Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic “Europeana” – a jazz homage to the European idea

Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic »Berlin ‒ Berlin«

In homage to a city where so much is possible: All three ensembles in this concert have their artistic home in Berlin – and also enjoy successful international careers. Singer Lucia Cadotsch and her trio ‘Speak Low’ captivate with their gentle, feather-light, unpretentious music, while the quartet of pianist and composer Julia Hülsmann is characterised by a style that is both intense and subtle. Kurt Rosenwinkel, who has worked with musicians such as Eric Clapton, Gary Burton and Brad Mehldau, is one of the most important voices on the Berlin and global jazz scene as a guitarist, composer and producer.

Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic World Jazz

“World Jazz” is the theme of this concert – because the performers come from very different countries: Swedish pianist Joel Lyssarides and American drummer Hamid Drake meet Greek musician Georgios Prokopiou, a virtuoso on the long-necked lute bouzouki, as well as Moroccan gimbri player Majid Bekkas and French-Vietnamese guitarist Nguyên Lê. The five musicians, who are at home both in the traditional music of their respective homelands and in jazz, unite the most diverse musical influences on this evening to create a sound that spans the globe.

Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic Piano Night

Few other musicians have shaped the Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic series as much as pianists Michael Wollny, iiro Rantala and Leszek Możdżer. The three played the legendary opening concert of the series in 2012 and have appeared time and again in recent years with memorable performances. In this concert, they are joined by pianist Grégory Privat from Martinique. The artists, who are very different in character and temperament, are united by their roots in classical music. And so we can look forward to an evening in which the four pianists combine classical music, jazz and Caribbean flair to create a very special sound world.

A homage to love

A homage to love

A homage to love

Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic Jazz & Poetry ‒ Birgit Minichmayr sings Shakespeare

Shakespeare and jazz – do they go together? Absolutely! Especially when jazz pianist Bernd Lhotzky sets the English writer’s sonnets to music and Birgit Minichmayr performs them. She lends her dark, expressive voice to the music of tango, gospel. The world-music jazz quartet Quadro Nuevo, acclaimed for its melancholy warmth, will help to envelope the Renaissance poet’s texts in an intense, contemporary sound.

Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic “Italian night” with Stefano Bollani

When Stefano Bollani interprets the hit song “O sole mio”, all languor and indulgence disappears. Instead, you hear light-footed, astonishing imagination. Now the pianist, who is at home in both jazz and classical music, celebrates the music of his homeland for an entire Italian night. There will be well-known melodies, virtuosic improvisation, and imaginative arrangements with plenty of humour. Stefano Bollani is joined by clarinettist Gabriele Mirabassi, guitarist Matteo Mancuso, trumpeter Luca Aquino and singer Valentina Cenni.

Stockholm Jazz Festival – A tribute to Georg Riedel

Welcome to a star-studded and poignant tribute to Georg Riedel, one of the greatest musicians and composers of Swedish jazz. Radiojazzgruppen’s Nisse Landgren hosts the evening and pianist Calle Bagge conducts a house band featuring elite members of the Swedish jazz scene, as well as vocalists including Nicolai Dunger and Sarah Riedel.With the passing on 25 February this year of jazz bassist, composer and arranger Georg Riedel at 90 years of age, one of the most versatile composers of Swedish music fell silent.Georg Riedel composed music for Astrid Lindgren’s films, as well as innovative jazz for Radiojazzgruppen and his own duos, trios and quartets. His oeuvre includes opera, orchestral works and music for films, ballet and church services. He is among the musicians who brought Swedish folk music to jazz stages. Jazz på Svenska (“Jazz in Swedish”), his album with Jan Johansson, is the most sold Swedish jazz album.To celebrate this doyen of jazz, Stockholm Jazz Festival presents a full evening at Stockholm Konserthuset, in which a wide selection of Riedel’s compositions will be performed by carefully selected artists – many of whom worked with the man himself over the past 20 years. This retrospective of Riedel’s work will link the golden age of the 1950s to contemporary jazz of the 2020s.“Georg Riedel’s contribution is utterly massive, and so is the empty space he has left behind. But his music will live on, now and forever. It therefore feels particularly gratifying to open this year’s jazz festival with an evening that pays tribute to him,” says Eric Birath, CEO of Stockholm Jazz Festival.Read more about Stockholm Jazz Festival (opens in a new window)

Jazz at its best

Peter Gall, a renowned German drummer, composer, and bandleader, pushes boundaries with his insightful and personal approach to music. His new songs tell stories, create dreamy collages, and explore fascinating musical galaxies. Joined by an all-star cast of European musicians, including Wanja Slavin, Reinier Baas, Rainer Böhm, and Matthias Pichler, they blend jazz, fusion, indie, melancholy, and hypnotic beats, captivating audiences with their brilliance and musicality.