musical endeavours bear fruit. In recent years, the finalists of the competition have appeared alongside international stars at the Open Air concert Mladí ladí jazz on Charles Square, recorded their debut albums in the legendary Svárov studio, performed at the Jazz Dock club, played to Parisian audiences, or had professional video footage made for them as a basis for successful bookings.

“Compared to other competitions, Jazzfruit is unique primarily in the freedom we give to bands and projects – it is not necessary to come to the competition with an interpretation of a specific song or specific styles, nor do we set requirements for instrumentation or the need to present only their own work, even though it is an asset. We do not set boundaries, on the contrary we want to break them down in the perception of jazz,” says Jan Gregar on behalf of the festival organisers.

For the period of the competition’s existence, Igor Ochepovsky (CZ), Nicola Guida (IT), Ľubomír Gašpar Cimbal Project (SK), Silva Šírová Sextet (CZ), D.A.S. Trio (HU), Jay Delver (CZ), Uthando (CZ), Marcin Pater Trio (PL) and most recently Searching for Home (DE) have all taken first place in previous editions.