In her film, US-director Shirley Clarke describes the career of Ornette Coleman, progenitor of free jazz, using various performances of his well-known piece “Skies of America”.

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Jazzfest Berlin 2019

Ornette: Made in America

Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Kassenhalle

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Jazzfest Berlin is one of Europe's oldest and most renowned festivals of its kind. It aims to provide a platform for up-and-coming artists and to convey the continuing vitality of jazz as an art form.

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The complete programme of Jazzfest Berlin 2024 with all concerts, the weekly programme of the Jazzfest Community Lab Moabit, including a musical neighbourhood walk, and the detailed supporting programme for the Jazzfest Research Lab will be announced on 11 September.

Programme Release 2024

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The programme will be published in September.

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The database comprises all artists and bands from Jazzfest Berlin since 1964.

Artists’ Archive from 1964

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Have a look at all Jazzfest Berlin posters since 1964.

Posters from 1964

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To mark its 60th anniversary, Jazzfest Berlin was celebrating the cultural diversity of the neighbouring district of Moabit in collaboration with 38&nbsp;official partners and initiatives and with over 350&nbsp;participants of all ages. In June&nbsp;2024, interviews were conducted with 20&nbsp;partners who presented their perspectives, wishes and ideas for the Jazzfest Community Lab Moabit. You can get an impression with this film.

Introducing: Jazzfest Community Lab Moabit

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In two seminars during the summer semester of 2024, students from the Berlin University of the Arts and the University of Hildesheim have explored the festival’s history from various perspectives. In this film, the participants give a first look at how they dealt with their research subject.

Introducing: Jazzfest Research Lab

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For the Jazzfest Research Lab, Dr Kristin McGee spoke with Terri Lyne Carrington and Kris Davis about their perspectives on the jazz scene and how it developed, as well as the impetus for founding the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice.

Interview: Dr&nbsp;Kristin McGee with Terri Lyne Carrington and Kris Davis

In the Media Library

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Marking twenty years since artist, writer and performer Vaginal Davis made Berlin her home, Gropius Bau presents the first comprehensive solo exhibition of her work in Germany. In her expansive oeuvre, punk meets glamour, queer activism meets Black counter-culture and resistance meets desire.

Vaginal Davis: Fabelhaftes Produkt

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The 10 most remarkable productions of the season will be accompanied by a framing programme of contributions by alumni of the International Forum, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary.

Theatertreffen

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Performing Exiles is an international and interdisciplinary festival produced by the Berliner Festspiele, that seeks to make diasporic lives in the city of Berlin visible and explore the contemporary meaning of exile. The programme has already been published and tickets are available now.

Performing Exiles

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Musikfest Berlin 2025 brings together guest performances by the world’s best symphony orchestras and choirs from the Netherlands, France, Belgium and Italy, which are rarely heard in Berlin. The full programme is online and tickets are available now.

Musikfest Berlin

More Berliner Festspiele

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Jazzfest Berlin 2024: Impressionen

Jazzfest Berlin 2024: Impressions

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Impressions

Jazzfest 2024

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Jazzfest Berlin 2024 is one of four festivals to be nominated for the German Jazz Prize in the Festival of the Year category. After 2020 and 2022, this is Jazzfest Berlin’s third nomination for this award.

Nominated for the German Jazz Prize 2025

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Upcoming Events

Key Visual Jazzfest Berlin 2024

Concerts, Labs, Films, Discourse, Community Sunday

Past – Present – Future

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At the centre of the large-scale Jazzfest Community Lab Moabit were the people of Moabit, their musical and cultural backgrounds, their stories, initiatives, origins and their personal wishes for the future. The film accompanies the protagonists during this extraordinary festival week and brings the cultural diversity of the district of Berlin-Moabit to life.

