Let’s talk about jazz, DJ Bobo, and other highlights of the year
Amid the media circus of today, traditions and anniversaries are the real currency. And so, these days, there are strikingly frequent tributes to Miles Davis, the “Prince of Darkness,” who would have turned 100 on May 26. Yet his deep-seated skepticism toward the museumification of art was no secret. “I never thought,” he once said, “that jazz was meant to be a museum piece like other dead things that were once considered art.”
Same here, Miles—you can’t help but agree with him. After all, things are constantly changing and can never be fully defined. But, to borrow a line from Germany’s most popular breakfast TV philosopher, one question remains unanswered: “What is jazz, and if so, how many?”
I recently asked Götz Bühler, the artistic advisor for Bremen’s jazzahead!, a question that wasn’t word-for-word the same but was similar, during a joint interview. After all, the festival, which celebrated its 20th anniversary with this year’s April edition, has always been known for its cross-genre lineup. Bühler’s answer was as simple as it was clever: “Jazz is whatever musicians themselves define it to be.” I could have figured that out on my own.
His attempt at a definition could also be applied to theJazzclub , which, of course, has some exciting events lined up for May as well: In collaboration with UT Connewitz, we were able to bring the Colombian experimental musician Lucrecia Dalt to Messestadt for a performance. Once a civil engineer, she now constructs electronically grounded sound architecture characterized by remarkable conceptual depth. The same applies to the sound of Friederike Bernahrdt, aka Moritz Fasbender, who will open the evening on May 20. It hardly needs to be said that this double bill, which already has the potential to be the “Concert of the Year 2026,” is one you definitely shouldn’t miss.
If you’re already on your way to your favorite ticket seller, you can pick up your pass for the next highlight of the year right there. No, we’re not talking about DJ Bobo’s concert, which invites you to a, well, questionable “Great Adventure” at the Quarterback Immobilien Arena on May 2 and 3. Rather, we’re talking about Ava Mendoza and ITOE, who will come together for aJazzclub at naTo on May 30.
What else does May have to offer? From Women in Jazz to Interzone to the Görlitz Jazz Days—there’s plenty! But as always: Read for yourself!
See you soon,
Luca
Jazzkalender-Editorial office
