The board of Rajatsi Raahe jazz association has appointed producer-entrepreneur Charles Gil as festival director of Raahe Jazz on the Beach festival as of 15 September 2014. Gil succeeds Annamaija Saarela, who has directed the festival since 2009
The initiative came from Annamaija Saarela herself.
- I have done programme planning and PR activities for the festival successfully for six years. It has been a great and rewarding period. The festival is in good shape economically, and it is a highly valued event both in Finland and internationally. For me, it is now time to move on and concentrate on managing my own Annamaija Music Company and Pirkanmaan Festivaalit – Pirfest ry, Saarela says.
- I also think that it is healthy for the artistic planning of a special festival like Raahe Jazz on the Beach to make changes every now and then. It keeps the programme fresh and interesting, she continues.
Charles Gil (born 1964) has a French-Spanish background. He has lived in Finland since 1995 and is already known in Raahe. His Free Voices, Free Sounds (Vapaat äänet) management and booking company’s jazz tours have reached Raahe for almost twenty years, and he has co-operated with Rajatsi and the culture services of the city of Raahe. Gil has worked in jazz since 1987. He has curated the Ultra Music concert series at Pori Jazz from 2003 to 2013 and exported Finnish jazz to France and around Europe. The Raahe Jazz on the Beach festival director position is part-time and Vapaat Äänet keeps going as strong as ever.
- Charles is a truly networked, insightful and eloquent expert to direct Raahe Jazz on the Beach, Annamaija Saarela comments.
- The ambitious but humane way of promoting jazz they have in Raahe has been close to my heart for a long time. Annamaija’s era has been successful and I am eager to take over from her, Charles Gil states.
Source: http://www.rajatsi.fi
http://www.vapaataanet.fi
http://jazzfinland.fi/news/speakers-in-spotlight-part-1-charles-gil
http://www.hs.fi/ihmiset/a1403676601821