Exploring: Jazzfest Community Lab Moabit 2024

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Jazzfest Berlin 2024 took place from 31&nbsp;October to 3&nbsp;November. To mark its 60th&nbsp;anniversary, the festival reflected on its rich history and plotted ideas for the future.

Jazzfest Berlin 2024

The video documentary about the large-scale jazz festival Community Lab Moabit accompanies some of the protagonists through the Moabit neighbourhood from 28&nbsp;October to 3&nbsp;November 2024 and makes the cultural diversity of the numerous projects and initiatives that have appeared as part of the project audible.

Exploring: Jazzfest Community Lab Moabit 2024

60 Years of Jazzfest Berlin

120 pages, German and EnglishIn celebrating 60 years of Jazzfest Berlin, the anniversary magazine takes a multilayered look at the festival’s history – without claiming to be exhaustive. At its heart are the research findings of the academics and students of the Jazzfest Research Lab, who have examined the festival archive. In addition, contemporary witnesses have offered anecdotes and highlighted unique aspects from throughout the festival’s history. Pictures by photographer <a href="${link:{uuid:{3e822ced-6847-4366-b3ac-96a89750bf5b},repository:{artists},path:{/bfs-mediathek/W/anno-wilms}}}">Anno Wilms</a>&nbsp;provide insights into Jazzfest Berlin between 1967 and 1993. Musician and artist <a href="${link:{uuid:{b930d216-7d6f-49c5-bc00-68e2a2c1248c},repository:{artists},path:{/bfs-mediathek/L/damon-locks}}}">Damon Locks</a> has designed the magazine cover for the festival anniversary.<a href="https://berlinerfestspiele.1kcloud.com/ep16718c33ae391a/" target="_blank" title="Full screen view in new window">Full screen view in new window</a><a href="${link:{uuid:{b3bc1a61-02c8-42d3-9c4f-901e93608f15},repository:{dam},path:{/bfs-de/indizierte-pdfs/EN/Jazzfest-Berlin/2024/jfb24_anniversary-magazine-bilingual.pdf}}}">Download magazine&nbsp;(9.8 MB)</a>

Anniversary Magazine 2024

Presenting both style-defining icons of jazz and young positions from a wide variety of styles, Jazzfest Berlin presents a festival programme full of creative border-crossings and collective visions.

About Jazzfest Berlin

Founded in 1964 in West Berlin as one of the first jazz festivals in Europe, Jazzfest Berlin is turning 60. Good reason to examine this legendary festival’s rich history in the international Jazzfest Research Lab and to map out paths towards a promising future in the Jazzfest Community Lab Moabit.&nbsp;“In having teamed up with various new partners for the Labs, we aim to gain and share new insights into modern, trend-setting festival production. Both anniversary specials challenge everything we take for granted, helping us to leave our comfort zones and providing inspiration for Jazzfest Berlin 2024’s diverse concert programme.”— Nadin Deventer, Artistic Director Jazzfest Berlin

60 Years of Jazzfest Berlin: Still Digging

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Apparitions x Jazzfest ImproCamp for kids

For the first time in its long history, 60&nbsp;children took centre stage in two projects at the 60th&nbsp;Jazzfest Berlin in 2023. The ImproCamp was newly launched, inviting 30&nbsp;children via various social organisations and giving them a holistic, transdisciplinary approach to the art of improvisation.

Documentary: Children’s Projects of the 2023 Jazzfest Berlin

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In our multimedia stories, we highlight selected topics of the festival, explore background information and start conversations.

Stories

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You can listen to some of our events this year digitally in the Berliner Festspiele Media Library after the live concerts.&nbsp;In addition, On Demand offers from past years are available.

Jazzfest Berlin in the Media Library

More about Jazzfest Berlin

For the 60th anniversary edition of Jazzfest Berlin, the team is looking for a reliable person for the dramaturgical tasks from 1&nbsp;March until 30&nbsp;November 2024. Deadline for applications: 4 February 2024

Wanted: Dramaturg Jazzfest Berlin (f/m/d)

Jazzfest Berlin 2025 will take place from 30 October to 2 November.

