JazzTM: The young jazz music prodigy Jacob Collier launches his first album in Timisoara

Something amazing is happening on the Romanian music scene and the country is witnessing it: this weekend, we are being jazzed up. Both Timisoara and Cluj Napoca are hosting jazz festivals, bringing great artists to our local scenes, in the attempt to color a bit the cultural scene for the locals.

Both festivals, Jazz in the Park (Cluj-Napoca) and JazzTM (Timisoara) have given free access to the public to enjoy the sounds characterised by propulsive syncopated rhythms, polyphonic ensemble playing, varying degrees of improvisation, and often deliberate distortions of pitch and timbre, as the Webster defines the jazz. Moreover, they put up impressive scenes in the heart of these cities, offering amazing sound checks and beautiful light designs to complete the live concert experience.

Day 1 at JazzTM

Timisoara is a far-away kingdom, which currently finished it’s facelift, after an investment of RON 65 million, which started in October 2013 and finished in late December 2015, with the support of EU fundings. And for its fourth edition, the organisers of JazzTM have decided to move to another two locations, namely the Civic Park and Castle Park. “Jazz is about being relaxed and enjoying the moment, so the decision to widen the area of stages is based on the idea of offering a good place to relax and enjoy the sounds of jazz,” declared Norbert Tako, the festival’s artistic director, in a previous talk with Business Review.

What’s pretty cool is the fact that you can get part of a show during day-light by just assisting to their rehearsal. I overheard a talk between some teenagers who came to the concerts just because they saw Jacob rehearsing on the stage earlier the day and then they googled him and found his music.

Over 5,000 people have come to the opening night of the festival in Victoriei Square, which lineup consisted of Peter Sarosi Quintet, Jacob Collier and Take 6. The Romanian band Peter Sarosi Quintet has become a well-known presence at this type of local festivals, offering a great introduction for the stars of the night, the great Jacob Collier and the legendary Take 6.

The first jazz superstar of the iPod generation, as the press often names him, Jacob Collier, has launched his first album, In my room, on the stage of JazzTM. The album was earlier released online. For JazzTM, the artist has used more than 11 instruments on stage by himself, giving us rhythms of jazz, a cappella, groove, funk, trip-hop, classical music, Brazilian music and gospel. “I’m overwhelmed by the success this album has, it’s already number 1 in 25 countries,” said the young artist at the brief press conference which took place just before his gig. The young artist is well-known for the Youtube videos he posts from his room, where it seems he spends a lot of time, arranging songs and creating art. At 21 years old, Jacob Collier knows how to play over 29 musical instruments. Also, he benefits from the legendary Quincy Jones’s appreciation, with whom the young artist declared he still talks.

On the stage of JazzTM, he was breathtaking – the perfect mix between voice, instruments and video, plus the energy which could be taken from his songs made the public bloom. It still remains one question, after seeing the interior of his room – where does Jacob sleep if every inch of the room has a musical instrument on it? Needless to say that few hundred fans expected him after the show for CD-signing, pictures and autographs.

Last but not least, Take 6 did a great show, not to mention the excitement I saw in the public for the six American wonders. Unfortunately for me, I was still under the magic spell of Jacob Collier and I couldn’t entirely enjoy the group’s gig.