Diverse Jazzahead programme seeks to ‘Transcend All Borders’ and UK jazz showcase added to Club nights
Mike Flynn
Monday, February 24, 2025
This year’s Jazzahead trade fare and showcase, that take place over three days and nights from 23 to 26 April at its longstanding home of the Messe in Bremen, Germany, has announced its showcase programme
With 38 concerts by artists from over 20 countries across three stages, the showcases have been programmed by international juries over the past few months, under the direction of Götz Bühler, jazzahead!’s Artistic Advisor. This year sees a strong focus on bands from the partner regions of Spain, France and Switzerland. In addition to Europe, there’s a strong focus on artists from Central and South America as well as Africa.
Names announced for the RECONNECT Showcases include: Adèle Viret Quartet (FR), Irene Reig quartet (ES), Louis Matute Large Ensemble (CH), Manon Mullener 5tet (CH), Marco Mezquida Trio (ES) and more.
The European Showcases include three UK artists including Scottish pair Norman&Corrie, the British-born Dutch-based saxophonist Sam Newbould and his Quintet and dynamic trumpeter Henry Spencer who perform alongside Andreas Polyzogopoulos Trio (GR), Carlos Bica 11:11 (PT), Harald Lassen (NO), Ilaria Capalbo (SE/IT), Korhan Futaci (TR), Maridalen (NO), and Schubert NOW! (HU.
The German Jazz Expo includes: Besson – Sternal – Burgwinkel Trio (DE), Carl Wittigs Aurora Oktett (DE), Enji (DE), Eva Klesse Quartett – Stimmen (DE), hilde (DE), Maik Krahl - The Magic of Consistency (DE), Nils Kugelmann Trio (DE) and Oumuamua Orchestra (DE).
And the Overseas & Jazz from Africa Showcases includes names such as Benjamin Jephta Sextet presents 'Born Coloured, not Born-Free' (ZA), Lucía (MX), Roger Corrêa Quartet (BR), Rolando Luna (CU) and Shalosh (IL) and more.
Jazzwise can exclusively announce that there will be an additional UK Jazz showcase night as part of the wider Jazz Club programme around Bremen. This takes place on the evening of Friday 25 April 2025 from 9pm to 1am at the 300-capacity (and aptly named) Shakespeare Theatre. Programmed by Mike Flynn (Jazzwise), Nick Brown (Jazzahead) and Peter Conway (Peter Conway Management) and coordinated by Peter Conway and Felix Pallentin (Shakespeare Company) the bill features three groups led by award-winning singer Jo Harrop, acclaimed pianist Rebecca Nash Trio and rising trumpet star Mark Kavuma, and will culminate with a jam session led by UK pianist Robin Phillips.
There are also plans for the return of a UK jazz stand in the main conference hall – details TBA soon.
For the full programme and to register visit www.jazzahead.de
