From 23 to 26 April 2025, the international jazz scene will gather in Bremen (Germany) for the 19th edition of jazzahead!, one of Europe’s most important professional platforms and showcase festivals. Under the heading RECONNECT, this year’s edition places a special focus on three countries, France, Spain and Switzerland.
After being a guest country at jazzahead! 2016, Switzerland is once again honoured, together with France and Spain, under the headline RECONNECT at this year’s edition. Nine years after its first focus, the Swiss jazz scene is more dynamic and more inventive than ever. Benefiting from the high quality of the country’s music academies as well as its linguistic and cultural diversity, a large number of promising young jazz musicians have emerged in Switzerland. Many of them are now establishing themselves on international stages. They explore a multitude of styles, pay respect to tradition while crossing traditional borders, and experiment unabashedly in the avant-garde field.
Pro Helvetia and FONDATION SUISA, with the support of SONART, have joined forces to enable Swiss artists to perform at this major event and to raise the visibility of the Swiss music scene, in particular by means of the collective SWISS MUSIC booth and by supporting the musicians selected for the showcases.
Swiss focus in the programme
| Wednesday, 23 April 2025 | Opening night: Sketches of Spain, France and Switzerland With a concert by Louis Matute Large Ensemble, accompanied by French singers Célia Kameni and Gabi Hartmann, Afro-Cuban trumpeter Yelfris Valdés, and Spanish flutist Marta Mansilla. |
| Thursday, 24 April 2025 | RECONNECT Showcases Louis Matute Large Ensemble |
| Friday, 25 April 2025 | RECONNECT Showcases Yilian Cañizares |
| Saturday, 26 April 2025 | RECONNECT Showcases Manon Mullener 5tet |
Further information available at jazzahead.de.
SWISS MUSIC booth
As a meeting point for Swiss and international professionals, the SWISS MUSIC booth is a place of encounter and exchange for artists, bookers, and institutional representatives, giving them the possibility to forge long-term contacts and networks.
It is also a window to the Swiss music landscape, with the hosts providing information and samples of pieces by Swiss artists.
SWISS MUSIC
SWISS MUSIC is a promotional programme initiated by FONDATION SUISA and Pro Helvetia to support and promote the Swiss music sector at various international events.
