Last two concerts of the BMW Welt Jazz Award 2022. The last evening concerts following the theme "Key Position" with the Marco Mezquida Trio and the Ashley Henry Quartet.

Munich. For the remaining concerts of the BMW Welt Jazz Award 2022, the Double Cone of BMW Welt will host two further internationally known ensembles. On April 19, the Marco Mezquida Trio from Spain will interpret this year’s theme “Key Position”, followed by the British Ashley Henry Quartet on April 26. It is then up to the expert jury of the BMW Welt Jazz Award to choose two finalists from a total of six participants competing in the final concert in the auditorium of the BMW Welt on July 9, 2022. In addition, the winner of the audience award will be announced.

For the fifth concert on April 19, the Marco Mezquida Trio will perform in the BMW Welt. Pianist Marco Mezquida is one of the most versatile and most productive representatives of the Spanish jazz world. Known from a very young age as a “prodigy”, “workaholic at the piano” and “once-in-a-century musician” in his native country, this Menorca-born artist has, at the tender age of 34, recorded over 30 albums to date. He performs solo improvisation and delivers programs with duos, trios or orchestras. With his inspiration coming from sources as far-ranging as Ravel, Skrjabin, Bach and traditional American jazz, Mezquida’s work is best described as a pioneering, modern interpretation of Spanish folklore. This can also be seen in his work with Flamenco guitarist Chicuelo, a project that was very successful both in Germany and on the international stage, or his most recent work “Talismán”, which he recorded with cellist Martín Meléndez and drummer and percussionist Aleix Tobias.

At the last concert prior to the finale, the Ashley Henry Quartet can be heard in the Double Cone of the BMW Welt on April 26. 30-year-old London-based pianist Ashley Henry completed his studies at the Royal Academy of Music as recently as 2016. Widely known as a prodigy, Henry was offered the opportunity to perform alongside legends such as Terence Blanchard and Jean Toussaint that very same year and was invited as the youngest participant to date to play with Robert Glasper at the International Piano Trio Festival. His appointment as guest resident Musical Director at London jazz clubs “Jazz Café” and “Ronnie Scotts” and nominations for the Jazz FM Awards in two categories in addition to being named “Breakthrough Act of the Year” by Fader Magazine secured his big break in 2017. Adding to this, Ashley Henry’s acclaimed debut album “Beautiful Vinyl Hunter” further cemented his status as a multifaceted artist in 2019. At the BMW Welt Jazz Award, he will perform together with Myele Manzanza on the drums, Karl Oloniluyi-Abel on contrabass and singer Zola Marcelle.

Evening concerts of the BMW Welt Jazz Award 2022
March 8, 2022         Julia Hülsmann Trio
March 22, 2022       Jacob Karlzon Trio
April 5, 2022            Anat Fort Trio
April 12, 2022         Giovanni Guidi Quintet
April 19, 2022         Marco Mezquida Trio
April 26, 2022         Ashley Henry Quartet

The concerts in the Double Cone of BMW Welt are offered free of charge; however, seating is limited and cannot be guaranteed. Doors open at 6.00 pm, the concerts start at 7.00 pm. BMW Welt follows the latest rules regarding social distancing and hygiene that apply to events. Current information on the concerts of the BMW Welt Jazz Award can be found at www.bmw-welt.com.

Among all participating visitors helping their personal favorite win the audience award a miniature of the 19th BMW Art Car designed by John Baldessari will be raffled off. For more than 40 years, the BMW Art Car Collection has fascinated art and design enthusiasts as well as lovers of cars and technology with its unique combination of fine art and innovative automobile technology.

The final concert featuring the two shortlisted finalists will take place at the auditorium of BMW Welt on July 9, 2022 at 7.00 pm. Tickets are available at München Ticket.

This year‘s events will again be hosted by Hannah Weiss, winner of the BMW Welt Young Artist Jazz Award 2019.

Jury
The jury, headed by Oliver Hochkeppel (journalist for music and cultural affairs, Süddeutsche Zeitung), consists of Heike Lies (Musicologist, Music and Music Theatre Division of the Department of Cultural Affairs of the state capital Munich ), Christiane Böhnke-Geisse (Director of schwere reiter Musik), Roland Spiegel (Editor and jazz expert at German broadcasting station Bayerischer Rundfunk BR‑KLASSIK) and Andreas Kolb (Editor-in-chief of JazzZeitung.de and nmz – neue musikzeitung).