Ó 12 Points 2007-08

Dublin is a thriving, bustling city for music and the arts, but since 2003, when the last edition of Dublin Jazz Festival took place, it has been without an annual celebration of rhythmic and improvised music. That's set to change in spring 2008 with the 2nd annual edition of 12 Points! an innovative festival of new jazz from Europe's most exciting young ensembles.

Twelve emerging groups will be offering Dublin audiences a unique insight into the state of play for jazz around Europe, from hard swinging piano trios and electro improvisers, to creative small group composers and a jazz chanteuse.

If you haven't heard of them, then we're on the right track. 12 Points! is all about young artists who've established themselves in their domestic milieu, and are poised for broader recognition throughout the EU.  The portents are strong that a future Tomasz Stanko or Jan Garbarek is among the myriad number of European bands that form the make-up of the 12 Points! ethos.

Europe is a culturally diverse place, but if it does have a musical lingua franca, jazz is it. More than music, it's a conduit for creative dialogue that transcends borders, a celebration of regional diversity and ethnicities, and a platform for education and cultural exchange.  Its apparent in the thriving jazz ecologies of cities across Europe and over four days in March 2008, Dublin will be at the very heart of that dynamic process.

And the title? Our festival brings you twelve beacons of jazz creativity, but also jibes affectionately at the Eurovision Song Contest, and the maximum number of points its judges could award competing entries.  Come on Zagreb!