The Jazz in Carthage Festival, now in its sixth year of existence, continues to be sponsored by the Scoop Organization and Tunisiana, a mobile phone company. When the festival began in 2005, it lasted six days and featured less than 10 performers. Over the years, the festival has grown and now lasts 10 days and features more than 15 acts representing almost 10 countries.
The main stages of the festival are located in Gammarth's Hotel Barcelo Carthage Thalasso. There are also smaller shows held in the nearby Papa Joe's Club, located in Tunis' Golden Tulip Hotel. In addition to concerts, the festival features jam sessions and master classes, as well as occasional art exhibitions and film screenings.
The 2010 festival takes place from April 9 to 18. Musicians scheduled to perform include American blues legend, John Lee Hooker; Cuban piano virtuoso, Chucho Valdes; and popular Tunisian stars, Amine & Hamza.
Appearances by American jazz saxophonist, Johnny Griffin, and opera and jazz performer, Barbara Hendricks, highlighted the very first Jazz in Carthage Festival in 2005. In the years that followed, the festival has featured such artists as Ayo, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Al di Meola, Gilberto Gil, Benny Golson, Abdullah Ibrahim, Al Jarreau, Maria Joao, Lee Konitz, Dianne Reeves and Ike Turner.
The official festival website, jazzacarthage.com, provides information about where and how to purchase festival tickets. You can also obtain ticket information by contacting the Tunisian National Tourism Office in the U.S., the U.K. or Canada.
Tunisia has been closely associated with jazz since 1942, when the song, "A Night in Tunisia," was composed by Dizzy Gillespie and Frank Paparelli, with lyrics by Jon Hendricks. Since its composition, countless jazz and popular music performers have recorded the song and, according to NPR.org, "A Night in Tunisia" is now considered to be a jazz "standard."