Jazzfest.Wien History 2019

Foto: Bobby McFerrin MGMT

This singer, pianist and conductor has dedicated himself to the art of gleeful improvisation. He quickly adapted and moved on from the vocal style pioneered by Jon Hendricks to create a unique mix of percussive elements and call-and-response principles. As a musical chameleon who moves between jazz, classical and R&B, he scored a global hit in 1988 with “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. Instead of repeating himself, he then turned towards classical music and conducted large orchestras and recorded Mozart discs with Chick Corea. More recently he has focused on the Negro Spiritual. His program in the State Opera at the 2019 Vienna Jazz Fest is called “Gimme5” and will feature McFerrin and 5 singers. They will perform circle songs and will also invite local singers to join them on stage.