Tribute to the Jazz Muse

This exhibition is presented in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the Reykjavik Jazz Festival. For the two-week duration of the festival, one of the exhibition halls at Kjarvalsstaðir will be entirely dedicated to jazz, with paintings by five Icelandic painters, as well as a series of small jazz concerts and improvising sessions. The exhibition presents tributes from Icelandic painters to their muses. Among the work are portraits of jazz legends by Tryggvi Ólafsson, Sigurður Örlygsson, and the Pop artist Erró; large, semi abstract paintings of jazz combos by Sigurbjörn Jónsson, and an Expressionistic study of a jazz pianist by Grétar Reynisson.

Many visual artists listen to jazz music while working. Jazz has been an important model for visual improvisation for the last 100 years, affecting, among other things, how painters use harmony, rhythm, tone and space in their work.  Jazz related paintings by the modernist greats Matisse, Mondrian and Leger, the Surrealist Man Ray, the Pop artist Larry Rivers, and the Neo-expressionist Jean-Michel Basquiat are well know.

Sunday – August 16 4 p.m.
Kjarvalsstaðir - Ode to Jazz!
Jazz Madness!
Take your pick. The opening of an exhibition featuring jazz in icelandic art.
Live music.
The exhibit wil be open during the Reykjavik Jazz Festival.

Monday 17 August 
Kjarvalsstaðir -  Jazz Workshop
2 – 4 p.m. Open workshop
4 - 5 p.m. Open masterclass - Jim Black dicusses his music.

Tuesday 18 August  
Kjarvalsstaðir -  Jazz Workshop
2 – 4 p.m. Open workshop
4 - 5 p.m. Open masterclass - Hilmar Jensson discusses his music.

Wedensday 19 August
Kjarvalsstaðir -  Jazz Workshop
2 – 4 p.m. Open workshop
4 - 5 p.m. Open masterclass - Benjamin Koppel discusses his music.

Thursday 20 August 6 p.m.
Hafnarhús –  Lecture
History of Jazz in Iceland – In english – with recorded samples

Saturday 22 August  – Cultur night
Hafnarhús - 3 p.m. Jazz- Walk.
Hafnarhús - 4.30 p.m. Jazz-Walk.

Sunday 23  August 04 p.m.
Kjarvalsstaðir - Concert
Chick singers of the world unite!
Kristjana Stefánsdóttir and Ragnheiður Gröndal unite the singers on the Icelandic scene.
Ticket sale at the entrance.

Thursday 27 August 6 p.m.
Hafnarhús - Lecture
History of Jazz in Iceland – In english with recorded samples

Thursday 27 August 8 p.m.
Kjarvalsstaðir - Gó! Gó! Gó! Tangó!
Olivier Manoury gathers some of his Icelandic friends for a session with tango dancers and latin american enthusiasts. Brasilian singer songwriter Ife Tolentino and saxophonist Óskar Guðjónsson also contribute a few numbers.

Saturday 29 August 29 3 p.m.
Kjarvalsstaðir - Reykjavik Jazz Festival
Contrabassist Leifur leads a band through his own compositions.
Skver: Guitarist Steinar Guðjónsson plays originals with his band.