Jazzfest Community Film Lab, participating musicians during a rehearsal © Nadin Deventer
Moabit Imaginarium
This year’s Jazzfest Berlin features the “Moabit Imaginarium”, a musical encounter project aimed at building bridges among different musicians and their respective artistic scenes. Professional musicians from the quarter of Moabit with diverse musical backgrounds will gather to experiment with representatives of the Berlin jazz scene and develop a transcultural repertoire. The newly formed ensemble offers a total of ten artists the time and space for exchange at eye level, (re)discoveries and artistic research. Stemming from 2024’s Jazzfest Community Lab Moabit, the Moabit Imaginarium is dedicated to the fundamental exploratory spirit of jazz, improvising and exploring uncharted musical territory.
The project will conclude with two concerts at this year’s Jazzfest Berlin: on 31 October as part of the festival’s community and outreach activities at the Jazz Institut Berlin in Moabit, and on 2 November as part of the concert programme at Haus der Berliner Festspiele.
The starting point for Moabit Imaginarium is the trio Oùat, which initiates the ensemble-building process together with Assane Seck.
Simon Sieger, Michael Griener, Assane Seck, Joel Grip
© Sigrun Andree
Rehearsal period: 27–31 October 2025
Rehearsal locations: PAS Berlin, Jazz Institute Berlin
Line-up
(DE, FR, SE, SN and others)
Joel Grip – double bass
Simon Sieger – various instruments
Michael Griener – percussion / drums
Assane Seck – tama, djembe, sabar
Berno Jannis Lilge – trumpet, flutes, bouzouki, bagpipe
Hyunjeong Park – gayageum
Elsa M’bala – loops, cassette
Hakam Wahbi – riq
Concert dates