Jazzfest Berlin 2025

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With the international Jazzfest Research Lab initiated in January 2023, Jazzfest Berlin invited academics and students to critically examine the festival’s archive, its programmes, creators, musicians and, last but not least, its myths.

Jazzfest Research Lab

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28.10. – 3.11.2024

The people of Moabit and their musical and cultural backgrounds, their stories, initiatives, origins and aspirations were at the heart of the Jazzfest Community Lab Moabit project.

Jazzfest Community Lab Moabit

Detailed Information about the Labs

Jazzfest Research LabLaunched in January 2023, the Jazzfest Research Lab gathers researchers from Germany, the USA and Australia as well as students from the Berlin University of the Arts and the University of Hildesheim to take a critical look at Jazzfest Berlin’s archive spanning 60&nbsp;years, its programmes, creators, musicians and, last but not least, its myths. The history of Jazzfest Berlin will be analysed from various perspectives, including gender and race, the evolution of its curation in the course of socio-political developments as well as the visual language of the festival. As part of this year’s festival programme, the researchers will present their findings in two open discourse spaces, discussing them with other interested parties and Jazzfest Berlin participants. Furthermore, their research has provided the centrepiece of the anniversary magazine celebrating 60 years of Jazzfest Berlin. The Haus der Berliner Festspiele will gather poster and photo exhibitions, a film programme with concert recordings from the first three decades of the festival and discussions with contemporary witnesses, providing deeper insight into the 60-year history of the festival.Jazzfest Concert ProgrammePast, present and future come together in the anniversary edition’s diverse concert programme. In 24&nbsp;acts spread over four festival days, style-defining icons of jazz history will share the stage with newer voices and projects from the global jazz community. US pianist Marilyn Crispell will be appearing twice: once with a rare solo performance on the opening night and again as part of Trio Tapestry with saxophonist Joe Lovano. US multi-instrumentalist Joe McPhee with the trio Decoy, Japanese underground icon Otomo Yoshihide with his 16-member Special Big Band and pianist Joachim K&uuml;hn – celebrating the world premiere of his new Joachim K&uuml;hn French Trio – will also be gracing this year’s edition of Jazzfest Berlin.The Sun Ra Arkestra – the Afrofuturist pioneers from Chicago who first appeared at the festival in 1970 – will be coming to Berlin just in time for the 60th anniversary. The newly founded Malacoda String Quartet, led by Berlin-based Italian bassist Antonio Borghini, will present the final three compositions by cellist Tristan Honsinger, who died in 2023, in a world premiere in the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.Building a bridge to the dynamic Swedish jazz scene, three different projects will create their very own worlds of sound at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele: double bassist Vilhelm Bromander’s Unfolding Orchestra, saxophonist Anna H&ouml;gberg’s free jazz band Extended Attack and trumpeter Goran Kajfeš’s project Tropiques. Other powerful voices from Europe include drummer Sun-Mi Hong’s BIDA Orchestra from Amsterdam, the quartet The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters led by turntablist Mariam Rezaei from London and the trios led by Berlin-based musicians Joel Grip, Camila Nebbia and Devin Gray, respectively.Saxophonist Darius Jones from the USA is making his Jazzfest Berlin debut, presenting his highly acclaimed composition “fLuXkit Vancouver (<s>it’s</s> suite but sacred)”. Also travelling across the Atlantic is saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, starting her European tour with a rare club concert at Quasimodo, where Wrens will also be performing: the Brooklyn-based quartet is led by the exceptional Elias Stemeseder, originally from Austria and now based in Berlin and New York. Along with Stemeseder, outstanding pianists from Switzerland and Canada Sylvie Courvoisier and Kris Davis will be celebrating their respective European and Berlin premieres with current top line-ups mainly from the New York scene.In addition to his current project GEORGE, former university lecturer at the Jazz Institut Berlin John Hollenbeck from Montreal will perform a multimedia version of his project “The Drum Major Instinct” especially for Berlin audiences. In this immersive event at the B&uuml;hnenhaus, he will engage in a dialogue with some legendary concert films from the long history of Jazzfest Berlin with Martin Luther King Jr. and one of his last sermons in Atlanta in 1968.Jazzfest Community Lab Moabit: 28&nbsp;October to 3&nbsp;November 2024As part of the Jazzfest Community Lab Moabit, the festival is outlining prospects for a promising future while exploring the neighbouring locality’s cultural diversity over the course of a week. Forming the backbone of the project are the residents of Moabit and their musical and cultural backgrounds, their stories, initiatives, origins and wishes. With 38&nbsp;partner initiatives based in the locality along with musicians and artists, the Lab has developed ideas, projects and potential modes of collaboration based on the rituals of celebrating birthdays and making music together, as well as the themes of time, origin and shaping the future. Starting on 28&nbsp;October – spanning the entire second week of the autumn holidays – over 350&nbsp;participants of all ages, including 40&nbsp;musicians from this year’s Jazzfest Berlin and 20 interdisciplinary workshop leaders, are taking over 25&nbsp;locations throughout the locality, building a musical bridge between the Haus der Berliner Festspiele in Wilmersdorf and Moabit.&nbsp;For the grand finale, Community Sunday welcomes the audience to take part in a number of collective improvisations at three stations across Moabit.&nbsp;From SOS-Kinderdorf Berlin to schools, choirs, churches, cultural venues such as Afrika-Haus Berlin, PAS Berlin and Theatre&nbsp;X to neighbourhood kitchens, a saz school, local shops, music schools and the Jazz Institut Berlin – numerous initiatives and individuals in Moabit are taking part in workshops, storytelling sessions, artistic interventions and neighbourhood concerts.Bolstering the anniversary edition’s concert programme, the Jazzfest Community Lab Moabit and the Jazzfest Research Lab will bring together artists from several generations of the international jazz scene. Connecting different eras and drawing from new partnerships, the two anniversary specials are questioning what we take for granted, leaving its comfort zones, joining forces with new partners and creating new sources of inspiration. Please join us in celebrating 60&nbsp;years of Jazzfest Berlin!

