Co Streiff receives Aargau Art Prize
The Aargau Board of Trustees awards the Art Prize of the Canton of Aargau, endowed with 40,000 francs, to jazz saxophonist Co Streiff - for "a work of impressive format and high musical quality".
After completing her classical flute training on the saxophone, Co Streiff played her way through all pieces and styles mostly self-taught. Her music today is characterized by tradition, but also "by the independence of those who had to work out much of it themselves", writes the canton. From this basis, she has become one of the most important Swiss jazz musicians. Also because, as the jury emphasizes, as a pioneer she first had to create the structures in which many female jazz musicians operate today.
In her artistic quest, Co Streiff is also interested in folk music bordering on jazz. After touring Europe for several months, as well as Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Kuwait and Kyrgyzstan, numerous recordings, various awards and composition commissions document her artistic work. Streiff has also worked with greats such as Irène Schweizer and Fred Frith.
The award will be presented to the musician on May 20, 2017 at 1 p.m. in the Alte Reithalle in Aarau. The laudatory speech will be held by cultural journalist Manfred Papst.
