Since its inception in 2013, JAZZx has grown exponentially, carving out a unique cultural space for jazz enthusiasts in Timisoara but also serving as a platform for artistic innovation and community engagement. From showcasing emerging Romanian artists to hosting internationally acclaimed legends, the festival has continually demonstrated the transformative power of music and culture. As we dive into a conversation with Andreea Iager Tako, the co-founder of JAZZx and a community builder for Timisoara, we look forward to exploring the evolution of the festival and its impact on the local and global jazz scenes.

How has the JAZZx festival evolved since its inception in 2013?

From the start JAZZx (called JazzTM at first) has been a manifesto and a search of creating a cultural brand for the city of Timisoara, complementing the diversity of art forms already present on the local scene, while sparking and developing a brand new one for music, experimentation, and interaction with poetry, classical, and world tunes.

JAZZx set out to bring music of high artistic value close to all the communities of Timisoara, bringing together Romanian artists at the beginning of their journey, artists who innovate and experiment, discovering new horizons, but also living legends of the various genres that jazz brings together. Over more than 12 years, our journey has demonstrated the importance of the cultural act as a common good, as a value that binds us, inspires us, shows us possibilities, changes mentalities.

JAZZx has succeeded in placing Timisoara on the map of major jazz festivals and events worldwide, not only as a result of the international artists it has brought, but also from the perspective of the paths it has opened up for the communities of Romanian artists who have grown with it. There are 133 Grammy Awards that attest to the mastery of JAZZx artists, but beyond the recognition, the excitement and the hope of listening to them together, as different and unique as we are, have been and will always remain priceless.

Are there any memorable stories or anecdotes from previous editions of JAZZx that you could share?

Oh, so many. It’s hard to even write them down, but this is great idea for a future internal project. As you can imagine, we have the entire spectrum of possibilities when it comes to memorable stories. Al Jarreau designing a youth music programme on a napkin, insisting and encouraging us to continue PLAI projects for youth, or Dianne Reeves inviting Blue Noise on the main stage after hearing the girls on a secondary stage and meeting them backstage, supporting young women, young talent, and encouraging the audiences to keep discovering music.

How does this year’s edition differ from previous ones?

As any festival organiser will tell you, each edition is unique. It has to do with both the artists that create the magic and the synergies—as we involve them in a series of local connecting projects and educational opportunities for the youth—as well as the setup, the audience… and all the challenges that come our way. Every year is different and to some degree special and unforgettable.

The festival still offers free access to the public. What is the significance of this decision for the organisers?

We strongly believe in the powerful message and positive impact that high quality art forms generate for communities, diverse communities making culture a glue and music a common good. The genre itself started in a very liberal and experimental way, inviting everyone to participate. We feel this pays tribute to both the past and future in which we envision functional, resilient, and collaborative communities.

Whereas PLAI the festival was the first ticketed festival in Timisoara, on the outskirts of the city in a forgotten space of our community, we love having JAZZx in the city centre with free access, because this means our audience is very diverse: from people that enjoy jazz on a daily basis to those that walk around and stumble upon our stage and choose to stay. Many of the ones that got there by chance and stayed ended up coming back in the following years, maybe as new jazz fans or just to enjoy the effect live music has on the urban setting. Over the years, we’ve had people enjoying the music in peace from their seats and people dancing or yelling out the lyrics. And that shows the effect jazz can have on people: it can move you emotionally or physically, creating a new lens through which you see and feel the city. High-quality expressions of art are for everyone!

DAY 1 at JazzX: When Cubano rhythm meets Timisoara

How has the audience response been over the years, and what is the expected turnout for this year?

Being open and accessible, we have little control on the stats other than the numbers we receive each year from crowd control officials. We know stories of locals who never book holidays during JAZZx and we get messages from people who travel from other continents and never miss an edition. We are always moved by the personal stories, the fans meeting their favourite artists backstage or the sea of people all singing along at the cue of the artists on the mainstage. So, beyond the numbers, we are confident that this year’s turnout will be marked by heartfelt participation and genuine connections.

What criteria do you use to select the artists for the festival?

There’s a mix of them; if we take out the mathematics of the available budgets, we look for mastery, inspiration, boundary breaking and experimentation, emotion, unexpected, and gut feelings… no matter at which level of recognition the artists are when we book them.

Can you share insights into how the artists prepare for their performances at JAZZx?

They each have unique techniques and it’s hard to find common ground other than passion. Loads of passion for their art! This is the line connecting everyone involved, from opening acts to the big names. They rehearse all the time, they are professional and extremely dedicated to their craft, and we are witnessing artistry with every performance, but also backstage, seeing their work ethic and concentration on delivering the best possible show.

What can attendees expect in terms of the performance atmosphere and overall experience?

This year people can expect a lot of dancing to the Cuban rhythms of Roberto Fonseca, deep introspection from cinematic jazz trio GoGo Penguin, and getting emotional with Jordan Rakei’s lyrics. They might also want to change their look after seeing MonoNeon’s crazy outfits. At the same time, we’ll start Saturday and Sunday with the best vibes at the Spoken Word stage—Strada Fara Nume. This stage has given birth to an entire educational and creative programme for young poets and musicians that this year has reached its fourth edition. Their days of exploration end with public rehearsals each evening, which means everyone’s invited! In a nutshell, the vibe is one of discovery and wonder, sounds, words, people, and connections between all of them.

How has JAZZx impacted the local community and the broader jazz scene?

JAZZx has given birth to collaboration between artists, more open doors and new stages for Romanian talent, two educational programmes that are creating value for poets and musicians all over Romania and infusing the local scene with tremendous global talent, as well as once in a lifetime opportunities for the public. They truly are. The festival has created new audiences, supported new artists and forms of expression, and generated unforgettable shared memories among hundreds of thousands of souls. We think the impact can’t stay local—after all, Timisoara has always been great at sharing new ways of doing things with the world!