Celebrating, questioning, researching; hosting, mobilising, empowering; bowing, challenging, remembering and advancing: Jazzfest Berlin is 60 years old – and still digging. Six decades of Jazzfest Berlin means six decades of contemporary history, Berlin history, German history, European, transatlantic and intercontinental history and, of course, 60 years of music history – reason enough to take a closer look at this legendary festival’s rich history and to plot ideas for the future.

60 Years Jazzfest Berlin: Still Digging

Trailer Jazzfest Berlin 2024, Design: 3pc

Jazzfest Berlin 2024 Trailer

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Jazzfest Berlin is one of Europe’s oldest and most renowned festivals of its kind. It aspires to provide a platform for upcoming artists and to convey the enduring vitality of jazz as an art form.

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Festivals & Programme Series

Ever since a group of African-American avantgarde musicians &ndash; including Anthony Braxton &ndash; came together in Chicago in the 1960s to form the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, such individuals have repeatedly organised themselves in collectives that shape the production conditions and performance practice of their own music and support the freedom of creative autonomy against the pressure of exploitative systems.

Programm 2019

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The Berliner Festspiele organise a range of festivals and art exhibitions, concerts, dance and theatre performances, readings, lectures, debates and much more throughout the year. These events are presented at a range of locations across Berlin but are concentrated primarily at their own two venues: the Gropius Bau and the Haus der Berliner Festspiele.

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Exhibitions & Projects

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The international and interdisciplinary festival produced by the Berliner Festspiele

Performing Exiles

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37th&nbsp;International Festival Berlin

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