The French sextet Lurium has won the band competition at the 49th Getxo International Jazz Festival in the Basque Country — a prize that includes an invitation to perform at Eivissa Jazz in Ibiza.
The prize
- €4,500 in prize money;
- the recording of a live album;
- a performance at the Eivissa Jazz festival.
The partnership between the two festivals means that the winners at Getxo go on to play in Ibiza: this year’s Eivissa Jazz programme includes the L.A.B. Trio, last year’s Getxo revelation award winners.
The band
Lurium is a contemporary jazz sextet combining modern jazz language with current musical influences:
| Musician | Instrument |
|---|---|
| Víctor Maisonneuve | alto saxophone |
| Óscar Viret | trumpet |
| Loan Buathier | guitar |
| Cyril Drapé | double bass |
| Tamino Edener | drums |
| Levi Harvey | piano |
The band describes its original music as an aesthetic in which organic rhythms, finely crafted harmonies and cinematic soundscapes come together. Pianist Levi Harvey also won the award for best soloist, worth €950.
Second place
Second prize, worth €1,900, went to the Christopher Pérez Quartet, a group with musicians from Lanzarote, Madrid and Murcia: Christopher Pérez on saxophone, Guillaume Coulbois on piano, David Muñoz on double bass and Daniel Pimienta on drums. The quartet, which aims to offer a blend of sounds and styles reflecting each member’s background, previously won a Spanish national youth music competition.
Why it matters
Competitions like Getxo’s are an important launchpad for young jazz musicians, giving them visibility, recording opportunities and festival bookings. For Eivissa Jazz, the link with Getxo brings new European talent to the island, complementing its line-up of established international names and local musicians.
Eivissa Jazz, one of the longest-running festivals in the Balearics, takes place each September in Ibiza town, with concerts on the Vara de Rey promenade and the walls of Dalt Vila.
