Festival director Attila Kleb said the festival sought to draw Budapest audiences as well as foreigners. "Many cultural events drawing local audiences is what makes a city truly precious." He said the municipality's support was instrumental in bringing the festival about.

Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony said the "fantastic" programme would also enable top-notch Hungarian jazz to reach new audiences.

The ten-day event will take place in City Hall Park, Rakoczi Square, Bakats Square, the Jedermann jazz club and the Philosophers' Garden, all in downtown Budapest. The guest of honour is South Korea. JazzFest Budapest will also pay tribute to the work of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, both of whom have centenaries this year.

Kleb said di Meola will play on June 28. On June 30, Metheny will play Side-Eye III+, a project involving young American musicians, he added.

Charles Lloyd will play with his quartet on July 1.

Trumpet player Terence Blanchard and saxophonist Ravi Coltrane will lead their orchestra playing a programme paying tribute to Miles and Coltrane on June 27.

Hungarian wind instrument virtuoso Mihaly Borbely, who turned 70 this year, is playing with an ensemble of world-class musicians including trumpet player Erik Truffaz and pianist Shai Maestro on July 1.

Other Hungarian performers include Skylark Metropolitan, Trio Midnight, Balint Gyemant, the Bacso Kristof Triad, the Nagy Emma Quintet and the Olah Krisztian Quartet.

Yu Hye Ryong, the director of the Budapest Korean Cultural Institute, said that South Korea will be represented by artists such as the pianist Cho Yoonseung, the Near East Quartet, Yonglee and the Doltang, the One Mind Trio and others.

More: 
JazzFest Budapest

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