Springtime in Basel is also Jazzfestival time! This 35th edition coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Offbeat organization that has been bringing the best of the world’s jazz to the stages of Basel. They have organized an impressive 2,900+ concerts during the past half century!

For this anniversary year, the makers of Offbeat have put together a unique program for jazz and music fans of the Basel region. They will be looking back on 50 years with well-known names like Dave Holland, Daniel Humair, Anouar Brahem, Piazzolla Quinteto, Till Brönner, Mare Nostrum, and 100 Years Bud Powell / Oscar Peterson; at the same time, they will be promoting innovation, newcomers, groovers, and boundary-crossers who stylistically expand the jazz of the modern era. “Quo vadis Jazz” (Where is jazz going?) is the central question that will hopefully be answered after the 29 Jazzfestival concerts in April and May.

From April 26 to May 25, Jazzfestival Basel will present an exceptional high-quality and varied program with musicians from the United States, Cuba, North Africa, Japan, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Portugal, Scandinavia, and Switzerland. Jazz newcomers, style-defining musicians, and big stars will be performing at Gare du Nord, Volkshaus Basel, Bird’s Eye Jazz Club, Stadtcasino Basel, Dorfkirche Riehen, EBL Elefantehuus, Atlantis Basel, Sudhaus Basel, and Jazzcampus Basel. Offbeat will once again be enriching Basel with jazz, global music, and funk, delighting a large audience with their concerts. Be among the expected 8000+ jazz fans and concert-goers that will embark on a musical journey around the world!

The anniversary season also offers a wide range of thematic foci, such as “Jazz from Norway,” the “Spanish Jazz Scene,” “Fado de Portugal,” “Caribe,” the “Saxophone in Jazz,” “Jazz & Classical Music,” “Jazz Piano Then and Now,” “Women in Jazz,” and the “Swiss Jazz Scene.” There are some important premieres and world premieres to enjoy, a Young Stage in the Sudhaus, and once again, there will be a Family Concert in the Jazzcampus Basel. There will also be a promising supporting program for the 50th anniversary that began in January 2025, with panel discussions, film & jazz, talk about jazz piano, vino e jazz, and a jazz photo documentary.

Check out the individual entries on the calendar for more information about each of the 29 Jazz Festival concerts; they are specially color-coded in purple. Get your tickets soon, since many concerts are already almost sold out!

https://www.offbeat-concert.ch/35.-festival/

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