Katara European Jazz Festival returns

* An impressive show of bands from France, Austria and Portugal * Bands from Switzerland, Germany and Poland feature Thursday

The Katara European Jazz Festival is back in town, with the launch of its seventh edition Wednesday marked by a "wonderful artistic atmosphere", Katara - the Cultural Village Foundation said.The audience was treated to some mesmerising performances by bands from France, Austria and Portugal.The festival has been organised by Katara in co-operation with the embassies of 11 European countries and sponsored by Qatar Airways as the Official Airline, Qatar Music Academy, FNAC Qatar, Fifty One East, and the European Union (European Cultural Association in Qatar).Cristian Tudor, ambassador of the the European Union (EU) to Kuwait and Qatar, said: "The holding of Katara European Jazz Festival this year in partnership with many European embassies in Doha as well as the EU delegation for Qatar aims at presenting to the Qatari audience some of the finest European Jazz music. We are proud to be supporting this festival for the second consecutive year. "Jazz music has captured the imagination of global audiences for many years. I also welcome the news that there will be several workshops at Qatar Music Academy with local music students. The holding of this festival reflects the strong cultural relations between Qatar and the EU, and I sincerely hope that we will see this annual festival in Qatar for many years to come."Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, HE Akbar al-Baker, said: “Qatar Airways is proud to be the Official Airline of the seventh Katara European Jazz Festival 2021, a prestigious event that attracts some of the world's best jazz musicians and composers, as well as draws a large and diverse audience, bringing music enthusiasts from around the globe to our beloved nation. "As the national carrier of Qatar, we are committed to supporting the finest in international entertainment and continue contributing towards Doha's emergence as a leading cultural hub and popular tourist destination."The musical evening began with the French National Jazz Orchestra. Established in 1986 under the supervision of the French Ministry of Culture, it aims to develop jazz music in France and abroad and is famous for the quality of its creativity and its ability to harmonise and renew content.The Austrian duo (Sin Moss) of Philip Erasmus on guitar and Clemens Sinzer on cello presented a musical creation with a unique vocal performance that expressed vibrant and modernist free music.The Portuguese trio of Ricardo Toscano on the saxophone, Nelson Cascais on the bass and André Souza Machado on the drums, entertained the audience with their exceptional talent demonstrated by their deep knowledge of music, which enhanced their directcommunication through their music with the audience, who gave them a warm applause and showed great admiration.The audience will enjoy performances by musicians from Switzerland, Germany and Poland Thursday, from 6pm to 10pm.